Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny's Path ❯ Chapter 2

Destiny's Path: Chapter 2
By Archangel Bloodraven

Ranma and Hotaru traveled until sunset before making camp. Ranma was somewhat disturbed to find that though Hotaru had planned her impromptu escape a good deal better than most runaways did, she was still in no way prepared for the journey they'd be making.

"Is this your first time doing something like this? Roughing it, I mean."

"I'm afraid so. I'm being such a burden, aren't I?" Hotaru said sadly.

"Dunno yet. I'm used to this, and I'd wager you're strong enough and smart enough to adapt."

"I- I'm not sure. I'm not really that strong." Ranma had to agree with her on that point. Her body was thin, almost frail, but her aura showed tremendous potential and a massive ki reserve, unfocused and chaotic. I wonder if she'd be interested in the art. Ranma wondered idly. "My parents were... comfortably well off."

"In other words, a step below rich."

"Yes. They gave me anything I could ever want. Except for this. A life I choose to live."

"Well Hotaru, the only thing I've got left is my word of honor, so that's all I give you. No matter what, as long as you're with me, your life will be your own. I don't know that much about living my own life but we can find out together, and maybe have a little fun along the way."

"I think... I'd like that." She said with a slight smile.

"Let's get some sleep Hotaru. Domino City is the closest town and that's still a long way off." Ranma said building a fire.

Ranma sat thinking about his life as Hotaru first dozed and then began to snore loudly. Ranma chuckled at the delicate girl snoring loudly enough to rival his panda cursed idiot ex-father. She's really kinda cute. Ranma thought ashe brushed her bangs aside. It feels good to be able to think what I want about a person and not have to worry about mallets, demon heads, ribbons or ROSES! Ranma couldn't help but shudder at that last thought. I don't know why, but I sense her life hasn't been much easier than mine. Not that I expect it to be now but maybe... No. No maybes. Domino City is where I take control. A new name, a new attitude, and a new life. And if Hotaru wants to come along, then I'm not gonna tell her she can't.

Looking over at his younger traveling companion, Ranma noted that she had started to shiver. Without a second thought he unrolled his sleeping bag dislodging the envelope Kasumi had slid in earlier. With a mental note to himself to examine it in the morning he lay his sleeping bag as close to the fire as he dared, climbed inside and drew the young girl closer to him. Hotaru let off a small contented sigh and snuggled closer to Ranma who obligingly wrapped his arms around her and drifted off to sleep.

***

Hotaru awoke to bright sunlight in her face and groaned as she rolled over. It was all a dream. She thought miserably. I didn't run away. I'm still home in my bed... In my life.

"Good morning Hotaru chan." Ranma whispered gently stroking her hair. "I only had a single sleeping bag and you were cold. I hope you don't mind."

"Is this real Ranma? Or am I home dreaming of a new life?"

"It's very real Hotaru." Ranma said pressing Hotaru's small hand between both of his. "We've set out to start a new life, and I'll support you for as long as you want it."

"Thank you." She whispered hugging her new friend tightly.

***

"That's so cute!" Sailor Pluto gushed from her viewing point. "It's good Hotaru finally found a friend."

"And it's just as well that Michiru doesn't know you're the one jamming her mirror." Serena said causing the Senshi of time to jump in surprise.

"How-"

The young moon princess tapped the broche the held the Silver Imperium Crystal. "It's not just a pretty trinket you know. So what is our little Death Star in a miniskirt up to?"

"She and Ranma are doing well, but I'm glad you popped by anyway. Look at this." With a careless wave the timegate changed. "Seems that she and Ranma are the key to solidifying more Crystal Tokyo timelines than they destroy."

"Those timelines aren't quite so... sedate as I'd imagined."

"No they're not." Setsuna bit back the urge to grin. "They also made me consider certain aspects of Crystal Tokyo that I had not taken into account."

"Like what?"

"Don't worry your head about it, Princess. There's nothing that indicates my intervention is required, and it's been an eternity since anyone ever thought of questioning their destiny. This is... amusing me."

