To Live And Love Again
Crossover: Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Miyo, Sailor Moon
By ChasToro
Takes place after Tenchi OAV's, and After the battle with Herb in Ranma time line, Sailor Moon guest apperances
" "-Speach
( )-Thoughts
{ }-Notes
In the Tendo Dojo, it was a quiet mornning. There was no Ranma to wake up by throwing him out the window. No shouting Genma insulting Ranma, and Ranma replying in kind. No splashes in the Koi pond, and no traded insults between Akane and Ranma. Indeed a very quiet mornning. The only problem was Soun's morrning paper was missing, and with out his morrning paper to hide behind, he might have to talk to his family. In desperation he looked for something to distract everyone. Picking up the TV remote he turned on the morrning news.
What greeted them was a split screen showing two views of the same mountain. The first was a still shot like a tourist might take, showing a forested mountain. The secound was a live shot from the air. It was the same mountain but just barely. The peak was gone, and one side had slid down into the valley below. Large fussures laced its surface and steam could be seen rising from many of these. The Narrators voice droned on about some kind of volcanic eruption, and that a team of geoligests was even now moving into the area to study this event. Then as Kassumi entered the room carrying a tray loaded with breakfast, the Narrator spoke the mountains name.
"Ladys and gentlemen, if you've just tuned in, I repeat there has been a hugh volcanic explostion at Mt. Horb!"
Crash! All eyes in the room turned to Kasumi, only to see her standing there staring at the TV one hand to her mouth, totaly unaware she had droped the breakfast tray. Finaly she managed to gasp out.
"Oh My!" "Th-Thats where Ranma went to find the unlocking kettle."
The meaning of that statement was very clear, even Soun understood what it could mean. Only Genma seemed not to care as he stared hungerly at the ruined food scattered on the floor.
Ranko awoke reluctantly, she tried to return to sleep but her bladder wouldn't let her. Suddenly it dawned on her. She was in big truoble. She had a broken arm, and leg. Was in a strange house, where she had no idea were the toilet was, and she had to go BAD! NOW! Then she rememberd the old man saying something about a bell as he had put her to bed. Opening her eyes, she found it on the night stand grabbed it and started ringing, not stopping until a blurry eyed Katsuhito had burst into the room with what looked like a swoard hilt in his hand. Taking a fighting stance, and scanning the room in a glance. Finaly his eyes rested on her with a questioning look.
"I've got to go, go to the toilet" She finaly managed to get out. Comprehension came to his face, as he stuck the swoard hilt into his belt. He drew back the bedding picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the toilet room. Sitting her on the toilet. He then proceded to get a stool that was sitting by the wall, and put in under Her right leg supporting the weight of the cast.
He suddenly stood quickly turning his back to her, and just before exiting the room said.
"When your done just call and I'll come help you."
As Ranko releived herself she wondered about his behavoir. Finaly it dawned on her. She was sitting on the toilet with her legs spread apart, wearing a throwaway paper hospital gown that barrly covered her, and it was bunched up around her waist. She felt heat in her face and knew she was blushing. A part of her mind was shouting.
(I'm a guy damn it!)
But another part, one she had been trying to ignore was saying different. It scared her. Scared her badly. That fear acted like a key opening a door, as memories came like a Tsunami hitting the shore. Memories of all the stupid training that did more harm than good. Being beat into unconsciousness until he could defend himself properly. Going hungry for days on end, so that fat bastard could stuff his face while calling it training. Being dragged from place to place, never staying anywhere long enough to make any real freinds. Being sold over and over, then being stolen back in the night. But the worst was verbal.
"You sound like a weak little girl!" "Real men don't cry!" "Real men don't do that!" "Blah, blah, blah."
On and on without stopping. Day in and day out for ten long years. Then the curse, the horror, the rejection, the snide coments from her classmates, from Akane. It was to much,and all the repressed emotions flowed out against the damn built to hide them from Genma, and the rest of the world. The damn broke.
Katsuhito stood in the hallway very upset with himself. He prided himself in his control of his emotions. He knew you couldn't bottle them up inside. Having shed his share of tears, both of sorrow and joy. But this girl had gotten past his control. Every time he'd looked her in the eyes, it was like looking into the very depths of her soul. He could see pain, suffering, and a strong will to succede. He also saw innocense, and longing, longing to be loved. Ranko had in one day done what only one other woman had done. She had captured a piece of his heart. She had also awoken desire, for as he had placed the stool under her leg to support the weight of the cast, he had seen her woman hood desplayed innoccently before him. Trigering an image of them locked together as lovers. He'd stepped on that thought very hard, and had left the room quickley.
