Chapter 3: Wait A Minute, I Know You!

[mancha_sama]

Breath of Fire ½
By: Dragon-sama

Ryoga catches up to Ranma a little earlier at Jusenkyou, and both gain a different curse than expected. Now with two new traveling companions, they wander the globe in search of answers, as well as the truth behind the war from long ago. A Ranma ½ x Breath of Fire 3 crossover. No pairings planned.

Key-
"...” speech
{...} mental speech
[...] panda signs
'...' thoughts
/.../ Chinese
-
"Honestly! I can't believe them! What a stupid law!" Ranko was ranting, ignoring the stares of the Amazons as she and Ryoko made their way back to the center of the village.

"Definitely. As if she had any hopes of defeating us," Ryoko snorted derisively.

{It looks more to me like a way to make the village weaker. Sending your best warriors off to kill people who already proved they can easily beat them,} Ryoga said disgustedly.

{Not that I'm agreeing with them or anythin', but if it was me, I'd want to train harder to beat anyone who managed to beat me,} Ranma said.

"Yeah, well. Beat? Fine. Kill? Sheesh," Ryoko huffed. "Besides, she didn't stop to train, just rushed right in to fight an opponent who obviously out-classed her," she added, Ranko nodding in agreement.

{Hm...I think they rely on their tenacity to defeat their opponents,} Ryoga said thoughtfully.

{What?} Ranma asked in confusion. Ryoga 'rolled' his eyes.

{I mean they're so persistent, that they come after their opponent without pause or break until one or the other is killed. Just think about it. You couldn't go anywhere without worrying when or where she'd show up, ready and trying to kill you,} Ryoga explained. Ranko smirked slightly.

"You seem to have a surprising understanding, dont'cha Ryoga," she teased, and he growled at her. Ryoko grinned as well, and Ranma chuckled in their heads. The two girls came into the village square, and stopped in surprise. There was Genma-panda, giving horsy rides to a group of small, giggling children.

"..."

"..."

[What?] Genma signed, noticing their odd looks.

"Right. Whatever," Ranko said with a sigh. "Shall we go? There's nothing else to do here."

Carefully dislodging the disappointed kids, Genma scooped up his pack, while the girls did the same with theirs.

"Well, I guess where to, old man?" Ranko said with a sigh.

[West,] Genma replied, thankful his son seemed biddable once again. [We're going back to Japan.]

{Alright!} Ranma and Ryoga cheered.

"Onward," Ryoko said resignedly, gesturing for Genma to lead.

"Konara," a voice said, making the group turn.

"What do you want, Khu Lon!" Ranko snapped upon seeing the old woman.

"...If you are really who you claim to be, Xian Pu has no right to try and kill you," Khu Lon said gravely from atop her staff. Both girls stared at the old woman.

"...Huh? Why is that?" Ryoko asked, now thoroughly confused. Their entire time with the Amazons had been one big see-saw of emotions. Kill-you-kiss-you and all that. The elder hopped closer to the group, sliding off her staff and gesturing for them to sit down. They did so reluctantly.

"It seems you don't remember me. However, I do remember you," Khu Lon sighed, and began to explain.

*Flashback: 1500 years ago*

The Amazon village was alive with rumors; Rumors that their village champion, Khu Lon, had been defeated by an outsider woman. Said village champion was not taking this news very well.

/I'll kill her! How dare she just waltz in here and make a fool of me!/ a young Khu Lon snarled as she sharpened her sword.

/Now Khu Lon, though you have your honor to protect, don't go charging into battle in such a state of mind,/ her mother, Lo Xian, rebuked.

/I'll teach that little show off,/ Khu Lon growled under her breath, ignoring her mother.

/You need to be careful not to get killed,/ Lo Xian warned softly, stirring the soup she was preparing for dinner. /The outsider was a skilled opponent./

/There are too many outsiders coming into our village these days!/ Khu Lon complained, checking the edge of her sword. Shaking her head, she went back to her sharpening.

/Very true. First the honored Guardian Garr and Guardian Geist. We are blessed with the Goddess's favor at their visit,/ Lo Xian said solemnly, and Xian Pu bowed her head briefly in thanks. Her mother continued. /Then there was that perverted boy. I still can't believe he tried to hit on me!/ she said, a little flustered and not particularly happy.

/You and everyone else in the village. He'll be back to bug us again,/ Khu Lon said angrily. /And the nerve of him, calling me Khu Lon-chan so familiarly! He couldn't even pronounce my name right! Stupid Happi.../

/Hm... And now there's our most current visitors. There is the serpent-woman Deis, the honored Goddess's traitorous sister, and her charge, your current adversary. They're of the Brood, you realize,/ Lo Xian said.

/It doesn't matter! I must kill her!/ Khu Lon replied hotly, testing the edge of her sword again. Satisfied, she then turned to her other assortments of weapons. /What have you decided about Guardian Garr's proposal?/ she asked after picking up a pair of throwing knives. They needed sharpening too.

/You mean, helping him seal away the blood traitor Deis?/ Lo Xian said thoughtfully. /The other elders agree that something needs to be done. If our Goddess Myria-sama believes these Brood creatures need to die, then we shall help her and her chosen. In fact, we were planning on meeting tonight to cast the spell,/ she replied. /You are welcome to come watch, if you wish./

/With luck, I will be able to kill that Brood girl today. I'll be there!/ Khu Lon promised. Her mother just sighed.

