Ranma Z

 

Chapter Seven

 

Oh Joy!  Ranma Meets Tenchi

 

            Sailor Pluto frowns as she replays the battle with the demons over in her mind.  (“The Saiyan’s mother is human.  I’m sure that his father is as well.  So where did his Saiyan blood come from?”)  The more she thinks about the fight, the more confused she becomes.  (“He protected her.  When the demons combined and had him beat, he thought of her safety first.  He did not try to barter for his life.  He gambled and used a technique that he knew could have destroyed him.  What is this Saiyan?”)  She looks back at the Time Gates and frowns.  (“He has too much chaos in him to look at his past, present, or future,”) She frowns.  (“Just like all Saiyans.  Another reason to hate them.”)

 

            Flashback

 

            “I still don’t think we should trust the Saiyan,” Setsuna says softly.

            “Nani?”  Everyone yells out.

            “He saved us Setsuna!  He nearly died protecting us!”  Rei yells.

            Usagi leans in close to the older Senshi.  She looks deep into her eyes.  “Why do you hate Saiyans?”  She asks.  Setsuna starts to answer, but Usagi cuts her off.  “I know you told us that they attacked this system, and that they’re killers.  But…but there has to be another reason.”

            Setsuna looks at Usagi in shock.  After a moment she settles down and begins to tell her tale.  “I do have a very good reason not to trust this Saiyan.  A very good reason to hate them all.”  She silently lets her memories wash over her then continues.  “Like the rest of you my Senshi Powers give me a long life…longer than any human.  In the Silver Millennium the mantle of a Senshi was pasted on when a Senshi died, or grew tired of her duties.  There have been many different Senshi.  However, there has only been one Senshi of Pluto.  My duties…the responsibility of the Time Gates makes me immortal.  ”  The eyes of the others widen.

            (“I knew she was old, but I didn’t know she was that old!”)  Usagi thinks.

            “The war with Saiyans was terrible and bloody.  But it was also a stalemate.  Neither side seemed to have the power to defeat the other.  When it became apparent that the war would exhaust both sides power…the Saiyans proposed peace.  I used my influence to persuade the Queen to agree to see the Saiyan ambassador.  He was an elite, a Saiyan with great power.  He was like a noble in the Saiyan society.  He was handsome and charming.  We talked many times during the ceasefire.  I had grown weary of my duties.  I hoped that with the end of the war I could pass on the mantle of Sailor Pluto and live a normal life with him.  And he seemed to agree with me.

            “But…but…” She slams her fist into the floor.  “He tricked me!  He knew I could get him an audience with the Queen.  And when he got it, he attacked!  The Queen did not survive the surprise attack, and the Saiyan escaped.  He returned three months later with an invasion force that would have ended the war.  So I did the only thing I could think of…” Tears stream from her eyes.  “My grief was still fresh when he returned.  I was so angry.  Angry because he used me, toyed with my emotions.  Angry because I listened to him, trusted him, loved him.  I gathered all of my magic, all of my ki; all of the energy the Time Gates could spare and sent him to Hell.

            “It was a kamikaze attack.  I fully expected to join him and my Queen.  Whether I was going to go to Hell with him, or to Heaven with my Queen, didn’t matter.  But the power from the Time Gate did not allow me to die.  Instead it fused with my body and soul.  Now I can’t pass the mantle.  I am the Senshi of Pluto until either someone kills me or destroys the Time Gates.”  She wipes the tears from her eyes and turns back to the others.  “That’s why I hate Saiyans, and why I’ll never trust one, never again!”

 

            End Flashback

 

            Ryoko yawns as she walks along the sidewalk.  (“I can’t believe I agreed to come here.”)  She thinks for a second then comes to a decision.  (“Oh yes I can.”)

 

            Another Flashback (I don’t use them much but why not?)

 

            The members (and adopted members) of the Masaki family have gathered around the dining room table.  Ayeka called ‘the war council.’ “I can’t believe you two knew there was a Saiyan on the Earth and didn’t tell me.”  She glares at her brother and Washu.

            “We knew you would react this way.  That’s why we did not tell you,” Katsuhito explains.  The old priest brings his teacup up to take a sip.

            “Of course I’m acting like this!”  She yelled.  Katsuhito quickly found himself covered with tea.  “There’s a Saiyan on the Earth!”

            Tenchi raised his hand.  “Yes Tenchi?”  Washu asked.

            “What’s a Saiyan?”  He asked.  Everyone, save Tenchi and his father, facefaulted.

