Ranma ½ Cliched 13

[Lawra]

May as well post something since new board with it's terrible quote format and all.

=-=-=-=-=

Floating high above the fight below, the God Razu watched with both pride and regret as Ladon was slain. In a perfect world he would have dealt with the Dragon long ago, but direct interference in Mortal affairs was heavily frowned upon by both sides. So he worked passively to support the cities population, providing comfort where he could. However there was always a way to bend the rules, and the young Tiefling had directly asked for his assistance before so it was acceptable for him to help. Since she was so inexperienced he decided to give her some invaluable insight she would have missed otherwise.

As the volcano collapsed down around his head, he kept himself incorporeal, allowing the mountain to pass through him. Keeping an eye on his charge, he noticed a Demon attempting to block the girl’s path by collapsing the path out. ‘Your champion lost.’ He thought with contempt at the petty act. The game was over and the pieces had to fall where they may.

Examining the tunnel structure, he smiled and strengthened a new path for the girl to take, knowing that the Demon would not risk open conflict with him over a Tiefling’s life. Deciding that he had done enough, Razu finished watching the girl reach safety before returning to Lutansk. It would be dawn soon and he had to keep watch over his humble temple.

zx

“Wow.” Ranma wheezed out a breath, her jaw refusing to close at the sight that greeted her.

The room was at least thirty meters in diameter with magical lights placed halfway up and around the room. Small and large piles of gold coins and bars sat at the foot of a literal mountain of gold in the center of the room. Brightly colored gemstones sparkled amidst the soft golden glow and ancient artifacts peaked out from their partially buried homes.

Reaching out her free hand in a daze, she hesitantly picked up a nearby coin. The inscription was from a country she had never heard of and a date printed on it showed it to be nearly five hundred years old. Her blue eyes slowly traced upwards to the largest pile, unable to stop herself from laughing deliriously. There was more wealth here in just the gemstones than anyone could spend in a lifetime.

Struggling up to her feet, her hooves slipped momentarily on some of the gold she had been laying on before she was vertical. If she had pockets she would have been filling them well past the brim. Hundreds, thousands of years of Ladon’s ill gotten gains lay spread before her. It was overwhelming and she had no clue what to do. Shifting Saffron slightly, the baby squirmed at her sudden movement, but remained quiet.

Coughing and hacking, she slipped, and collapsed onto her knees. Covering her mouth with her hand she struggled to get her breathing back under control. Feeling light headed she slowly pulled her left hand away from her mouth and saw that it was covered in a small coating of blood. The baby in her arms made a plaintive whine and tried to grab onto her better.

“Where’s that jerk doctor when I need him?” She coughed again, struggling to get back to her feet while desperately looked for an exit. Ladon’s hoard could wait, she needed to get back to Lutansk. She needed to get help.

zx

Two Days Later

Ranma’s eyes snapped open and she shot up into a sitting position, her large wings briefly flaring before tucking in close to wrap around her body. Eyes wide and unfocused, she breathed in and out rapidly through her nose. A shiver ran up her body and finally she was awake enough to notice her surroundings, the nightmare she had been having already a distant memory.

Immediately she became aware of Saffron preparing himself to start crying. Quickly gathering him up from where he lay to her right, she made soft shushing sounds at him, and gently rocked him until he quieted down. ‘Safe!’ She mentally cheered, having avoided the head splitting cry of the Phoenix child.

“Are you alright?” Pepa asked quietly, floating over from a nearby table where a small pillow was serving as her bed. The fairies large concerned eyes shifted down to the baby.

“I’m fine.” Ranma answered, her voice was hoarse and barely louder than the tiny fairy.

“Okay.” Pepa nodded and traveled down to the foot of the bed to sit down to watch Ranma attentively.

‘Thanks to you.’ She added to herself, feeling uncomfortable with vocalizing the sentiment to the spell creature. The events were hazy, but she had apparently collapsed a little over halfway back to Lutansk. Pepa had noticed her distress somehow and had got the attention of Favian to go search for her.

Ranma’s breath caught and she fought down another coughing fit. Waving off a concerned question from Pepa, Ranma delicately placed Saffron back down to her right. Swinging her large wings around, she twisted to lay on her side with the baby almost touching her stomach.

Staring out the window, she must have missed Kasumi once again because the sky was black, and the room was lit by several candles. It had hurt that neither Kasumi or Favian had visited up until Pepa had informed her that they had visited several times but she had been asleep. Ranma’s former fiance had been kind enough to leave off a couple of her male sized tunics to sleep in rather than the tacky hospital clothing.

