A Ranma 1/2 multiverse fanfiction By Dmitri 'Ranshin' Antonov The Guardians of earth Chapter 4: Past regrets Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki. To normal people that live a common life they would be just names. But to people that live in Nerima those two names could bring fear and amazement, especially the former. People that live in Nerima know that these two youngsters are two of the most powerful people in the world. If you had seen one of the two boys serious fights you would agree to it within a heartbeat. Serious fights as in when they start to glow in different colours and start throwing raw emotional energy around. This sight of course horrifies normal people, yet at the same time amazes them. For two seventeen year old boys to be capable of doing what many martial arts masters could not do even if they trained their entire life, from the day they could walk till the day the died, is incredible. Currently these two boys were on their way to the Tendo dojo to get Ranma's backpack, among other things. They were having a conversation about literally speaking how the hell they got themselves into this situation. "Why did we agree to this so quickly anyway?" Ryoga sked Ranma. He just didn't understand why he had agreed to this. "I'm as clueless as you are man. Maybe because of our pride or something. I mean, we are martial artists after all. It's our duty to protect the weak. Isn't it?" Ranma said this unsure of his own words. This time they weren't going to fighting some low grade oni, or a demi-god for that matter. They were going to fight the gods' biggest enemies, the devils themselves. "It is our duty. Although I did kind of neglect it for a while. I mean attacking you the way I did wasn't honorable." "Will you quit this regret crap! I forgave you for that, now stop beating yourself over what wasn't really your fault!" "Okay, sorry about that. But you're right. It's our duty as martial artists to protect the weak. But I was wondering, what are you going to tell the Tendos and your parents?" "I ain't telling the Tendos or the old man shit! The only ones that deserve to know are Kasumi, mom and Dr.Tofu. Mom has been showing that she finds Akane an annoyance, not a potential bride. She also knows that Kasumi has somone else and that me marrying Nabiki would be a nightmare." "So, you marrying Akane or any Tendo is out of the question now? I guess your glad aren't you?" "I'm relieved. I save Akanes life and how does she repay me? She blames the whole wedding fiasco on me. I'm seriously sick of her shit Ryoga. She's the most ignorant person I know. She sees everything that I do or don't do as perverted and disgusting. You were like that too, but not nearly all the time. She on the other hand, she thinks that everything she wants she's supposed to get. She thinks that life is easy as hell. Us Ryoga, we worked our asses off to be at the level we are now. She just thinks that because she's daddys spoiled little girl she can get anything she wants." Ranmas voice bore almost nothing but malice. But if you listened clearly and looked at his eyes you would notice not just the anger, but the sorrow and regret in his words. He was angry at Akane, there was no doubt about that. But he was also sad and regretted that all they went through was for naugh in the end. "Oh well, no use crying over spilled milk. Even if it is a whole pool. Heh I just remembered how much a hammer she is in the water. Can't even go one stoke wothout drowning. I'm surprised she didn't drown in the bath or the shower." He chuckled, sad at the memory. To think that once he loved that uncute tomboy. She who was built like a mule, twice as ugly and just as strong. He even remebered when he used that exact insult on her. It was when Ryoga and Mousse first formed an alliance to try to beat him. Which of course failed miserably. "Those were the times. Remember Togenkyo Ryoga? I almost admitted my feelings for her there, while saving her from Toma. She was so stupid for hitting him. I mean, if I was like that brat and some woman comes and slaps me in the face objecting. Of course I'd want her as my bride, wouldn't you? She never thinks. Never did, and isn't now. Sigh...I should just get over it. Hell I am over it, it's just that, we could have had so much." Ranma had stopped walking by now and was looking at the ground, his head down. He had tears streaming freely down his cheeks and he had a hard time controlling his breathing. He was talking in heavily controlled sobs. "And worst of all, Jusendo. I almost lost her, both her and me were so close to death. I think that if I would have lost her that day, I would've killed myself. I would have never forgiven myself for letting her die. But we survived, both of us. And now what? Only more problems. She hates my guts, she despises me, she even shows it. Ryoga