            “Saiyans are…” Ayeka’s explanation was cut off by Washu’s hand falling on her mouth.

            “I’ll tell you.  Jurians have a habit of getting emotionally when Saiyans are involved.”  Ayeka glares at Washu but lets her proceed.  “Saiyans were, or rather are, a very powerful race.  Genetically they are very much like Jurians and humans.  There are a few differences.  Saiyans are all born with tails.  Also they are born with a desire to fight and become stronger.  A Saiyan, in fact, becomes stronger after every fight.”
            “Don’t forget they’re evil killers,” Ayeka mumbles.

            “Ayeka please let Washu tell the story,” Sasumi pleads.

            “In any event, the reason why Ayeka hates the Saiyans is rather easy to understand.  Up until about 500 years ago, the Saiyans and the Jurians were locked in almost constant battle.  The Saiyans had the advantage in strength.  The Jurians had the advantage in technology.  Everything changed, however, when a giant meteor chased into the Saiyan’s home world.  Of course not all the Saiyans died.  The Jurians hunted the remaining Saiyans, and it was believed that the last of them were killed nearly 30 years ago.  Ayeka’s hate, however, is not linked only to the war.”

            “Almost all Jurian children have heard horror stories about the Saiyans.  They are like the Boogie Man to the Jurians,” Katsuhito explains.

            “I see,” Tenchi mumbles.

            “We must destroy this Saiyan!  He could do terrible damage to the Earth if we do not stop him!”  She stands up.  “To Tokyo!”

            Tenchi stands.  “Tenchi you aren’t going to…?”  Katsuhito asks.

            “No.  I’m not going to Tokyo to kill anyone.  I want to see if this Saiyan is a threat.  If he isn’t then I’ll leave him alone.”

            “And if he is…” Ryoko lets her question linger.

 

            End Flashback

 

            Ryoko sighs.  (“I had no choice but to come.  If that Saiyan fights Tenchi then…”) Her musings are cut off by the sounds of multiple car horns and the sounds of… (“Laughter?”)

 

            Ryoga growls and curses as he hops from car to car in pursuit of his prey.  “Ranma get back here!”  He yells out.

            Ranma, however, is laughing in delight.  He hops from car to car with a box of ramen balanced perfectly on his index finger.  “You’re too slow Ryoga!”  He yells as he hops to another car.

            “Get back here and tell me how you learned those new techniques!”  Ryoga yells out again.  He jumps to the delivery truck Ranma’s on.

            Ranma smiles and zanzoukens out of the way.  Ryoga lands and turns.  His jaw drops at what he sees.  Ranma is appearing and disappearing all over the place.  Sometimes he’s on a car or truck, while other times he floating in the air.  “Here’s a technique for you to learn, Ryoga.  It’s called the zanzouken.  Basically you move so fast that you blur out of sight.  You can also make afterimages.  So it’s kind of like the Amiguriken.”  The multitudes of Ranma’s disappear and only one is left.  He floats in the air.  “After that see if you can learn to fly.  Ja ne, P-Chan!”  He smiles and waves.

            “Don’t call me P-Chan!”

 

            Ryoko smiles.  (“There he is!”)  The tail is a dead give away.  She had quickly teleported into the air to watch the Saiyan and the other one.  (“He’s pretty fast.  Not as fast as me, but still…”) (It should be noted that Ranma’s holding back) As soon as Ranma took off, Ryoko was in the air following.

 

            “Arigatou!”  Ranma says with a bow.  He puts the yen in his pockets and turns walks off.  After walking about a block or two he stops.  “You know, it’s not nice to follow someone like this,” His words are loud enough for Ryoko to hear.  He waits for her to respond.  After a moment he shrugs his shoulder.  “Fine.  If you won’t come to me…” He disappears.  Ryoko looks around trying to find the Saiyan.  Her search ends when he continues speaking.  “I’ll come to you.”

            Ryoko whirls around.  She is very surprise to see the Saiyan standing behind her.  “That wasn’t speed or a teleportation move.  You really did disappear didn’t you?”

            Ranma smiles.  “That is correct!  Mutsubetsu Kakuto Saotome Ryu forbidden technique, Goshin Dai Ryü Sei Fu!”  Ranma looks Ryoko over and frowns.  “You wouldn’t happen to be somebody Oyagi engaged me to, would ya?”

            Ryoko facefaults.  “No!”

            Ranma sighs in relief.  “Thank Kami-sama!”

            Ryoko growls and grits her teeth.  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

            “Oro?”