She hadn’t expected to be staying in the hospital but the toxic fumes she had inhaled nearly killed her. Only her rapid healing and quick exit had saved her. Unfortunately without the barrier to suppress her infernal side, no Mortal doctor could perform any healing spells on her. While Ranma had gained a great amount of control, just her passive presence overwhelmed any attempts. So she would have to recover without assistance, a limitation she would have to remember going forward.

Seeing the face of one of her Phoenix guards peeking in from outside the door, she rolled her eyes. The Phoenix were not leaving her alone, having been alerted quite quickly that the baby Saffron was with her. So now she had a pair of guards at all times that had quickly learned she hated them being in the same room watching her like hawks.

Her big problem was that none of the Phoenix could take Saffron off her hands. Apparently when he hatched from his egg, he imprinted on her, and would cry without end if taken away. There was a way to change that but they were holding off on deciding who would get to experience this particular honor until Kiima regained consciousness. She didn’t see why they were waiting. Kiima wasn’t going to want to do it and there were several female Phoenix who were more than capable of stepping up.

Yawning, she just wanted to go back to sleep. Remembering the child, she made sure he was under the thin blanket as well. “Don’t wake me up.” She mumbled to the infant drowsily.

zx

The Next Day

“And now take a deep breath.” A female doctor named Liana instructed, sitting on the bed to her side, with a cold metal stethoscope pressed against Ranma’s back. The doctor was younger than the others Ranma had dealt with, looking around thirty years old with short black hair, and her bangs pulled to the left side by a silver barrette.

Wheezing in a deep breath to the point where she coughed lightly, Ranma breathed out, and waited impatiently for this inspection to be over. Kasumi had arrived midway through the physical and was forced to wait outside while the doctor finished. Pepa was busy keeping Saffron occupied, the baby happily giggling at the glowing fairy dancing around him.

“Your condition is noticeably better than yesterday.” The woman noted, pulling the stethoscope away from Ranma’s back. “I wish there was more I could do.”

“It’s alright-- I’ll live.” She shrugged, feeling a little overwhelmed by the generally positive attitude the Mortal inhabitants had gained towards her. Ranma had noticed that multiple doctors were fighting just to check on her and the nurses were far more attentive. News had filtered up to her through the nurses that there were many high profile figures trying to pay her a visit.

“Help!” Pepa called out, interrupting their discussion.

Ranma twisted around to find that the fairy had been caught by Saffron who was happily squeezing and shaking his hands. As soon as she reached out to pry Pepa away from the Phoenix, the spell creature was forcibly shoved into his mouth head first. Her eyes widened and before Saffron could move another muscle she had plucked Pepa from his grasp.

“You good?” She asked the fairy who’s blue hair was matted down by saliva.

Pepa looked shaken but nodded her head rapidly, wiping some of the spit from her eyes. “I’m sticky.”

“Yea, you are.” Ranma released Pepa and used her tail to distract the child, trying to turn the game of keep away into training for her tail.

“Why don’t you use the wash basin in the corner to get clean?” The Doctor suggested helpfully.

“Good idea.” Pepa answered as though it was a great realization.

‘Still not much with common sense.’ Ranma mentally sighed.

“It seems like you have your hands full.” The Doctor smiled warmly at her. “Taking care of an infant is never easy-- even when expecting it.”

“He should be taken by one of the Phoenix soon enough.” She flicked her tail a short distance from Saffron, making him crawl in order to follow.

“Then you should enjoy the brief practice for when you have your own.”

“I’ll pass on that.” Ranma answered that suggestion with a derisive snort and the woman just laughed at her response.

“Be that as it may, if you need to talk about anything at all, I’ll be available. You have been through a great ordeal, it’s normal to have emotional distress as well as physical injuries.” Liana patted her on the shoulder before rising to her feet. “Is there a time you would prefer me to visit you for checkups over the next week?”

She wanted to protest that she didn’t need to be smothered by some doctor but it would be smart to at least keep track of how fast she healed. “Anytime in the morning I guess.” She answered meekly.

“I should be able to work in quick check ups at nine.” Liana rapidly scribbled down a note on a small piece of parchment she was carrying.

“Alright.” Ranma nodded, accepting the frivolous doctor visits.

“Then I will be seeing you tomorrow at nine o'clock sharp.” The woman paused before inclining her head towards Ranma. “And thank you.”

“For what?” She asked glancing backwards when she noticed Saffron’s tiny clawed hands grabbing at her tail. Refocusing her efforts at keeping it just out of reach, she made a note that his little claws were sharp.

“Because you saved my life and my family. Haven’t you realized it yet? You’re the hero of the city.” Liana nodded towards her again. “I’ll send your friend in.”

Ranma watched the woman travel the short distance to exit the room. “Oh my.” She gasped.

zx

Kasumi hid her irritation at the Phoenix guards stationed outside of Ranma’s door. Everytime she had come to visit they had tried to prevent her access to the room, and one would always follow her in to keep watch on everything she did. She understood their hatred of Dragons but their blanket assumption that she would be anything like Ladon’s children was heavily grating on her patience.