(That is not what she needs now.) He told himself. Hearing the toilet flush he mently prepaired himself. He could hear the stool sliding, then some shuffling noises followed by gasping sobs. Growing concerned he knocked on the door.
"Ranko, are you alright?"
Recieveing no answer he again knocked.
"Ranko, I'm comming in."
He found Ranko lying on her Left side her injured arm and leg sticking out from her, her right leg curled to her chest, with right arm wraped around it. Tears streaming from tightly shut eyes, while sobs wracked her body. Without hesitation Katsaheto knelt down pulling Ranko into his arms, turning his back to the wall he slid to a sitting position as he settled her in his lap his arms around her protectively. Ranko's right arm had wraped around him, her face burried in his chest. As she cried out a life time of missery. This is how Nobuyuki found them some time later. Wisely he left them undisturbed, covering the breakfast he had prepaired, and putting it away to be eaten later.
Finally the sobs and tears began to subside, and Ranko turned her head to the side so she could speak.
"I-I guess, [sob] I owe, [sniff] an explanation."
He lifted his hand to her face, wipeing away a tear, and speaking softly said.
"Only when your ready, only when your ready."
Ranko leaned back and looked Katsuhito in the eyes.
(Last night he told me everything about himself.) (His being half Juri half earthling.) (Comming to earth to fight Ryoko.) (Building the shrine, his wife, his daughter, Tenchi, everything.) (He even dropped the disguise field to show me his true form.) (Its time I told him the truth about me.)
And so through sobs, sniffels,and stops to blow noses. Ranko told her tell of woe. The story of a young man named Ranma Saltome. The more she told, the more she remembered, as memorys long repressed came to the light of day. Katsuhito held her, and listened, providing what comfort he could. He knew that this was what she needed, this was the start of her healing. But deep in his hart a fire raged, and each lie, each beating, each betryal, was like throwing coal in a furnace. Every tear, sob, and sniffle pumped the belows stoking the fire hotter, and hotter. He swore an oath to himself, that one day he would meet Genma Saltome again, and on that day Genma would pay.
Genma reached across the board to move a piece and stopped, pulling his hand back. He quickly looked around the room, as if expecting someone to be there. But there was just Soun and him sitting in the room. But the feeling wouldn't go away. His danger sence was telling him to run, run long and hard, and he couldn't figure out why. Looking back at the board, he saw that he only had one move he could make, but that move would cost him the game. He could have sworen he was about to win. Soun just sat there smiling at him. Finaly saying.
"Well, looks like I win again old freind." "That makes three in a row."
Genma just noded again, mumbling something about being worried about the boy while looking around the room, and starting to sweat nervesly. Soun knew this look well, this was a Genma who was ready to bolt and run.
"Tell me old freind." "Your not thinking about leaveing on a training trip are you?" "After all, Ranma could be home any time now." "RIGHT!" "And as soon as your child gets back we will have a wedding." "RIGHT!"
At this point Soun unleashed his full Demon Head Attack.
"I DON'T CARE ANY MORE!" "MALE OR FEMALE, AKANE OR I, RANMA WILL MARRY A TENDO, AND YOU WILL BE HERE TO DO YOUR PART!" "THE SCHOOLS WILL BE UNITED!" "RIGHT, OLD FREIND!"
At this point Genma was backed into a corner doing the Crouch Of The White Tiger.
It was two hours later that Katsuhito exited the house, and sat beside his son-in-law.
"Shes sleeping now."
Was the only thing he said as he sat on the porch letting the sun warm him. The two men sat in silence for some time. Finally Katsuhito spoke.
"Nobuyuki, I'm going to tell you a story, and you'll tell no one else without my permission." "Is that understood?"
Nobuyuki was startled, Katsuhito had never sounded so serious before, even when he told him of the Juri. He knew that to betray this trust would make the old man very angry. He had seen Katsuhito truly angry only once, and never wanted that directed at him. So it was with some missgivings that he agreed.
"Yes father I understand."
The old man just sat brooding for a time, then started his tale.