            “That supposed to mean that I’m ugly or something?”  Ranma sweats a little.  “I’ll have you know that I am the most beautiful space pirate around!”

            Ranma continues sweat and backs away from the scary lady.  “If you say so.  I guess you’re kind of cute.”  And so Ranma begins the famous Saotome Foot In Mouth Technique.

            (“Kind of cute?!”)  Ryoko’s angry.

            “Course Ucchan has bigger breasts…And Nabiki’s got a better body…And Kasumi’s got a prettier face…And…”

            “That’s it!”  Ryoko’s pissed.  “Die!”

 

            Ryoko began her attack by teleporting behind Ranma and delivering a kick the unsuspecting Saiyan’s back.  (“Teleportation?”)  He thought.  He frowns as Ryoko teleports again.  This time, however, Ranma is ready.  He slides to the side narrowly dodging a punch aimed for the back of his head.  (“It’s not like Goku-san’s Shukdan Idou.”)  Ranma continues to dodge Ryoko’s attacks as he analysis her technique.  (“She’s not teleporting to a person…so she’s teleporting to a place!”)  Ranma smiles and hops back.  (“Two more times!”)

            “What are you smiling about?”  Ryoko asks in an annoyed tone.

            Ranma’s smile broadens as he employs another Saotome technique.  “I was just thing about what a Tomboy you are.”  Piss off your opponent.

            “You little!”  Ryoko teleports once again.  Ranma frowns and powers up a little more.  He flies away from the area where he thinks Ryoko is going to teleport to.

            He smiles once more when he notes that he was right.  (“Guess I only needed one more time.”)  He whistles at the angry space pirate.  “Guess what!”

            “What?”  She asks.  Ranma’s figure blurs and disappears.  Ryoko looks around trying to find him.  (“No matter how fast he is I’ll find him!”)

            “I just figured out your technique!”  Ryoko turns to where the voice came from and is rewarded with a jab to the face.  She stumbles backwards but is given no time to recover.  Ranma continues to punch and kick her.  He holds back his full power but continues to dish out the punishment.  Ryoko teleports to try and buy her time to recover.  But Ranma follows and continues the attack.

            In desperation Ryoko lashes out with her sword.  It cuts Ranma’s forearm and causes him to float back.  Ryoko smiles through the pain.  “Don’t like my sword, huh?”  She asks as she draws forth another one.  “How about two?”  She rushes forward and begins to slash at the Saiyan.

            Ranma frowns and begins feeling out this new technique.  (“Kinda reminds me of Kien-zan.”)  His smile returns as he focuses his ki in the palms of his hands.  Ryoko is shocked when the Saiyan blocks her swords with swords of his own.  “I’ve got another technique.”

            Ryoko teleports to put some distance between her and her opponent.  (“He’s unbelievable.  I don’t think I can beat him.”)

            “That it?”  Ranma asks with an almost bored tone.  “Then I guess I’ll finish it.”  Ranma forces his ki out of him with a battle cry.  It slams into Ryoko like a freight train.  Already tired and wounded from the fight, Ryoko is knocked unconscious by the technique.

 

            Ayeka runs.  The sounds of the fight leading her to the location.  She turns the corner just in time to see the Saiyan step away from the apparently dead Ryoko.  (“Ryoko!”)  She may have had her arguments with the space pirate, but even Ryoko did not deserve a death like this.  “Saiyan!”

 

            Ranma sets the girl down and looks her over.  “She took allot of damage.”  He smiles as he thinks back to the fight.  “She’s quite the fighter.  Had a couple of really good techniques.”

            Ranma’s good mood, however, is ruined when someone yells out, “Saiyan!”

            He turns and is a bit surprised to see a young lady with purple hair glaring at him.  (“A very angry young lady,”) He corrects himself.  (“And she is most definitely not Shampoo.”)  For a moment they say nothing.  Finally Ranma speaks.  He waves and greets the young lady.  “Yo!”

            “Monster!”  She cries out.  She throws her hands out in front of her.

            “Monster?”  Ranma asks.  He is a bit surprised to see a multitude of small log-like objects appear in the air around him.  “What’s this?”  He asks.

            “This is the instrument of your death!”  She says confidently.

            Ranma shrugs.  “If you say so.”

            Ayeka growls and activates the power of the Jurian logs.  Electricity jumps from them and surrounds Ranma.  Ayeka smiles and laughs in triumph.  “How does it feel Saiyan?  How does it feel have the life slowly drain from your body?  How does it feel to have the crimes of your race revisited upon you?”  Ayeka yells out.