Thanking the doctor on her way out, Kasumi ignored the two Phoenix, and closed the door behind her. Ranma was sitting up on her hospital bed, the baby Saffron happily playing with her tail, and Pepa drying herself off next to a washbasin in the corner. Her red haired companion was staring mutely forward and didn’t acknowledge her presence. Kasumi found it strange that Ranma’s wings were their full size.

“Hi Kasumi!” Pepa greeted enthusiastically. “Saffron tried to eat me so I was all sticky.”

Kasumi took a second to register Pepa’s explanation and couldn’t help but give a brief chuckle. “Be careful, he doesn’t really understand that he can hurt you.”

“Oh I will.” The fairy nodded.

Turning her attention back to her former fiance, she found that she was still being ignored. “Ranma?” She asked nervously, stepping forward to be an arms length away.

According to Favian, Ranma had indeed been subject to Ladon’s spell to completely alter her to his whims. Other than some shock over the recent events, none of the doctors or nurses had noticed anything out of place. But they didn’t know Ranma and aside from the still comatose Kiima no one else knew the redhead personally.

“Ranma?” She asked a bit more forcibly, gently laying a hand on Ranma’s shoulder. The other Tiefling’s eyes slowly focused and turned to look up at her with a relieved smile.

“I kept my promise.” Ranma’s voice came out in a whisper, a remnant of her damaged lungs. The redhead looked so small and frail to Kasumi’s eyes, it was hard to imagine the immense magical power, and physical strength that Ranma wielded.

“You did.” Sitting down next to the smaller girl, she thought that Ranma pointing out something she had said before was a good sign.

“Definitely.” Ranma nodded.

Kasumi couldn’t hold back anymore and gathered the smaller Tiefling up into a hug. “Don’t ever run off and scare me like that again.” She whispered, feeling no resistance from the cursed teen. “I want that promise from you.”

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore.” Ranma answered into her dress.

The redhead gave a quiet yelp and leapt from her arms and out of the bed before Kasumi could ask about the strange wording. “Don’t bite that.” Ranma chastised Saffron, inspecting her tail for damage.

Kasumi glanced back, she found Pepa giggling madly and the baby Saffron clumsily clapping his hands against his thighs with a big smile on his face that showed off his mouthful of baby teeth. Demurely covering her mouth to also laugh at Ranma’s tail being bitten, she was thankful that her own was armor plated. Which made doorways far less terrifying.

“He caught you too!” Pepa guffawed, nearly falling from her place hovering over the bed.

“I’m not too sure about a Phoenix as a roommate, even one as cute as you.” She joked, picking up the baby who squirmed in her arms to keep Ranma within his field of view. “Do you know what they are going to do about him?”

“They are discussing who is going to get him.” Ranma answered sarcastically with a roll of her eyes, her breath caught leading to a small coughing fit.

“Are you sure you’re feeling up to leaving?” She asked, concerned that Ranma was more interested in leaving than her health.

“Just a cough.” The red head waved off her concern. “Lemme get dressed, I want to visit Kiima first.”

“Okay.” Looking away to give Ranma some privacy in the small room, it was ultimately a futile gesture because the other Tiefling simply put on a pair of pants. “Ranma, is there a reason you have your wings that size?” She asked, finally deciding to ask about the oddity.

“I’m not sure.” Ranma answered, pulling her left wing forward to grip lightly between her hands. “I used a lot of Infernal magic and they just grew out.” The red head squeezed her eyes shut tightly in concentration and after a brief moment of no result, her wings haltingly shrunk down to their normal medium size. As soon as she relented they rapidly grew back out. “And that happens if I try to shrink them.”

Kasumi’s brow furrowed in concern, trying to analyze the flows of magic around the smaller girl. Ranma wasn’t projecting a very strong infernal aura like she did before learning control, but her body itself seemed flooded by it. “Maybe you just have to get used to not having the barrier around.” She hypothesized, without the barrier constantly rejecting their infernal presence she had noticed that it was harder to control that part of her aura.

Ranma nodded. “It was a crutch.” The red head pulled the furred cloak Favian had given her from a hook on the wall and affixed it around her neck to let it fall between her wings. “I relied on it to keep my infernal side under control. As Pop would say, boy!” Ranma paused to take a deep breath, trying to deepen her voice. “You’ll have to be trained again from the ground up!” She tried to announce grandly but stayed as a strained whisper.

Kasumi giggled demurely at Ranma’s proclamation. “We can do that together? Can’t we? When we get back home?” She asked hopefully. As soon as they returned Ranma would be under no compulsion to remain other than their strained friendship.