"Well Ranma is a gentleman or he'd be meeting the business end of Mr. Sharpie." Serena said, observing the portal which had switched back to Ranma and Hotaru still snug in the sack.

"Who the hell- Hotaru named her Silence Glaive Mr. Sharpie?"

"Don't ask me why or when but she did. Do you think she'll tell him?"

"Tell him what? That she's a pretty sailor suited defender of love and justice? That she can vaporize the planet on a whim? That she can heal with a touch? She trusts Ranma, and I've flipped through his past. He's got quite a few secrets of his own. They will tell each other. Either when fate forces their hand or when they know the time to be right."

"Well don't be too much of a voyeur. Maybe once she's settled in we can go see her."

"I can't keep Michiru from spying on us if I'm not here."

"I think I can. That is if the chaos factor around those two doesn't do it for us. How are you holding the time stream together anyway?"

"Bubble gum, duct tape, a wing and a whole lotta prayers." Pluto sighed. "At least they can't start too much chaos without getting out of bed."

Serena whispered something in the Time Guardians ear that left her desperately praying for her two subjects to get up.

***

"Hotaru, as much as I'm enjoying this, I'd like to get up and get going." Ranma said wriggling out of his trademark shirt and tossing it from the sleeping bag.

***

Somewhere in space time, a glass shattering scream rang out.

***

Hotaru grinned as Ranma slipped out of the bag and stretched gracefully as Hotaru lazily rolled over to watch. He began by flowing into a seamless series of katas. Judo, kung fu, ninjitsu, aikido and a dozen other styles mixed with a fluid and deadly grace. Ranma's attacks continued to build speed and power until he became little more than a black and cream colored blur. Snapping out of her dazed revelry Hotaru reached over and whipped a sturdy branch at the human superball that was Ranma. The fallen limb dissolved with a rapid series of sharp cracks.

"If that was a test, you'll have to do better 'Taru chan." Ranma laughed as he continued your exercise.

"Be careful what you wish for Ranma!" Hotaru grinned as she bounded around the clearing throwing everything but the Silence Glaive- er, kitchen sink- at the hyperactive martial artist. A few moments later Ranma dropped to the ground.

"Not bad Hotaru. You almost got me with that last rock."

"Can you teach me how to do all that? What style was that anyway?" She panted as she recovered from her unintentional workout.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure. You see I used to practice my family's school of Anything Goes."

"No disrespect Ranma, but I've heard many bad things about that school." Hotaru said frowning.

"One of many reason's I had to get away from that life. The Anything Goes style is very powerful in the respect that the multiple fighting styles contained within allow for rapid change against opponents who only use a single style. It also has many flaws. Weapons users are frowned upon. I think differently." Ranma said breaking camp.

"How so?" Hotaru asked gathering up her belongings and slinging her pack on her shoulders as she casually kicked dirt over the dying embers of the fire.

"Weapon users can be quite powerful in their own right. It's when you become dependant on that weapon to win your battles that it becomes a liability."

"I see..." Hotaru mused quietly as they resumed their trek to Domino City.

"Also, my father, the sensei who trained me in the style believes that girls are weak. And at first I as stupid enough to believe him."

"Why?"

"Because girls were always getting flushed and tongue tied and falling over themselves around me."

Hotaru was hard pressed to stay on her feet and not collapse to the ground laughing. "Ranma, that's not because they were weak! They were attracted to you and nervous too! And as far as your father's seriously outdated ideas of women go, I know a few women back home who could make him rethink that." After he got out of ICU. She added silently.

"I know. I figured out the first part eventually. And as for father, well he's scared witless of my mother, a female weapons user. That to me is the ultimate slap in the face." He frowned deeply.

"What's wrong Ranma?" Hotaru asked.

"A martial artist's first duty is to protect those that can't protect themselves, regardless of what style you use. Not counting myself there are four practioners of Anything Goes, each with their own faults. Tendo Soun is an emotional wreck who uses bullying and trickery to get his way, despite hiding behind a veneer of honor. Tendo Akane, his daughter is close minded, violent, and mentally inflexible. In her mind, she is right and everyone else is wrong. And nothing she does is ever her fault."