            Ranma sweatdrops and answers.  “Actually…I’m not feeling anything.”  Truth be known he is feeling something.  Deep within his being the electricity coming from the logs is causing something to stir.  Power!  (“This is different.  I haven’t felt anything like this before.”)

            Ayeka looks on in utter shock.  (“How can this monster withstand my power?”)

            Ranma scratches the back of his head in embarrassment.  “I’m kind of bored, so I’m goin’ bust out.  Okay?”  His expression becomes a serious one.  He crosses his arms and brings them to his chest.  He whips them out to his side as he cries out and unleashes his ki.  The force immediately incinerates the logs and tosses Ayeka back.  She lands and hits her head…knocking her unconscious.

 

            With a sigh Ranma turns to leave.  (“They’re fine, just unconscious,”) He tells himself.  He is about to take off into the air when a new presence makes its self know.  Ranma turns.

 

            Tenchi spares the Saiyan a glance before looking down at his friends.  They’re hurt but alive.  He turns his gaze back to the Saiyan.  Anger reigns in Tenchi’s mind.  But even with the anger he keeps a clear head.  He looks his opponent over.

 

            (“He’s strong.”)  Ranma and Tenchi share the same thought at nearly the same time.

            Tenchi takes out the Tenchi Key.  The blue blade blazes to life (blue blade blazes to life? I didn’t want to use b, b, b but it was all I could think of).  Ranma smirks and calls forth his newly learned sword.  They stand facing one another.  Neither one says a word.  With a cry they charge and clash.  The force of their blow causes the air to rush out of the immediate area and cracks the concrete below their feet.  Ranma smiles.  (“Good power.  Let’s see about speed.”)  Ranma hops back.  He smiles while he pulls his sword back and slashes out with an attack that looks similar to Kuno’s rapid bokken strike attack (what the hell is the name of that attack?).

            Tenchi frowns and begins blocking at a frantic pace.  (“This guy is good!  Really good!  I might have to use my full power to beat him.”)

            Ranma stops his attack and moves back.  (“This guy is good.  And that sword of his is letting off some descent power.  It’s like ki, but it’s different.  I wonder…”) Ranma’s musing are interrupted by the appearance of some familiar logs.  (“Not this again!”)  He turns his head.

            Both Ayeka and Ryoko are up and moving.  “Ayeka!  Ryoko!”  Tenchi yells.

            “I will not let you hurt Lord Tenchi!”

            Ranma sweatdrops.  “Hurt him?  I was going easy on him.”

            Tenchi looks at Ranma in shock.  (“Going easy of me?”)

            “Die!”  Ryoko yells out as she rushes forward.

            Ranma sighs and shrugs his shoulders.  “Oh well.”  He concentrates and expands his aura.  The area around him explodes in light and violence.

 

            Ranma lands lightly on the battered street.  He looks at his opponents.  Ayeka and Ryoko are out again.  Tenchi is getting up, but his sword is lying on the ground a ways away from him.  (“What happened to the blade?”)  Ranma thinks.

            Tenchi shakes his head clear.  (“What power!  He wasn’t kidding when he said he was taking it easy on me.”)  Tenchi looks at Ayeka and Ryoko then the Saiyan.  (“Fine.  Full power.”)  He stands and concentrates.  It takes him awhile, but he digs deep within himself and finds the power he needs.  The Wings of the Light Hawk.

            Ranma arches an eyebrow as Tenchi’s ki continues to grow.  (“Wow.  This guy’s got some serious power.”)  Ranma ups his power to match Tenchi’s.

            Tenchi looks at Ranma.  (“We’re about even now.  But I’ve got something he doesn’t!”)  He holds his hand out and without much thought or concentration calls upon his sword.  (“This sword made of the Wings of the Light Hawk gives me the advantage.”)

            Ranma looks at the sword, which has appeared in his foe’s hand, with a confused expression.  (“This guy has allot of power, but the sword has even more.  Odds are the sword that I made with my ki won’t be a match for it.”)

            Tenchi does not wait for his opponent to make the first move.  He rushes forward and slashes at the Saiyan.  His strike cuts through the concrete but does not land.  Ranma had already teleported into the air.  He hovers and smiles at Tenchi.  “Can’t fly?”  He asks.  There is a bit of pride in his voice.

            Tenchi smiles.  “No.”  He transforms his sword into an almost boomerang-like object and launches it at Ranma.