"It was during Achika's first year of high school when three men came to the shrine." "Martial artists, they called themselfs." "Hopposi the master, and his students Genma Saltome, and Soun Tendo." "They were traveling, seeking preists, monks, or other masters who would be willing to teach them new techniques they could then add to their school." "I told them that I was sorry, but what I practiced was a family school only passed on through the Masaki Clan." "They seemed disapointed, but said they understood." "Feeling bad that I couldn't help them I offered them dinner, and a place to sleep for the night, which they accepted." "That night at dinner Achika and I were shocked at the way these men ate." "It was more like watching starving animals eating than grown men." "Later that night I awoke feeling something was amiss." Grabbing a boken I began to search the house, quickly finding Genma and Soun, each stuffing a bag with anything that looked valuble." I thrashed them both quite soundly and threw them out." "It was then I heard a screem from Achika." "I don't remember going to her room, I was just there." "What I saw made Me more angry than I have ever been at any other time in my life." "Backed into the corner was Achika holding her beding over herself." "Across from her stood Hopposi holding her panties in one hand, and her nightie in the other." "His manhood was exposed and erect, and he had a wild lust filled look on his face." I should have killed him then, but I didn't." "I spared Ryoko's life, even after all she had done." "I was right in her case." "About Hopposi, I was wrong." "Instead I used a technique taught to all Juri diplomats." "One used on diplomatic missions to Snafora, or Pladila were nudity is the norm, and to have an erection in public is an insult to those around you." "But instead of light taps to certain nerve clusters infused with small amounts of Ki." "I struck hard with my boken, using large amounts of rage fueled Ki." "In short, I injured Hopposi for life." "He could never have an erection again, never again to know the pleasure of a woman." "I then picked the quivering mass of pain up one handed and threw him out the window." "Smashing him into the recovering Genma, and Soun." "While shouting I was going for live steal, and if they were still there when I got outside they were dead men." "By the time I retrived my blade they were gone." "I never saw or heard of them again, until yesterday."
Nobuyuki felt the heat radiating from Katsuhito. Looking over he saw the very air around the old man distort from the heat.
(What could make father so angery?)
Thats when it hit home.
(That thing!) (It was going to!) (With, with my darling Achika!) (I'll help him kill that monster!)
If anyone would have entered the valley at that time, they would have been afraid, very afraid. For on the porch of the Masaki home sat two men, radiating so much heat that the air around them rippled, and distorted. It was some time before they calmed down. It was then Nobuyuki heard the story of a boy named Ranma Saltome up to and includeing what Katsuhito over heard Ranko say about marrying Soun Tendo. After a long pause Katsuhito spoke again.
"There's more." "In the 700 years I've been on earth, I've taken several trips of discovery." "On one of these trips I expolored much of China." "Though never going to the cursed springs, I spent a year at a monistary near there." "At the monastery lived a monk who had been cusrsed at a young age." "He had spent the rest of his life studying the springs." "He followed every lead, read every scroll, or document he could find." "After 70 years, he had found no cure." "What he did find was that every attempt at a cure only did one of three things, Nothing, Made the curse worse, Or killed the victim." "The locking ladle is even worse." "Those locked in their cursed form will start to take the mind and soul of that form." "Once the change has happed, there is no going back." "Ranko has been locked for almost tWo weeks now, she knows its changing her and shes scared." "What shes going to need most as she changes is love, support, and understanding." "You and I both know, she won't get that if she goes back."
And so the two men talked, making thier plans, for what became known to them as Project Ranko Masaki. That is untill Ranko started ringing her bell, at that both men laughed. Nobuyuki going to the kitchen to reheat breakfast, and Katsuhito going upstairs to take care of Ranko.
Lunch, it was realy to late to call it breakfast, was a quiet afair. Ranko picked at her food, and was the last to finish. The two men had tried to get her involved in conversation, but other than softly spoken replies, she made no effort to join in. After clearing the table, Nobuyuki returned with a tea set, pouring them each a cup. Takeing a sip of tea, Katsuhito cleared his throat, and began to speak.
"Ranko, I am head of the Masaki clan, and am speaking to you now as such, for this is clan business, and it concerns you." "Do you understand?"
Ranko's mind raced.
(Oh Kami no!) (This was just like with Akane.) (She had been so nice, until she found out I was really a boy.) (I don't know if I can take something like that again.)
