Nerima, Furikan High School

 

            Urd sits on the roof of Furiken High.  She has a smile on her face and is dangling her legs off the side of the building.  She looks out over the people gathered on the soccer field of the school.  She fixes her eyes on one person.  (“Ranma,”) She sighs.  (“Today’s the last day I’m permitted to watch over you.  Two years have come and gone.  Maybe…Maybe after this I’ll visit you in person.”)

            “Enjoying the view?”  Someone asks.

            Urd turns and returns the smile she is receiving.  “Most definitely.  It’s good to see you Chaos-sama.”

            Chaos nods and sits down beside her.  There is a moment of silence before he speaks again.  “Still angry with me, huh?”

            “A little,” Urd answers.

            Chaos sighs.  “I told you, the only time you can interfere with Ranma’s life is if he is being attacked by a god, goddess, demon, or demoness.  Saffron was only a demi-god.”

            Urd nods.  “I know.  But…But I was afraid he would be killed.”

            Chaos nods.  “I understand.  But you need to have some faith in his abilities.”

            “I do.  Especially now.  Thanks to Cologne’s training he’s more powerful than most of the deities I know.  There’s not a whole lot left that can threaten him.”  Urd sighs again as Ranma and Cologne look up at the school’s roof.  (“I wonder if he knows I’m here.”)

            Chaos nods.  “She did an excellent job, didn’t she?  Much better than his father.”

            Urd chuckles.  “Lets not go there.”  She sighs and looks back at the soccer field.  “I’m going to enjoy this fight.  There’s no way that pervert is a match for Ranma now.”  Happousai appears and both he and Ranma move to the center of the field.

            “Agreed.  However, the Grandmaster of the Mutsubetsu Kakuto Ryu still has some tricks up his sleeves.”

            Urd narrows her eyes and looks to Chaos.  “You know something don’t you?”

            Chaos nods once more.  “Watch carefully, for this is Saotome Ranma’s final fight.”

            Urd jumps up.  “Nani?”

 

 

            The soccer field

 

            Ranma sneezes.  He looks around but shrugs his shoulders.  (“Somebody must be talkin’ bout me.”)  He lets his eyes wonder about the field.  Everything seems to be normal.  Nabiki’s taking bets, Akane’s glaring at him, Ucchan’s selling okonomiyaki, everybody else is waiting around, Cologne’s…(“Cologne?”)  Ranma’s eyes come to rest on the Amazon Elder.  (“What’s she doing here?”)  He walks over to her.  “What’s up, sensei?”

            Cologne smiles.  “I’ve just come here to watch the fight, Ranma.”  He had begun calling her sensei when she began training him seriously.  After Chaos had visited her Cologne had given up on making him marry Shampoo.  Someone under Chaos’ protection was immune to the Kiss of Death and Marriage.  That didn’t stop Shampoo from going after him, or Mousse from trying to kill him, or Akane from not believing any of them (She thought Ranma had been sneaking off to be with Shampoo).

            “Really?”

            Cologne nodded.  “I was told this would be quite the battle.”  She leans in and whispers to Ranma.  “Can you sense them?”

            Ranma nods and looks up at the high school’s roof.  “Hai.  The one that’s been following me is up there.  And another one, his aura is massive.”

            Cologne arches her eyebrows.  “You can sense his aura?”

            “Hai.  Even though he’s hiding most of it I can still sense some of it.  It’s strange.  Even though it’s beyond anything I’ve ever felt it’s…it’s kinda familiar.  It kinda reminds me of my aura.”

            Cologne nods.  “You are correct.  His aura is similar to yours.  He has a confident and chaotic aura much like yours.”

            “Ranma!”  He turns to where his voice was yelled.  Akane is still glaring at him.  “Stop fooling around.  Happousai’s here!”  She points.

            Ranma waves her off.  “I already knew that Akane.  Hell anybody with a little martial arts training couldn’t felt him.”