“Of course.” Ranma’s hooves made soft tapping noises on floor as she came over to take Saffron from her arms.

“I can carry him if you want.” She offered.

“Nah, he’ll stay quiet if I have him.” The other Tiefling sighed. “It’ll be nice when they finally decide what to do with him.” She added half heartedly, brushing some of his brightly colored hair from his face.

The door opened suddenly and the two Phoenix guards stepped in to bow to Ranma. “Are you prepared to go my lady?” One of them asked politely.

“I am, but why don’t you two make yourselves useful and tell me where Kiima is.” Ranma asked dismissively.

zx

Nerima

Michiko felt that something was amiss with the Tendo home. She was visiting Kasumi’s younger sister Akane and after inviting herself in the front door, she got the distinct impression that something was wrong. The condition of the house had noticeably deteriorated since her last visit. Floors needed to be swept and washed for a start. Somehow many of the doors and windows had become tilted off their hinges or left ajar.

While she was expected she had decided to sneak in for a bit of fun. Hearing an old man’s voice cackling in laughter from the living room. She peaked around the corner and blinked her eyes several times upon seeing a gnome visiting.

“Hello.” She greeted, stepping out to give a friendly wave, and mostly ignoring the other occupants of the room. Up until she noticed the horrified looks on Akane, Soun, and her father’s faces. “Something wrong?” She asked.

“Hello to you too, cute stuff.” The small gnome hopped up on the low table with surprising speed. His big round eyes devouring her body with his gaze and actually making her feel uncomfortable.

“Master she’s too young!” Genma appeared between her and the gnome. Michiko missed the movement that sent her father face first into the floor and how the small mortal came to be sitting on his back.

“You remind me of someone, but who?” The old Mortal asked curiously, tapping a long pipe on Genma’s back before lighting it with a small flame spell.

“Master please.” Genma groaned from his spot, earning a much harder tap to the back of his head.

“Would you stop hitting him?” She requested as politely as she could to a man. “He is my father--.” She shrugged.

“Genma’s daughter eh?” Bouncing up to his feet, the small man’s eyes looked at her with a far more calculating gaze. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Michiko.” She introduced herself, feeling vaguely threatened by the tiny man’s presence.

“Ya know Genma, I saw you making eyes at that Succubus I kept as a pet but I would have expected your kid to be a lot older. Wasn't expecting that trull to keep her legs together long enough for my body to get cold.”

“Jealous you could never reach?” She asked, angry at the pet remark.

“You’re so mean!” The gnome wailed, wiping at tears that rapidly sprang from his eyes. “Let me cry my sorrow out into your bosom!” Leaping towards her faster than she could move, she closed her eyes shut waiting for him to hit her.

When nothing came, she slowly opened up one eye, and found that the gnome was sitting calmly at the table sipping at a cup of tea. “What? Couldn’t get it up to give me a good grope?” She demanded, not wanting to have those tiny hands at her developing breasts but feeling slighted that he would use that as a joke.

“Nothing to grope.” He answered.

‘How dare this creature say that to me!’ Her body stiffened and she forced her wings not to shake with rage. This was not the first time her looks had been insulted but she had never been treated with such outright dismissal by any man. No man had ever said an unkind word to her. Something she had no intention of making a regular occurrence.

“Hurry, while he’s distracted.” Genma tried to pull her back through the doorway but she pulled herself out of his grasp.

“You think to insult me, male?” She stomped her right foot and squared her shoulders. “You insult my mother? I’ll give you one chance to apologize and beg for my forgiveness.” She demanded. Receiving no response other than the Tendos and her father all trying to tell her to stop she crossed her arms.

“Very well.” She relaxed her stance, standing with all the dignity that her station required, Michiko began to speak in halting infernal. “Zeg wgejvnjv hwe dmpvrhlgi ez repil Ageha N spgil oep rljsl, je weamji fedo wnbb oep hepsr, je dnigliwlszpbb wegd wnbb glmsr mj lmg, je beec oep vnwl wnbb njiwngl zlmg.” (1)

Completely drained, she collapsed to the floor, but was caught by her father before her knees could touch the wood. The target of her curse hadn’t reacted in the slightest, continuing to sip tea as though nothing had happened.

“What did you do?” Genma was able to drag her from the room without resistance.

“Oh nothing much.” She smiled cruelly. “I just cursed him so he can’t touch, insult, or ogle another woman.” Michiko explained, remembering that to get this curse on her home plane was akin to dying for any man.

“You have to get rid of it, right now!” He lifted her completely off the ground to carry back towards the living room.

“I will most certainly not.” Gathering her remaining energy, she flew out of his arms to land unsteadily on the wooden floor. “After what he did to my mother and how he just insulted me?” She scoffed.