I can't, no, I won't take any more of this. The Saotome and Tendo engagement is through. But the only person I'm telling that for now is you, and I'm also going to tell Kasumi, my mother and maybe the doc." He had stopped crying, although his cheeks were wet from his tears and his eyes were slightly red. Ryoga took in all this information shockingly without any trouble at all. Akane had become even more violent than ever since the fiasco. Ranma the aeroplain was seen more often these days. They continued their walk, in silence this time. Ranma had many things to regret and cry about, Ryoga did not. The only thing that the lost boy really regretted was that he was so blind to the facts for so long. He didn't know why he had though that he loved Akane. Probably because she was so nice to hiim while he was a pig. This was one of the facts that he was blind about. He had abused Akanes trust and Ranmas friendship, yet the pigtailed martial artist saved his bacon lots of times. Ryoga winced at the pun. "So Ranma what are you going to tell everyone anyway?" he had wanted to ask this question for a while now but he had let Ranma have his moment of sorrow in silence. He knew his help wasn't needed, Ranma healed his own wounds. "I'm going to tell the Tendos that I'm going on a little training trip. Kasumi and the doc don't really need to know any more than that. But as for my mother, she deserves a more complete version. I'll tell her that I'm leaving, for a long time. Ucchan'll get the same thing. I'm not even letting the amazons know that I'm leaving." "I wonder what we're going to do when we find the next guardian." Ryoga said, changing the subject. He felt the anger and sorrow Ranma was currently giving off. And if he decided to release it, his own Perfect Lion Roar Bullet would seem like a flickering match compared to what Ranmas would be. "Well, the first thing is to actually find him, or her. After that I guess we just touch his or her symbol. Darcyn said that it was the only way to teleport him to the place that we were at, whatever that place was." Surprisingly Ranma seemed to relax, if not by much. But enough to be uncapable of firing off a Shi Shi Hokodan. Soon the two boys were at the Tendo dojo. Ranma opened the gate and they walked through, closing it after them. They walked up to the porch and Ranma gestured for Ryoga to wait for him, the lost boy just nodded his head and stood completely still, for the fear of getting lost. When Ranma entered he saw that Soun and Genma were playing Shogi as usual. His mother was drinking tea with Kasumi and both were watching television, both were slightly wincing for some reason. Nabiki was not there, which meant that she was either in her room or out somewhere. Then he noticed the horrible stench which seemed to come from the kitchen. In other words, Akane was cooking lunch for him, again. *So that's what mom and Kasumi are wincing for* Ranma sighed and walked into the room with a call of "I'm home!" As soon as that was said all eyes were at him. And then his father started bickering. "Where were you boy? What was that stunt with the aura this morning? I demand you tell me how you did it!" Ranma just looked at him in sudden confusion. His aura? What was he talking about? Then it dawned on him. *Of course! Nabiki told me that I wouldn't wake up this morning becuase I had a huge aura. How the hell did I forget? Probably because of the day's events. Oh man...wait a sec! I can use this to my advantage.* "I have no idea how I did old man. That's what I've been trying to figure out all day. That's also the reason why I'm going on a training trip." It was a perfect excuse actually. Of course his mothers expression showed that she knew that he was lying. Even for the short time that they had known each other, she still knew him best. "You're going on a training trip? That's great boy! You can take your fiancee with you as well." Genma said this with a happy yet a little desperate face. *He probably wants me to take Akane with me so they won't have to eat her poison* "Are you nuts old man? How the hell am I gonna train if I have a girl with me? She'll just distract me anyway." Ranma said this with frustraition. *If she found out what me and Ryoga are gonna be doing she'd start with that 'I'm a martial artist too' crap again and demand to come with us. "Come now son. Surely you can take her with you. She will not be any trouble, she could help you train." Soun said this with as much wisdom in his voice as possible. But he was still nervous. "I can't take her with me. She sure as hell won't be able to help me. She could help if she were as good as Ryoga or Shampoo. But she's not, not even close. You know it, I know it, and she knows it. Now cut the crap and leave me alone!" Ranma wasn't really angry, just irritated as hell and frustrated to boot. Akane would never be able to help train him, that's for sure. Besides this trip wasn't even for training, it would come after the trip. "Ok, then boy. Do as you like, but hurry back will you." This was said rather happily by Genma for some reason. His intensions were clear though. *The boy will be here in a week admitting his love for Akane, I'm sure of it!