            Akane growls.  She hadn’t sensed him.  “He’s not hiding his aura,” Cologne comments.  Ranma nods and looks to the pervert.  He’s just entered the soccer field and is moving towards the center.  “Be careful Ranma.  Even with all that I’ve taught you he will be a difficult opponent.”

            Ranma smiles and nods before turning and heading to meet his opponent.

 

            They stand a few feet apart.  Neither has bothered to take up a fighting stance.  They do not speak for a moment.  Finally Ranma does.  “You ready you old leach?”

            Happousai frowns and shakes his head.  “Ranma m’boy, you’ve become powerful.  In fact you’ve become too powerful.  I must correct that.”  His body begins to glow a light red.

            Ranma snorts and gets into a ready stance.  “Go ahead and try.”

            Happousai holds one of his hands aloft and speaks.  “Be still.”

            Ranma’s eyes go wide.  He’s like that for a second before he begins to struggle.  “I can’t move.”  He struggles for another minute before yelling at Happousai.  “What are you doing?  I thought you wanted to fight?”

            “No Ranma.  I didn’t come here to fight.  I’ve come here to make sure you can’t stop me.”  He holds both hands aloft and the red glow intensifies.  “Soon I’ll be able to gather my silky darlings without any interference.”  Ranma would have facefaulted if he could have moved.

 

            On the roof

 

            “What do you mean this is his last fight?”  Urd yells.

            “Just what I said.  This is Saotome Ranma’s last fight,” Chaos repeats.

            Urd’s eyes go wide and the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.  “That power…” She turns in time to see Happousai’s body explode in a red aura.  “That’s…That’s a demonic spell!”

            Chaos nods.  “It is.  The spell will banish Ranma to his own personal Hell.”

            Urd growls and launches herself towards the soccer field.  She flies about two feet before she smacks into an invisible wall.  With another growls she turns to Chaos.  “What are you doing?  I have to save him.  You know very well that this spell paralysis its victims.”

            “I know.  I also know that saving him from Happousai, a mortal, is not part of your orders.  You will stay here.”

            “The Hell I will!”  Urd turns back to the wall and lashes out with a lightning bolt.  But it does nothing.  “Damn it!  Let me save him!”

            “Urd!”  Chaos shouts.  His ki amplified voice stops Urd in her tracks.  “Do you care for Ranma enough to disobey me?”

            Urd turns to Chaos.  Her tear filled eyes look back into his.  “Of course!  I love him!  I haven’t even met him, and I love him.  I’ve watched him everyday for the past two years.  I’ve seen him struggle in a Hell that would have driven lesser men insane.  But he dealt with it!  My two years of watching end today.  After that I wanted to meet him face-to-face.  I want to show him how much I love him.  I don’t care how many fiancés he has.  I don’t know how he feels about me, but I want to be with him!”

            “And if he didn’t return your feelings?”

            “Then I’d leave.”

            “And if he did?”

            “I’d marry him!”

            “Even if it meant watching him grow old and eventually dying?”

            “I’d give up my godhood so I could grow old with him!”

            Chaos smiles.  “Urd, do you remember what they say about me and promises?”

            Urd wipes the tears away and nods.  “You always keep a promise.”

            “I promise you.  Within one weeks time you will have your chance.”

            Urd stares at Chaos in surprise.  “You promise?”

            Chaos nods.  “Hai.  And I always keep my promises.  Now turn and watch.”

            Urd nods and does so.

           

The spell is in its final phase.  Most of the red aura has been transferred from Happousai to Ranma.  The scream coming from Ranma signifies that he is in a great deal of pain.  The smile on Happousai’s face signifies that he is enjoying himself.  “And now,” Happousai begins as the red aura around him has declined to almost nothing.  “I, Happousai the Grandmaster of the Mutsubetsu Kakuto Ryu, banish you, Saotome Ranma, to your own personal Hell!”