“Daughter, you do not understand. You just took away the Master’s purpose in life. Without girls for him to grope, ogle, and steal their underwear, who knows what he’ll do?” Genma explained frantically as though the world was going to end.

“It’s perfect then.” She could imagine how happy this turn of events would make her mother.

“I think it’s great.” Akane interrupted, glancing back nervously after following them out into the hall. “Lasts forever I hope?”

“Until it gets removed.” She answered, proud that she had been able to cast the complex spell on such short notice.

“Daughter please remove it.” Genma pleaded, getting down on his hands and knees. “This will only bring disaster!”

“No.” She responded simply before turning to Akane. “Are you ready to get started?”

Akane nodded shyly. “Yes, I got the ingredients you said from the market yesterday.”

“Daughter you can’t do anything other than cure the Master right now.” Genma demanded of her. “Wait-- what are you two doing?”

“I was going to help Akane with her cooking.” She smiled brightly at the chance to show off her culinary skills. Back home their servants were responsible for nearly all of the food preparation.

“Oh--.” Her father’s eyes darted between the living room and Akane. “Alright, Akane first then the cure. Did you have some kind of spell to make her food edible?” Michiko winced as her father was once again flattened to the floor, this time by Akane.

‘Why are Mortals so violent?’ She grimaced.

zx

Lutansk

Ranma had been disappointed that Kiima hadn’t been awake for her visit but magical healing was often described as a traumatic process. Forcing flesh and bone to heal at such a rapid speed was almost worse than doing nothing. In the hands of an unskilled practitioner it could drastically shorten lives. So she could understand why Kiima was being kept from further stress until fully healed.

However, she didn’t understand why there was a small crowd of people waiting outside the door leading up to her apartment. She could see that many of them had various sized packages held in their hands. Kasumi seemed less troubled than her by the crowd, like this was now a common thing.

“Do you know what’s up?” She whispered to her roommate.

“Gifts for you.” Kasumi answered with false enthusiasm. “Glares for me.”

Ranma was shocked by the reverence being given to her. She was being presented with gifts of various sizes and most kept their heads down after bowing to her, refusing to meet her eye. They did spend a great deal of time introducing themselves as though she would remember them in the future. Without knowing how to respond, she nervously thanked them, and used her two Phoenix guards as pack mules for all the gifts.

She thought some semblance of normalcy would return after the door to her apartment was closed but that hope was dashed by the pile of gifts taking up much of the floor. “We might need a bigger place.” She remarked, finding the kneeling cushion Kasumi had made for her, and placed a drowsy Saffron on it. The baby tried to keep hold of her hand for a moment before laying still.

“Favian said he was going to bring us several bags of holding.” Kasumi answered, offering the two Phoenix guards something to drink but they refused and returned to guarding the door from the outside. “I didn’t feel right sorting through it.” The other Tiefling fretted.

“You think I do?” Being showered with gifts and gratitude was throwing her for a loop. Picking up a nice looking black tunic with delicate golden edging, Ranma guessed she could get used to free stuff. Throwing the garment over her shoulder, she found herself face to face with a large white weasel that was perched on a roll of green fabric.

“Did someone give us this?” She pointed to the creature.

“Huh? No.” Kasumi answered worriedly. “Where do you think it came from?”

“Hello.” The weasel spoke in a young girl’s voice and quirked its head to one side inquisitively.

“A talking weasel?” Ranma raised an eyebrow.

“My name is Hana and I was sent to deliver you a message.” The white furred weasel introduced.

“Oh! You’re a familiar aren’t you.” Kasumi announced happily and knelt down next to Ranma excitedly. “I read about them at the library.” She explained after Ranma gave her an inquisitive glance.

“I am, Michiko of house Ageha is my master.” Hana bowed her head towards Ranma then Kasumi.

“I don’t like it.” Pepa interrupted, glaring at the familiar. “It’s up to something.”

“Delivering a message.” Hana answered the fairies accusation haughtily. “My message is for my master’s sister.” She nodded her head towards Ranma.

“Well what did my sister want?” She asked, curious over the message and what other high forms of magic Michiko had been hiding from her. Hana’s form lost consistency and she vanished into a puff of white smoke that reformed into a copy of Michiko the same size as her weasel form.

Michiko’s copy waved shyly. “Hi Ranma! How’s my big sister doing?” There was a pause. “Or are you back to being my brother? Well either way, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you but nothings came back yet. I’m hoping it was just because I was using summoned creatures.” Another pause. “Who I’m sure you know can be so unreliable. So I’m sending one last message with my familiar Hana. Me and mom are both well, she decided it’d be good for me to spend some more time here on the Mortal plane. It’s been fun so far but I could really do without this cold. Brr.” The copy hugged herself and shivered.