* "Yes go ahead son. We will be waiting for your return." Soun said this in pretty much the same relaxed and happy tone as Genma. Of course since his plans were pretty much the same. *I should have a priest ready by the time he's back!* "Uh, sure whatever. I'll go pack." Ranma quickly bolted up the stairs and went into the guest room. He quickly took out his traveling pack and put in all the necessary stuff in. Including some clothes, his tent and other traveling stuff. He then opened the side pocket of the pack and took out a small wad of cash and put it into his pocket. *Might as well put my savings to use* He then took out a paper and pensil and started writing. He wrote as quickly as he could, and it took him only a few minutes to finish. He folded the paper and pocketed it. He then quickly exited the room and bounded down the stairs. He then went up to his mother, took out the letter and gave it to her. "Read this in private when you the get chance. But you probably already know my intensions." He wispered to her. Making sure no one would hear. Then he took out a little money from his pocket and handed it to her. "Give this to Nabiki, it's what I owe her." He quickly hugged his mother and she hugged him back, knowing that where ever he was going, she wouldn't see him again for quite a while. Then he released her and with a final wisper of "I love you mom." He went for the door. Then he cursed slightly to himself when Akane came out of the kitchen with a plate of something that looked like combination of brocolli and ooze in her hands. "Where are you going Ranma?" she said with slight anger in her voice. "I'm going on a training trip with Ryoga. If you need proof then he's outside." Akane looked out the window, not believing Ranma. Then she was surprised to see Ryoga standing there with his arms folded under his chest, seemingly waiting for someone. "Ok then, but before you leave have some of the lunch I prepared. I worked really hard this time Ranma so eat some." she said this in a threataning voice. With a look that said 'Obey or die'. But Ranma just shrugged, picket up a pair of chopsticks out of nowhere and shocking everyone by actually eating it. He quickly finished everything that was on the the plate and silently burped to himself. "So, how was it?" Akane asked with hope on her face. She had tried so hard this time, it must have been really good if he ate it that fast. "Excuse me for a minute will you?" He then quickly went to the bathroom. Sounds of barfing followed the minute after. Then he exited, went up to Akane and spoke rather bluntly. "It was the worst meal you have prepared to date." He then went out of the house. When Ryoga saw him Ranma looked a little pale. He'd seen him like this before. "So, how was the meal?" "The worst meal she has prepared to date." He just ignored Ryoga by giving him the same answer he gave his supposed finacée, and grabbed his stomach in pain. "Let's get out of here." He said groaning and walking up to the gate. "Right behind you man." Ryoga nodded following him. That night, Nodoka Saotome took out the letter that Ranma had given her and started reading. 'Dear mother. If you're reading this that means I'm a few miles away from Nerima by now. You probably know the reason. I need a new start, a new life. Because the life I have now is just not something I can live with. I'm also leaving because my life of chaos just went up a few levels. I can't tell you what happened, but I can tell you that it will be at least a year before I see you again. If I see you again that is. Sadly, what I must do now could lead to my death. But hey, that's just my life. I'll try to settle down with a nice girl when this is over and give you some grandchildren, since you seem to want some so much. I will see you when my journey is over. Forever your loving son, Ranma Saotome. Authors notes: Well dang! That's over with. Next chapter will hopefully be up by next week. Since school has started my writing may slow down a bit, but that's only a maybe. I'm also gonna be working on my Wanderers saga. Don't expect the first chapter to that to be up yet, 'cause it's gonna be way long. And if anyone is interested my LIMT story is on hold, and a re-write in prose is iminent, I suck at script. Anyway I'm outta here! See ya all, Ja ne! I wanna thank all my reviewers, I wanna thank mastermage for his help, I wanna thank my good friend Da g00se for his support, and mostly I wanna thank DarkKnight2050 for proof-reading. Thank you all!