Finaly in a weak voice she replied
"Yes."
Katsuhito nooded and took a sip of tea. Looking at her , he could see the fear of rejection plainly. Clearing his throat again he continued.
"What I am offering you is a choice." "A choice about how you wish to spend the rest of your life." "If you accept I will see that you are adopted in to the Masaki clan." "You would live here in this house, it would be your home and you would be responsible for its up keep." "You would also have responsiblitys at the shrine." "You would help in its up-keep, and assist me durring ceremonies, and holy days." For this you will be required to dress as a shrine maiden." "You would receive a small weekly salary, and your educational needs will be seen to." "I would also train you in the Masaki Fighting style." "I also give my word as the head of clan that no arranged marriges will be made for you, without your prior consent." "If you do not wish to accept this, you are still welcome here until you are healed and able to travel." "I do not want an answer today." "I will wait until you are healed." "In the mean time, I suggest you think things over."
Ranko just sat there staring, her mouth hanging open. Her mind trying to catch up, and process everything.
(They want me to choose insted of telling me.) (Adopt me, make me family.) (Give me a home,and a job.) (My own money.) (Train me in thier family style.) (No arranged marriges.)
It was like a dream come true. Thats when the voice of Ranma spoke in her mind.
(what about honor?) (If you accept this you stain yours, and your familys honor.)
A feeling of total dispair washed over her as she looked down at the table. As much as she wanted this, longed for it.
(It just isn't fair.) (It all comes down to honor over promises I didn't make, but every one says I have to fulfill.)
Finaly Ranko spoke in a small voice.
"What about honor?"
The silence was almost like something solid hanging in the room. Nobuyuki looked at Katsuhito raising his eyebrows in a questioning manner. Katsuhito pick up his cup and finished his tea, sitting the cup down, he reached across placeing his fingers under her chin. He lifted her face until he could look her in the eyes. Then nodding he said,
"Your right Ranko." "Honor is very important, and if you had not asked I would have been very worried about yours." "That is why I told you to think this over carfully." "In the mean time I have a small gift for you to help pass the time while you heal."
With that he stood and left to retreive her gift. Ranko sat in the Masaki living room reading. Not something she had done much of in the past. But was now wishing she had. Katsuhito had simply handed her a book, and said.
"This is my gift to you." "Knowledge." "Knowledge is power, and this book contains the power to set you free."
Then had left to do the Shrine chores. Looking at the cover the title had been the clincher. BISHIDO The Way Of The Samari. The book started with a small introduction, thanking those that provided the reserch material, Including the Empereal Archives. Then went on to list the actual codes or rules. That was followed by a chapter dedicated to each rule, and how the samari applyed it to thier lives. Which was followed with how the Nobel houses of today followed and applyed these rules. It was almost Dinner time when Ranko put the book down.
Looking down at herself she sighed.
(Pink!) She thought. (Why is it always pink?)
Reaching down she smoothed out the fabric of the Nightgown Nobuyuki had gotten for her.
(At least it fits, and the arm holes are large enough for her cast to fit.) (It's much better than that paper thing I got from the hospital.) (But still, did he have to get all 6 Nightgowns in pink?)
Dinner was over, the dishes cleaned and put away. Nobuyuki was watching his soap opera. Katsuhito was sitting on the porch overlooking the pond, Looking up at the stars. Ranko with some difficulty pushed herself out beside him, she too looking up at the stars. finaly she spoke.
"Whats it like, out there in space?"
After a long pause Katsuhito answered.
"It is a place of Infinit Beauty, but also Infinit danger." "To view the beauty one must be willing to risk the danger." "Maybe some day I will return to the sky." "It calls to me on nights like this, begging my return."
Ranko sat in silence for a long time, looking up at the stars.
"If you ever do go back, would-would you take me with you?" "They've called to me, all my life."
Katsuhito looked over at her, and after a long pause said.
"We shall see little one, we shall see."
There was a long silence both looking up at the stars, but Ranko's mind was full of conflect.
(What the hell are you sayin.) (You sound like some love sick girl in one of Kasumi's romance books.) (Your a guy!) (Guys don't ask other guys to take them to the stars.)
Then her voice came back stronger than ever.