“Hopefully you’ll get back before we head back home because it would be great if you’d come visit. See all the things you’ve been missing.” The copy winked suggestively causing Ranma to blush briefly. “Just in case you don’t know, if you want to send a message back, just tell Hana that you have a message for me, and she’ll bring it right back. Well I look forward to hearing back from you.” Michiko crossed her arms and glared angrily towards her. “And I know Hana will find you so you better respond.”

Message apparently completed, the clone of Michiko dissolved back into smoke before forming into Hana again. “That was the message.” The familiar concluded. “Would you like for me to return one?”

“I bet it’s an evil plot of some kind!” Pepa proclaimed before Ranma could respond. “How can you trust that it’s even from your demon sister?”

“Pepa, stop it.” Kasumi chastised the fairy, who was for once not the only spell creature in the room.

“I don’t really know what to say.” Ranma answered Hana, scratching just behind one of her horns. “Let me think.” It made her feel good that her sister had bothered to send not one but several messengers to try and communicate with her.

“There is no rush.” Hana bowed her head respectfully. “I will wait as long as necessary.”

The ermine approached to sit a close distance from her and stare up at her with big black eyes. Ranma blinked several times at the expectant look on the white familiars face. “Uh-- are you hungry?” She asked, realizing that the familiar had traveled all the way from Nerima. Hana’s head nodded before rapidly spinning in a circle.

“Do you have any eggs?” Hana asked in her childish voice.

“I’ll go get you a couple.” Kasumi offered and stood up to head for the icebox, Hana bounding after her happily.

“I don’t trust her.” Pepa whispered in her ear.

Ranma eyed the fairy, who hadn’t acted like this in over a month. “Is it because she was sent by my sister?” She asked teasingly before taking a closer look at Pepa’s aura and seeing that it was no longer purely divine.

“Of course, she’s a Tiefling.” The blue haired fairy nodded her head rapidly.

“She’s my sister.” She scowled, angry that Pepa was slipping back into bad habits. “Quit trying to be a banishment spell.” Ranma reached up and tugged lightly on the fairy’s spade tail. “Sides, aren’t you a little bit infernal now?”

“It’s just a tail!” Pepa protested with a pout before rushing off to a small spot atop a shelf that she had claimed as her own tiny room.

‘Sure it is.’ Ranma rolled her eyes. Checking to make sure Saffron was still sleeping, she glanced at the kitchen area to see Kasumi serving Hana a bowl filled with several eggs. Everything seemed to have reached a point of normalcy so she returned to inspecting some of her gifts. Her mind remained preoccupied with what kind of message to send back to her sister.

zx

Several hours later

Waiting patiently after knocking on the door, Favian glanced backwards at the Phoenix who were blocking the steps just before Kasumi answered his knock, and invited him in. Immediately he noticed the significant piles of gifts from well wishers that were being organized by Ranma. Kasumi was holding the infant Saffron who gave him a surprisingly suspicious look for a baby. Judging by the glow emanating from behind a small piece of cloth, Pepa had retreated to her small corner atop a book shelf.

“Kasumi, why is there a ferret running around your apartment?” He asked, watching a white furred ermine shoot between positions, roll on the floor, then head off to another spot.

“Well--.” Kasumi paused to glance at the ferret. “She’s a familiar and seems a little overcharged from the ambient magic.” The blonde explained while laughing nervously.

“A familiar?” He asked. Neither of the two females knew how to make their own familiar although they should be capable of it. If one of them had taken the initiative to research the process then he would be exceedingly proud at how far they had progressed in such a short time.

“My sister’s.” Ranma spoke up in a soft whisper as she finished sorting through a small wooden box. “Kasumi said you had some extra bags of holding.” The Tiefling said without looking at him.

“I do.” He answered, giving the familiar one last curious glance before depositing two bags of holding next to Ranma’s hip. “I also bring an apology. The other night I forgot myself in the heat of the moment and said things I did not mean. I’m sorry-- I hope you can forgive me.” He was trying to sound as apologetic as he could but he knew it came out sounding hollow and rehearsed. When Ranma finally looked at him he bowed his head towards her.

Ranma’s eyes bore into him before she snorted and shrugged. “Apology accepted-- more than I ever got from either of my parents.”

He didn’t bother vocalizing another apology for Ranma’s family and the choices they made. It was already a sore enough point in Ranma’s life that he didn’t want to draw anymore attention to it. Taking a subtle look at Ranma’s aura, he discreetly checked to see if there were any lingering spells left to fester on her. There was nothing he could see except the protection spell and nothing Ladon ever did was subtle enough to hide from his senses.

“I’ll need some more.” Ranma interrupted his thoughts and looked up at him without giving a thank you for the expensive items.