"I've never met her and I already don't like her." Hotaru growled. "I will however attempt to reserve judgment until I actually meet these people."

"Very good Hotaru. Keep an open mind and a closed mouth. It will keep you out of a world of trouble. The current grandmaster of Anything Goes, Happosai is an unmitigated pervert. He uses his martial arts skills to grope women, steal their undergarments, and evade capture." Hotaru shuddered as she absently pulled her blazer tighter to her chest, and made a mental note to put on some pants as soon as possible. Ranma sensed her discomfort and wrapped his arm warmly around her shoulder. "Don't worry. Back home I was the only thing keeping the old letch in check. Without me, he's running unconstrained. By the time he gets bored and comes looking for me, we'll be long gone. And if he tries to lay a single perverted finger on you..." Ranma gave a most unpleasant grin. "He may live long enough to regret it."

"I always wanted my own white knight." Hotaru giggled impishly. It felt so good to be feeling real emotions rather than the cold detachment that had become second nature to her. "What about the last one?"

"My good for nothing father, Genma. He believes the world is free for the taking if you know how. I pity anyone unfortunate to become his student. He's a penny ante thief, a first class manipulator, and a world class freeloader. He's probably trying to con his way back into Soun's good graces even as we speak."

"They have a history?" Hotaru asked.

"A very twisted history that I'm not ready to share yet." Ranma said. Hotaru nodded knowing full well of her own secrets she wasn't quite ready to share. "You see why I wish to distance myself from that."

"Don't."

"Huh?"

"Don't distance yourself." Hotaru said surprising herself with her own vehemence. "Drop it. Drop it all."

"But... the Art is all I really know."

"So?" Hotaru snapped. "I'm not asking you to give up the Art. Create a new style, a better style." She breathed deeply before taking the plunge. "And I'll be your first student."

"Hmm... I could do it..." Ranma mused to himself. "But it won't be easy. For either of us. Do I have the right?" Hotaru was about to answer, but chose not to as Ranma continues his mental debate. "She's so delicate... like fine china... I'm afraid I'll hurt her... or worse, break her trust in me." Despite her shock at the revelation Hotaru still snapped out a wrist and summoned the Silence Glaive. He better finish this train of thought with something good or I'll show him what this delicate fine china can do! She thought darkly. "But if I baby her I'm no better than Kuno holding back against Akane. She'll never learn and she'll never grow beyond what she is. Besides, this is her life and if she chooses to learn the Art then I won't stop her!" With that he snapped a kick at Hotaru's head which she blocked with a raised forearm as she banished the Glaive back to the ether.

"If you're attempting to surprise this delicate, fine china, then maybe you ought to stop thinking out loud."

"Awe man I said all that out loud?"

"Yup." Ranma groaned and Hotaru decided to let him off the hook. "So when do we start training?"

"Prepare yourself as best you can, Tomoe Hotaru!" Ranma said in his best Kuno. "For your training in Everything Goes Martial Arts begins now!"

***

Hotaru groaned as she tumbled into a one handed cartwheel and held the other to her chest. She and Ranma had been half sparring half training all day and though Ranma was holding back a lot of strength in his punches, they were still sufficient to serve their dual purpose of identifying holes in her defense and making her body more resistant to impacts.Even so, she thought rubbing her chest ruefully. That one hurt! Ranma raised an eyebrow, silently asking if she wished to continue. The ebony haired girl nodded once briskly and decided on the perfect way to end the day. Ranma sprang forward and with a flying kick as Hotaru utilized her "Thousand Flowing Rivers" defense to slip around the kick and into Ranma's defenses. Flashing her sensei her, "One of us is gonna enjoy this and it's not gonna be you." smile, she grabbed Ranma's outstretched leg and flipped around using her full body weight to slam him into the ground.

"I say we call it quits for today." Hotaru gasped panting.

"Agreed." Ranma said as he attempted to regain the breath Hotaru had knocked out of him. "I seem to recall starting this day with you in my arms."

"You say that like it's a bad thing." She murmured brushing some loose bangs out of Ranma's eyes.