            There is one last cry of pain and one blind flash of light before it is all over.  Happousai pants and looks towards the smoke.  When it has cleared he smiles in triumph.  Where once there stood Saotome Ranma only a chard and smoking piece of earth remains.

 

 

            Days later, Kamiya Kasshin Dojo

 

            A group of ten stands outside a dojo in Tokyo.  They stride up to the main entrance and slide the door open.  Inside there is a group of six standing before a lone man, obviously the sensei.  They stop their overhead strikes as the group enters.  The Sensei approaches them.  “Can I help you?”

            The girl at the head of the group, Setsuna, nods.  “I hope so.  We would like to speak to the Master of this dojo.”

            The man’s eyes narrow.  “Challengers?”

            She shakes her head.  “No.  We would like to ask the Master a few questions.”

            “Concerning?”

            “The Hiten Mitsurigi Ryu.”

            The man sighs.  “Please wait outside.”

 

            A few minutes later the doors of the dojo slide open once more.  The group turns to see an elderly man descending the steps.  He is dressed in a hakama that a samurai would wear; at his side is a sheathed sword.  “Questions about the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryu, huh?”  He asks once he is on the ground.  “You wouldn’t be reporters or historians?  I’m getting tired of sending them away.”

            “We’re neither,” Setsuna says.  “We simply have question about that style.”

            The old man chuckles.  “Is that so?  Well now why don’t we start off by having all of you give me your names?”  They do so.  “I am Myojin Yahiko, Master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.”  He takes a few steps towards the group and looks them up and down.  “If you’re not reporters or historians why do you need to know about the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryu?”

            “That doesn’t matter.  Just answer our questions and we’ll be on our way,” Setsuna says with a growl.

            Yahiko arches an eyebrow.  “I see.”  He turns around and begins walking about towards the dojo.  “We’re finished here.”

            “Nani?”

            “I will not be intimidated by a rude child.”

            “Maitte!”  Yahiko stops as he reaches the steps.  He turns and is surprised to see a young blonde with an odd hairstyle step forward.  “Please.”

            Yahiko turns and smiles.  “At least one of you has some manners.”  He moves until he is a few feet in front of Usagi.  “Now tell me why you want to know about the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryu.  If your reasons and intentions are good I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

            Usagi nods.  “We really need to know about someone called the Kami no Satsujinha.”

            Yahiko’s eyes go wide.  “Kami no Satsujinha?”  He steps away from Usagi and immediately his right hand is on the hilt of his sword.  “How do you know about Kami no Satsujinha?”

            Usagi takes a step back while everyone else gets ready to fight.  “We were attacked.  The guys that attacked us said to find the Kami no Satsujinha.”

            Yahiko frowns.  He waits for a moment before speaking.  “I don’t buy that!  I can sense your power is the same as a normal person’s.  There’s no reason why those who know about the Kami no Satsujinha would attack you.”

            Usagi closes her eyes.  (“I have no choice.”)  She opens her eyes and looks to Yahiko.  “In order to get the help we need, in order to stay alive and continue protect this planet, I’ll show you my power!” 

Seconds later, all Yahiko can do is stare in amazement.  (“Her ki just went through the roof!”)  He focuses all his senses on the girl in front of her.  (“But it’s so unfocused, she’s not doing anything with it.”)

            “The reason those people attacked us is because we’re the Sailor Senshi.”  Yahiko takes his hand off the sword and takes a neutral position.  The others follow suit.  “Now will you tell us what we need to know?”