“For?” He raised an eyebrow and slowly knelt down next to the cursed teen, feeling his knees protest at the action. “You have more than enough room there to fit everything in this apartment in them.”

“I just need them-- I’ll pay you back three times their worth in a few days.” The Tiefling responded evasively.

“Not that I doubt your offer. But those are worth over fifty gold a piece.” He pointed out, fully expecting the bags of holding to be returned in time. “Where are you going to get that much money in such a short amount of time?” There was one place he could think of but found it hard to believe Ranma would be so quiet about finding Ladon’s hoard.

“Do you trust me or not?” Ranma asked, looking up at him daring him to say no.

“I have two more you can use, you can pick them up when you come for dinner tonight.” He offered, not wanting to take the bait. “I think a little celebration is in order.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Kasumi came over to kneel across from him and Ranma. “Should I bring anything?”

“Of course not.” He chuckled, watching the familiar rush over to circle Kasumi once before finally stopping directly in front of him. “So you are Michiko’s familiar.” He summarized, the ermine looking up at him, and nodding its head so quickly it was a blur.

“I’m Hana! I’m Hana! I’m Hana!” She greeted without any pause in a little girls voice.

“Is she going to be alright?” Ranma asked worriedly. “Maybe it’s not good for her to be around the ley line.”

“She should be fine.” He patted the creature on her head. “Just isn’t used to having all the magic to feed off of. Do you mind telling me her purpose?”

“Just a message from my sister asking how I was.” The redhead sighed. “I don’t know what to send back, do you have any ideas?” She asked Kasumi.

“Why not just that you’re alive and well.” Kasumi suggested. “You are well-- right?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Ranma raised a confused eyebrow at the question.

“There was that evil dragon trying to enslave you.” The blonde Tiefling pointed out.

“He’s dead, Raxus is dead, Lethanial is dead--.” She paused to cough into her hand, the anger seeping into Ranma’s voice making Saffron squirm in Kasumi’s arms. “Compared to them I’m doing just fine-- great even.” She finished in a hollow tone with her shoulders and wings slumping.

Favian winced at the sound of glass breaking, looking behind Ranma to see that her wings had knocked over an oil lamp, spilling the contained liquid out over the floor. Kasumi quickly handed Saffron to Ranma before rushing off to grab something to mop up the mess.

“Ranma, there’s no reason to get upset.” He was reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder when Ranma’s hand snapped out to grab his wrist.

The redhead slowly turned to look at him with a dark glare. “I accepted your apology, that doesn’t mean you can touch me.” She explained softly before releasing him and climbing to her feet. “You’ll have to wait Hana, I’m not feeling very good so I’m going to take a nap.”

Favian watched closely as Ranma gathered several very large blankets that had been donated to her to throw over her shoulder before laying out her futon. Depositing Saffron on the futon, she held out her arm, and a number of small nail shaped rocks were transmuted to hover above her palm. Holding out the blankets with her other arm, the nails leapt from her hands, and affixed the blankets to the ceiling in order to form a simple area for herself.

“Maybe it would be best if we have a celebration tomorrow night.” He looked at Ranma’s makeshift room sadly. Stopping his brother should have been his burden to bear and he should not have placed it upon her shoulders. “Kasumi, do you mind seeing me out?”

“Of course not.” His great granddaughter answered, sharing a similar look of concern.

When they were all the way down the steps and away from the Phoenix standing guard, he finally addressed Kasumi. “Are you up to helping Ranma get through this?” His hand picked doctor was going to be visiting to try and give Ranma a neutral person to confide in. But Kasumi lived with the cursed teen.

“I think so.” Kasumi admitted tentatively. “Are you sure Ranma’s alright?”

“I couldn’t see anything left on her aura.” He didn’t think it would be wise to voice his concern that something may have already been cast and run its course. “Just be her friend and everything should work out.”

“I’ll do my best, grandfather.” Kasumi squared her shoulders confidently before glancing nervously back towards the steps. “Ranma’s my friend and I won’t let her down.”

“I know you will.” Favian allowed himself a moment to hope that everything would in fact work out for the best. “And I meant it about dinner, I’ll have it prepared for tomorrow evening, the usual time.”

“Thank you again.” She bowed to him. “We’ll be there.”

 

[Jimbobob5536]

You don't like the new format of this site? Eh.

Personally I like the layout to the FanFictionFederation more, there's just much less action over there.

 

[Lawra]

You don't like the new format of this site? Eh.

Personally I like the layout to the FanFictionFederation more, there's just much less action over there.

That was with an older skin that had all quotes nested within one another with all the posters listed above in order.