"No actually it's rather enjoyable." Ranma as Hotaru's raven black tresses formed a halo around the two of them.

"Tell me your secrets Ranma." The young girl pleaded quietly.

"Not yet Hotaru. We will share soon. But now is not the time."

"Okay." She said softly. "I trust you, and... I'm not sure I'm ready to share yet either."

"All in the fullness of time." Ranma said stroking his young charge's face causing her to blush slightly.

"Uh... maybe we better move on. We still have a few more good hours of daylight left." She said getting to her feet and adjusting her pack.

"Right" Ranma said as she pulled him to his feet and they progressed onward. Little did they know Ranma's past was coming to haunt them.

***

Hotaru glanced warily from side to side. "Ranma, I got a bad feeling."

"Like we're being watched. I should have known one of those idiots would try something. Keep your eyes peeled for anything-" Ranma was cut off as a large net yanked the pair off the ground.

"Come back home to your fiancée boy!" Genma barked puffing up his chest imperiously as he sprang from the bushes.

"It's for your own good." Soun said. "And the good of the schools!"

"Kami sama help me, when I get down I will rip you limb from limb!" Ranma snarled thrashing against the net.

"I think not, Saotome." Kuno said crossing to where Ranma hung helplessly. "Obviously a sword capable of defeating the divine righteousness of the mighty Blue Thunder of Furinkan High has no place in the hands of a sorcerous peasant like yourself, therefore it is only right that a true warrior be the one to possess it." With that he reached up and drew Ranma's sword from it's scabbard giving it a few sloppy experimental swings. "In truth, the blade sings to be free of your treacherous grasp, even as this glorious violet eyed valkyrie shall rejoice once she is free from the dark constraints you place upon her." Kuno rambled reaching to touch Hotaru's cheek.

"The only one I see doing the constraining here is you, Blunder Brains." Ranma snapped, as Hotaru did her best to remove Kuno's finger with the closest tools at hand: Her teeth. "What the hell are you going on about now?"

"Do you think heaven would not see as you first thrash this helpless beauty then attempt to take her purity by means of your dark conniving sorceries? In truth, there is only one way to free her from your dark design. Verily I must date with thee!"

By this time Ranma and Hotaru were both seeing red, Hotaru from the implication of helplessness and Ranma from the allegation of impropriety. "When I get down from here-

"Meow."

"Ranma, what's wrong?" Hotaru asked as Ranma scanned frantically for the furry little monster

The question was answered as a small purple cat slipped through the weave of the net to hang from Ranma's shoulder. "C-C-CAAAT!" Ranma began to thrash about violently and Hotaru was forced to hold the netting while holding down her lunch. It was fortunate that she did, because a moment later Ranma roared as the cat leapt from Ranma to Hotaru as the angry martial artist slipped into his most powerful technique: the Neko Ken

Now it's assumed that Ranma has no control or memories in his neko state, but this is not exactly true. If something makes a strong enough emotional impact before he enters his feline state he acts upon those feelings. Right now there were two thoughts that held such prevalence: Protecting Hotaru and maiming Genma and Kuno.

As Hotaru's grip slipped through the freshly opened gap she was pleasantly surprised to land on neko Ranma's back as he dropped to the ground.

"Th-thank you, Ranma." She stammered. He nuzzled her cheeks before he growled and paced off towards his intended prey. Soun and Genma knew what Ranma was capable of in this state and quickly attempted to flee only to be arrested my an invisible wall.

Hotaru allowed herself a small grim smile. Ranma had explained about ki and even showed her how to summon a battle aura. She had been only mildly surprised to find that the ancient magic that gave her her powers as Sailor Saturn was not that different from ki energy and the energies both flowed smoothly together making it nearly impossible to tell where one ended and the other began. As a result Ranma's attackers were now being treated to the ki equivalent of her Silence Wall and she herself was bathed in rivers of sweat as she concentrated to maintain the wall.

Ranma made quick work of Soun by batting him into the barrier several times until he stopped moving. Then turned his attention to Genma leaving just enough flesh connected to the bones that the gluttonous martial artist would live, but not pleasantly. Then he turned on Kuno.