            “Return to the way you were first.  It wouldn’t do for my students to see me talking to you.”  Usagi nods and does so.  Yahiko nods and begins walking around.  “I am most likely the only mortal alive who knows about the Kami no Satsujinha.  The story begins just before the Revolution, sometime around 1863…

 

            “…Around that time the Master of the Hiten Mitsurigi Ryu took a student by the name of Toushin Kenshin.  A few years later Kenshin was given the name Hitokiri Battousai and served as an assassin during the early part of the Revolution.  Sometime around 1867 Kenshin disappeared.  He wandered across Japan and China before turning up in Tokyo.  He came to live at the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo in 1878.  As the Battousai, Kenshin was known as the strongest.  In all honesty that was very close to the truth.  Kenshin was Kami no Satsujinha.  It was a title given to him by the gods themselves.  Kenshin would slay those who got out of line, whether they be oni or kami.  However, he gave that title to his daughter around 1905.  He hasn’t been seen around here since then.  His daughter pops up every so often.”

 

            Haruka frowns.  “So this Kami no Satsujinha is nothing more than an old lady that’s probably died of old age.”

            Yahiko laughs.  “Just don’t let her hear you call her that.  She’s a bit sensitive about her age.”

            Haruka snorts.  “Come on.  You don’t expect us to believe that someone that’s around 120 years old is still alive?”

            “Why not?  I’ll be 132 soon enough.”

            Haruka laughs.  “Come on.  You’re old but you can’t be that old.”

            “Um Haruka,” Ami tugs taps the blonde’s shoulder.  “I checked before we came.  He really is that old.”

            Yahiko laughs as Haruka’s jaw nearly hits the ground.  “Come back next week.  The Kami no Satsujinha likes to visit me around my birthday.  I expect she’ll show up then.”  Yahiko turns and walks back into the dojo.  (“The Sailor Senshi, huh?  Perhaps the time is growing near?”)

            “Maitte!”  Yahiko turns.  Setsuna has ascended the stairs of the dojo and is now standing behind him.

            “What do you need?”  He asks.

            “A picture?  Do you have a picture of Toushin?”

            “Why do you need a picture?  I told you no one’s seen him in almost a hundred years,” He asks in confusion.

            “I…I once knew someone named Toushin…a long time ago,” She mutters.

            Yahiko smiles.  “Wait here.”  He enters the house.  He returns a few minutes later with a photo album.  He flips it open to the first page.  “Here we go.  This a picture of Kenshin, Karou, Sano, and myself taken in 1878.”  He laughs as he looks at the picture.  There are four people; one girl around 18 sitting in a chair, a man in his mid-twenties standing to the left of the girl, another guy around 18 standing to the right of the girl, and finally a child maybe ten years old standing in front of the man on the right.  “Kenshin had just stopped a train robbery so all our clothes were messed up.  But Karou insisted that we have a picture taken.”  He turns to look at Setsuna.

            On her face is a sad smile.  “It’s…It’s him.”  She points to the man to the left of the woman in the chair.  “Back when I knew him he was only known as Toushin, but there’s no mistake.”  The other Senshi rush to the album to see the man.  He is of average height, maybe six feet tall.  His hair is long and tied in a loose ponytail that reaches three quarters of the way down his back.  Minako and Makoto’s eyes fill up with hearts as soon as they see him.  There is no doubt.  Anyone who the gods would allow to punish those who got out of line had to be a hunk like this man.

            “So you know Kenshin?”  Yahiko asks.

            Setsuna nods.  “I knew him, a long time ago.”

            Yahiko nods and closes the book.  “In any event come back next week, I’m sure Kami no Satsujinha will come and visit me.”

 

 

            Earlier that day, Nerima Cemetery

 

            A small group gathered around a small tombstone in the cemetery.  Some had come to rejoice that the young man was dead.  Some had come to make sure he had died.  And still others had come to weep.  But in the end, all that was going to be laid to rest was an old tattered gi.  They had no body to place in the casket, and it was all they could do to stop a few people from destroying the picture sitting on the tombstone.  Of those gathered it was the boy’s mother whose tears were the most bitterly shed.  She had lost her only child.  A child whom she had never known, and now would never know.  All who tried to comfort the woman failed.  And in the end she sent everyone away so that she could be alone at the grave.  However, “Saotome-san.”  She was not left alone.