 

[Lawra]

Revised the last scene a fair amount so Ranma doesn't just run off to end it. Decided that I needed to make Ranma a bit more possessive for a secret reason that'll come up later. Hana knows but she's not going to tell. :twisted:

---------

“Just a message from my sister asking how I was.” The redhead sighed. “I don’t know what to send back, do you have any ideas?” She asked no one in particular.

“Why not just that you’re alive and well?” Kasumi suggested and Ranma just shrugged in non-commital.

“I think something more personal is warranted.” He added, not knowing all that much about Michiko but Ranma seemed to view her in a positive light.

“Hana, do you think you could send a message back for me as well?” Kasumi asked the familiar who nodded rapidly.

“I’m not sure.” The ferret seemed to slow down for a moment. “Yup I can!” Hana agreed to Kasumi’s request and happily bounced in place.

Favian caught a dark look cross Ranma’s face at Kasumi, the smaller tiefling opening her mouth as to say something before she was overcome by a coughing fit. Ranma hacked violently into her hands, interrupted Kasumi delivering a message to Hana. The redhead curled up tightly as her chest heaved, her large wings flared with each cough, knocking over a donated antique oil lamp to spill its contents over the floor.

“Ranma!” Kasumi exclaimed in alarm sliding across the floor to hover helplessly for several seconds before Ranma’s coughing fit ended. “Are you alright?” She asked tentatively as Ranma pulled her hands away from her mouth to reveal several specks of blood on her palms.

“Kasumi, please tend to the oil.” He instructed, seeing that his relative was starting to panic. “I’ll get Ranma back to the hospital.”

“I’m fine.” Ranma wheezed, finding a cheap looking piece of fabric to hastily wipe the blood off her hands. “Really.” She tried to reassure at his dubious stare. “Not like they could do anything anyways.”

“Unfortunately.” He sighed, moving to the side to allow Kasumi access to clean up the lamp oil. “How embarrassing, my student being so inept at controlling herself.” He lamented dramatically, trying to lighten the mood slightly.

“Don’t talk like my Pop.” Ranma’s eyes fell and her wings slumped. “Sorry about the mess, Kasumi.”

“It’s alright, so long as you’re fine, that’s all that matters.” The blonde answered, mopping up the thick liquid.

“I wish he was here.” The redhead turned in place to put the piles of gifts behind her and pulled her knees up to her chest. “This is all his fault after all.”

“Your current situation would be your fault.” He reached out to put a hand on her shoulder to be reassuring but her own snapped out to catch his.

“I accepted your apology, I didn’t say you could touch me.” She warned softly before releasing him.

“Right.” He nodded, realizing that his words from the other night had done more damage than intended. “I did want to ask you about your battle with Ladon.”

“He’s dead, isn’t that enough?” Ranma snapped as best she could with her soft voice, shoulders jerking with a small cough.

“You know through experience that Ladon had spells for mind control, I just want to know you weren’t exposed to any of them.” He explained seriously.

“So what if he did try one? I obviously stopped them from working otherwise I wouldn’t have shoved a void spear through his skull.” She answered evenly like it had been an everyday event.

“Even a little bit is too much. Answer me seriously.” Favian tried to make eye contact with her but Ranma kept looking away. “Did he cast such a spell on you?”

“No-- he tried, but I killed him before he could use it.” Ranma finally admitted, still not meeting his eye. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” She warned. “I don’t understand why everyone is bugging me to talk about it. He’s dead, his kids are dead, I won.” The Tiefling finally looked him square in the eye with a hollow glare.

“Alright.” He sighed, wishing he hadn’t destroyed Ranma’s trust. “Then relax and enjoy your victory. I’ll see you tonight.” His knees protested as he rose back to a standing position. “Kasumi would you see me out?”

“Of course.” His great granddaughter answered, sharing a look of concern with him that Ranma couldn’t see.

When they were all the way down the steps and away from the Phoenix standing guard, he finally addressed Kasumi. “Are you up to helping Ranma get through this?” His hand picked doctor was going to be visiting to try and give Ranma a neutral person to confide in. But Kasumi lived with the cursed teen.

“I think so.” Kasumi admitted tentatively. “Are you sure Ranma’s alright?”

“I think Ranma has been forced to endure a traumatic event she was not truly ready for and needs support, even if it’s just you continuing to be a friend.” Favian cursed his brother and wished that he knew how things would turn out.

“I’ll try my best, grandfather.” Kasumi squared her shoulders confidently before glancing nervously back towards the steps. “Ranma’s my friend and I won’t let her down.”

“I know you will.” Favian allowed himself a moment to hope that everything would in fact work out for the best. “And don’t forget to take care of yourself, Ranma’s not the only one who’s important.”

“Thank you again.” She bowed to him. “I look forward to tonight.”

 

[Jimbobob5536]

Update outta nowhere.

Nice little snippet.