(Looked in the mirror lately Ranma!) (Anyway your starting to sound more and more like Genma, and we both know I'll never listen to another thing Genma has to say.) (But, but, you can't...) (Can and will if I decide to. Now SHUT UP GENMA!)
Though she didn't realize it, this was a turning point in her life. From now on the vioce of conflect, the voice of machoism would have the voice of Genma, and be constantly ignored until it totaly faded away.
Ranko finaly broke the silence.
"He lied to me."
Then grabing the book up from her lap, and holding out in front of her.
"BESHIDO!" "HE CALLED IT THE CODE OF THE WARRIOR!" "And everything, everthing he taught me is wrong, distorted, or an outright lie." "Why?"
Tears streeking down her face.
"Why?"
Katsuhito at this point was neeling beside her holding her in his arms.
"MY LIFE IS A JOKE!" She screemed.
"HONOR, MY HONOR, FAMILY HONOR, ITS ALL I LIVED FOR!" "ITS WHY I PUT UP WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME!" "ALL FOR HONOR!" "AND ITS ALL A LIE!"
At this point Ranko broke down crying again. Katsuhito picked her up and carried her into the house, Nobuyuki was standing just inside the door, closeing it after they entered. Katsuhito carried her up to her room, and sat on her bed letting her cry herself to sleep as he held her. Later Nobuyuki checked on them finding them both asleep. Katsuhito proped against the headboard on his back his arms around her, with Ranko's head pillowed on his chest. Her good arm around his back, her cast over his stomach. He put a blanket over them for warmth, and left the room only to return with a digital camera. As he began to take pictures, he had to stifle his laughter.
(I'll finaly get one up on the old man.) (Wait till Tenchi and the girls see these pictures.) (He,he,he, The old Preist being kept warm on a cold night by the young and beautiful shrine maiden.)
Days turned into weeks as the Masaki household settled into a new routine. Nobuyuki commuting to work during the week. Katsuhito moved his things to the house, spending as much time with Ranko as he could, helping her deal with the changes happining in her life. And Ranko, she read book after book absorbing new knowldge like a sponge, books on manners, customs, tea ceromony, and even sex education. That one had been embarrassing, as there had been things she hadn't understood, and had to ask Katsuhito to explain them to her.
Ranko was very glad she had, when That Time Of The Month happened. Yes she was frightend by it happening. But she didn't panic, because she knew it would happen.
She'd also finaly realized that one of her graetest fears sence getting cursed, wasn't going to happen. The girl curse wasn't going to take over her body, making her a helpless prisoner in her own mind.
(Yes I'm changing) She told herself.
(But what's changing is my perspective, how I see things.) (Ranma, Ranko, the name dosen't change who I am.) (In my heart, I know that I'm still me!)
Finishing her entry Ranko closed her diary,running her hand over the leather binding. She smiled remembering when Katsuhito had given it to her. Setting it down she took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly streching her stiff muscles. Turning she looked at herself in the full length miorror mounted on the wall. If it wasn't for the casts you wouldn't know that she had been in the avalache. All the cuts and bruises had healed, and she hadn't had any pain in her ribs in the last week. But the doctor had still insisted that she wear the casts for another month in spite of her protests.
Suddenly she opened the desk drawer and pulled out a chop stick. Pulling her nightgown up above the top of the cast, she stuck the chopstick between her leg and the cast, moving it around until she finaly let out a sigh of releif. She repeated this in different spots the whole time mummbling
"Stupid doctor, Stupid cast, Stupid itch."
Finaly finished with her scratching, Ranko sniffed the air, and a smile came to her face. Pulling herself up onto her good leg, she hopped out of her room and down the hall. Comming down the stairs one step at a time while holding the hand rail with her good hand. There at the bottom of the stairs sat her wheel chair. Sitting in the chair and putting her legs in the sturups, she pushed herself into the kitchen to see what was for dinner.
Nobuyuki was in the kitchen preparring dinner, humming a merry tune as he did so. Though not up to Kasumi's standards,of the two men Ranko knew he was the better cook. Where Katsuhito would stick to the basic recipe, Nobuyuki was always tasting and adding a "pinch of this or a touch of that," as he called it to improve the flavor. Something she had seen Kasumi do many times. Ranko filed this away as being one of the secrets to being a good cook. Now if ony Katsuhito would hurry up and get back from the shrine, the aroma filling the house was making her mouth water, and she was hungery!