"So the vile cur summons the spirit of noble feline to aid in his demonic fighting! It will be of no avail, for I the valiant Tatewake Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinkan high shall smite you with my righteous blade and then claim my beauteous ebon tressed angel! Have at-"

"SHUT THE HELL UP DAMN YOU!" Hotaru yelled as her aura turned as red as her vision. In a moment of rage born improvisation she brought her hands together six inches apart in front of her heart and shouted. "SATURN RING NOVA!"

The ring of magical ki energy that hit Kuno wasn't much on power, but in her anger Hotaru added a special surprise, which Kuno found out about when it exploded sending him and Ranma's sword flying in opposite directions.

Hotaru dropped to the ground, her fledging danger sense screaming as she summoned enough strength to shove herself to the left as Ranma's sword impacted tip first sinking a foot and a half into the soft soil. With neither blade or bokken for his defense Kuno was easy prey for an enraged Neko Ranma. Without Hotaru to sustain her barrier, Kuno was free to flee.

He got all of five paces before Ranma brought him down.

In her current state of semiexhaustion it was easy for Hotaru to let eyes close. The mauling Kuno was receiving was only extra incentive. I didn't know those bones could be arranged that way. His chiropractor's gonna have a heck of a time with that. She thought lazily.

She risked opening one eye when the mauling sounds stopped and was pleasantly surprised to find Ranma curled up against her playfully batting at the small kitten that started it all.

"How intriguing." Hotaru snapped her head towards the sound of the voice as bouquet of black roses hit the ground in front of her spraying the area with a fine mist. Sleep claimed the exhausted girl soon after.

Had she known about Ranma's past, Hotaru may have recognized the Black Rose of Nerima, then again she may not have. Kodachi had set aside her usual leotard in favor of a black pantsuit and hiking boots. "It seems my brother shouldn't have tried to take Ranma's last tie to his mother. Sasuke?"

"Here, Miss Kodachi." The little ninja appeared from the woods carrying a camping rucksack and a small purple dress.

"Would you load these fools into the car and call Tofu san. Tell him the injuries are severe, but not fatal. I will be along momentarily."

Sasuke deposited the pack and dress and left with Soun Tendo slung over one shoulder as he scampered down the hill. Kodachi produced a small syringe from her inside pocket and injected the purple cat with it before pouring water from a thermos over her washing away the sleeping powder as she watched the cat twist and grow into a familiar purple haired Amazon.

"How ironic. Your one time executioner becomes your guardian." Kodachi chuckled as she unrolled Ranma's sleeping bag and lay the three travelers on it with Ranma in the middle, then draping Shampoo's dress over the sleeping Amazon, and finishing by laying Shampoo's own bag over the group like a comforter.

"Miss Kodachi." The miniature ninja returned with his arms loaded with firewood. "Given the late hour, and their present incapacitation, I thought it best to start a fire."

"Well thought Sasuke, but why consult me?"

"Because Miss, you're standing where I intend to build the fire." Kodachi laughed. Not her deranged madwoman laugh that sent those that knew and feared her fleeing, but a genuine laugh of joy. "My apologies, Sasuke." She said kneeling to slip an envelope between Ranma who was already tightly sandwiched between the two ladies. "Once the fire is ready, we shall take our leave. Our work here is done."

***

"I see." Kasumi said. The look on her face was one of pure unadulterated rage, one more common to her younger sister. "This is most disheartening information. But I thank you for it." She said hanging up the phone and heading up to her room.

"I warned them."

AN: There's chapter 2. The concepts of Ki energy and Sailor Magic being similar and Ranma reacting to strong pre Neko emotions are both my own concepts. There is a strong connection between Hotaru and Ranma, but this isn't intended to become a Ranma/Hotaru romance, but when do any of my projects turn out as they're intended? Who told Kasumi the fathers went after Ranma? Who knows, but why should Nabiki be the only one with contacts? And as for why Kodachi injected Shampoo neko before changing her back, the warm water would have washed off the sleeping powder and woken her up anyway.