            The woman turned and faced the shrunken form of the Amazon Elder.  “Cologne-san.”  She stared at the woman for a moment, then turned back to the grave.  “Please let me be alone with my son.”

            Cologne nodded and moved back to give the woman her peace.  She moved forward after the weeping mother stood.  “Saotome-san please follow me.  There is someone I’d like you to meet.”

            Nodoka wiped the tears from her eyes before answering.  “Please Cologne-san, I am tired.  Whoever it is I’m sure they will understand.”

            Cologne shook her head.  “Saotome-san, your son was taken from you thanks to a demonic spell.  The people who request your audience have a great deal of knowledge and experience with such things.”

            Nodoka’s eyes went wide.  “Can they bring him back?”  She asked.

            “I do not know.  Come now.”

 

            The aged woman led the younger woman into a forested section just outside the cemetery.  After walking a few minutes they came to a clearing.  Cologne looked around and sighed in annoyance.  “Where are they?”

            “You’re senses have dulled in your old age, Cologne,” A voice joked.

            Cologne and Nodoka turned to where the voice had originated.  Out of the trees stepped three people.  The first was obviously a priest.  The other was a darker skinned woman dressed in revealing clothing that only Shampoo would have dared to wear.  The last was a man clothed in a brown overcoat.  His face hidden from view.  Cologne laughed as she addressed them.  “Well we can’t all be ageless.”

            The group came to a stop before Cologne and Nodoka.  The woman stepped forward and address Nodoka.  “Saotome-dono?”

            “Hai?”

            “I…I,” The woman fell to her knees, tears in her eyes.  “Please forgive me!  I was supposed to watch over your son!  And now…and now.”

            Nodoka was obviously confused.  “You were watching over my son?”  She looked around at everyone.  “What’s going on?  Who are you people?”

            “Please excuse Urd,” The man began.  “Ranma’s disappearance has hit her hard.  What’s going on will be explained soon.  As for who we are,” He pointed to the priest.  “This is my brother.  This,” He pointed to Urd.  “Is Urd, Goddess of the Past Second Class Limited.  And I’m Chaos.  I’m an Ancient God.  Think of me as being above all other gods, except Kami-sama himself.”

            Nodoka stared at them wide eyed then turned to Cologne.  “He’s telling the truth.”

            “Now then.  We are here because of your son.”

            “What about my son?”  Nodoka cried out.  She rushed forward and grabbed hold of Chaos’ overcoat.  “Can you bring him back?”

            “In a manner of speaking, yes.”

            “What do you mean in a manner of speaking?”

            Chaos gentle removed her hands from his overcoat before speaking.  “Let me ask you something Saotome-san.  Ranma’s fiancés, what do you think of them?”

            Nodoka was taken back.  “What does that have to do with anything?”

            “Just humor me.”

            “All right.  In all honesty I don’t care for any of them.  I don’t think he’d be happy with any of them.”

            Chaos nodded.  “Agreed.  So if Ranma were to return would you allow him to chose his own wife?”

            Nodoka nodded.  “Hai.  I don’t know how we’d get around the engagements, but I would try.”

            Chaos smiled.  “It’s already been seen to.”

            “Nani?”

            “You have declared Ranma legally dead, correct?”  Chaos asked.  Nodoka nodded.  “The Tendo and Kuonji engagements were rendered null and void once Ranma was declared dead.  As for the Amazon engagement.”  He turned to Cologne.

            “I have annulled the Kiss of Marriage,” She confirmed.

            Chaos smiled.  “Then it is settled.  Ranma, or whatever name he will be using, shall marry Urd.”

            Nodoka frowned.  “Wait a minute!  I just said that I wanted my son to choose his own wife.  How do we know he’ll choose Urd?”

            Chaos smiled.  “He already has.”

            “Nani?”  And with that the cloak and hood fell, and the glamour spell faded.