            Ranma frowns but counterattacks.  “Kijin Raishü Dan!”  The vacuum blade meets the blade of Jurian power.  In the end the power that defeated a black hole wins out.  Ranma dives to the side to avoid being split by the blade.  He flies back into the ground and lands rather roughly.  He puts his hands down to get up but stops.  (“What’s this?”)  He looks down at what his hand has touched.  It is the Tenchi Key!  (“This the thing that that guy used earlier.”)  Ranma looks at it and lets his ki wash over it.  It is in that moment that he understands.  He smiles and stands.  He places both hands on the Tenchi Key and places it in front of him.

            “I’m sorry to say, but you cannot use that.  Only those of the Royal House of Jurian can use it,” Tenchi informs Ranma.

            “Really?”  Ranma closes his eyes and digs deep within his being.  He digs deep, looking for the power he felt earlier when Ayeka attacked him with those logs.  (“There!”)

            Tenchi frowns and shakes his head.  (“I told him that he couldn’t use it.  Is he hard headed?”)  His expression shifts to that of amused to a neutral one to finally settling on shock.  The aura around Ranma slowly changed colors.  At first it was gray, bordering on white, but then it changed to blue, blue as the bluest ocean.  It pulsated and flowed off of him and the sword like waves in the sea.  The hilt itself elongates to around a foot and a half.  Ranma’s eyes snap open.  With a battle cry the blade of the Tenchi Key comes forth.

            “Guess I can do it too,” Ranma says with a smile.

 

            In the kitchen of the Masaki household, Sasami is cooking.  She has just finished cutting the carrots and tosses a piece to Ryo-ohki.  The cabbot meowed her thanks and devoured the carrot with ease.  Sasami smiled and turned back to her work.  It was in this moment that her other self felt something.  A power that should not be.  Sasami disappeared in a shimmer of blue light.  When it subsided Tsunami, Goddess of Juria, stood in her place.  She wasted no time and teleported to the place where she had felt the power.  She only hoped she would be in time.

 

            “How?”  Tenchi asks.

            “Don’t have a clue.”  Ranma looks at his new sword and then at Tenchi’s.  “Your sword is still more powerful than mine.”

            Tenchi nods.  (“That’s right!  I still have the advantage.  Even if he can use the Tenchi Key he can’t match the power of the Wings of the Light Hawk.”)

            “Thankfully I have a technique that’ll take away that advantage.”  Ranma smiles.  (“God I’m glad I mastered this.”)  His expression becomes deadly serious, as he gets ready.  “Kaio-ken!”  The red aura shots up around him.  This time there is no pain.  This time there is only power.  The Tenchi Key reacts to the Kaio-ken as well.  The blade changes color from blue to red and takes the shape of a katana’s blade.  “Ready?”  Ranma tenses as he prepares to attack.  Tenchi does the same.

            A booming voice stops them from attacking.  “STOP!”

            Both combatants turn to the voice.  Ranma arches an eyebrow.  (“Who’s she?”)  He looks at her power and pales.  (“God in heaven!  What power!”)

            Tenchi, however, knows this person.  “Tsunami!”

            (“Great a friend of his!  I don’t stand a chance.”)  Ranma tenses expecting the woman to attack.

            “I did not come here to fight.  I have come here to stop you two from fighting,” She explains.

            Ranma, tired from holding onto the Kaio-ken for so long (he way have mastered it, but he’s still not that strong), relaxes.  Tenchi follows suit.  He cannot sense any ill will coming from this woman.  In fact she kind of reminds him of Kasumi.  “So who are you?”

            “I am Tsunami, Goddess of Juria.  As I said, you two should not be fighting…you should be allies.”

            “Allies?”  Ranma and Tenchi yell out.

            “Hai.  If you would come with us Saiyan-san, we would like to talk with you.”

            “Fine but call me Ranma, Saotome Ranma.”

            “Very well then Ranma-san.  If you will…”

            “Hold it!”  Another voice calls out.

            This time it is Ranma who recognizes the voice.  He pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance.  “What do you want?”

            Sailor Pluto hops down in the middle of the group and addresses Tsunami.  “I must go with the Saiyan.  I have taken it upon myself to watch over him; to see if he is indeed trustworthy, and to kill him if he is not.”

            Ranma frowns.  “Like you could kill me anyway.”

            “In any event I will be accompanying you.”

            Tsunami looks at Sailor Pluto with a confused expression before nodding.  “Very well.”  All six of them disappear in a blind flash of light.