* * *

/Die already!/ Khu Lon screamed a little raggedly. The blue-haired girl dodged her sword yet again, then dashed in to nick Khu Lon in the side with one of her twin swords.

/Don't you ever give up? We've been fighting for hours!/ the girl screamed back. It was already well into the night, and both combatants were dripping with sweat, but neither was letting up a hair in the intensity of their fight. Only one would be able to walk away from this fight today, but whether the loser was still alive or not would depend on the winner.

/Shut up girl!/ Khu Lon said, attacking with both her sword and one of her long daggers. They were blocked expertly by the girl as she leapt backwards, giving herself more room.

/Jeez! I have a name you know! It's Konara, and don't you forget it!/ Konara snarled. /You Amazons are almost as bad as the Goddess!/

/Myria-sama is not bad! You're the evil ones! I'm doing our Goddess a great favor by destroying you!/ Khu Lon shrieked.

/Yeah, well then you tell me why we're so evil! What did we do? If you can give me a good reason, maybe I'll let you kill me,/ Konara spat, attacking with a double over-hand strike.

/Myria-sama has ordained it! What more reason do we need?/ Khu Lon demanded, blocking the strike, though it jarred her entire body, and kicking the girl in the stomach. It was a weak blow, but it did cause the girl to back a step away.

/Not good enough,/ Konara hissed back, and redouble her efforts to defeat the Amazon. Neither combatant noticed that their little war was coming dangerously close to a certain ceremony, but others did.

/Khu Lon! Get away from here if you're going to be fighting!/ Lo Xian called out as she saw her daughter. /You might disturb the spell!/

Said spell was already half formed. Deis, trapped in a human form, pounded ineffectually at the glowing green pyramid that encased her. Her movements were becoming more sluggish as the stasis spell began taking effect. The Amazons casting the spell took no notice of the commotion around them, but continued their chanting. Konora's face paled at the sight of her guardian's plight.

/Deis!/ she gasped in horror. /Stop! How dare you do this!/ she began, attempting the charge the spell casters.

/You will not interfere!/ Khu Lon commanded, interposing herself between the two parties.

/You can't stop me!/ Konara snarled, and to the startlement of the Amazon, lightning started to lick up and down the girl's body.

/No! Konara, don't transform!/ Deis cried from her prison. /Whatever you do, don't let Myria find you!/

Konara glanced desperately at her guardian, but obediently the electricity died. Turning furiously back to Khu Lon, Konara charged, swords at the ready.

/Get out of my way!/

/Never, beast!/ Khu Lon cried back, side-stepping the frenzied swings and plunging her sword deep into the girl's side. Gasping, Konara wretched herself away and cast a quick heal spell with the last of her reserves of magic. The wound obediently closed, and Konara threw herself back into the fight, trying to reach the chanting Amazons.

Ignoring the raging battle a few feet away, the Amazons completed the spell designed to hold the Goddess's sister. Turning to the two figures hidden in shadows, one of them spoke in a respectful voice.

/The spell is complete, Guardian Garr. All that's left is for you to instill the power of the Goddess into it,/ she said with a bow.

/Very good,/ the larger of the two figures rumbled.

/Garr, I don't know if we should do this,/ the smaller figure said nervously, shifting slightly.

/Geist! That is heresy! Do not speak such things aloud,/ Garr reprimanded, eyes flashing at his companion. /That is your problem. You have doubts about the Goddess. What she's doing is right, and we were created to carry out her wishes./

/I know, I know. I've heard all this before, but Garr, I'm getting sick of killing the Brood. Perhaps if they started the fights, or if they at least fought back, I wouldn't mind. But they just let us kill them. This is not right!/ Geist said harshly, slashing a hand out in emphasis.

/You should keep such doubts to yourself. Once Deis is out of the way, the girl will be the only thing left before we can return to the Goddess,/ Garr said solemnly.

/Guardians, the spell needs to be completed now or it will collapse! I cannot guarantee we will be able to do this again,/ the Amazon who had spoken earlier said urgently.

/Yes. We must do this, Geist. For the Goddess,/ Garr said, stepping out of the shadows and into the green light of the spell.

The Guardians had once been human, but the Goddess's blessing had changed them for their great battle against the accursed Brood. They were massive, Garr more so than Geist, and loomed over the Amazons. It was ironic, or perhaps part of the Goddess's unknown design, that the Guardians appeared almost draconic. Their skin was like the hide of the dragon's, their heads not exactly like a dragon's but also not a man's, and on their backs were wings, covered in the same leather-like hide but also obviously too small to support the massive bodies in the air. Their feet were much like a dragon's, clawed with three toes in the front and one in the back. Their hands, though clawed as well, were depressingly human, and both Guardians were wielding massive spears.

The smaller of the Guardians began chanting a prayer to the Goddess, in words unknown to any mortal being. The strange words were enough to break Konara's concentration for a brief moment, and she had to backpedal rapidly to avoid Khu Lon's slashing blade.

/So! You can't even fight me yourself! Had to bring the Guardians into this!/ Konara snarled viciously at the Amazon. Khu Lon's eyes flashed in insult.

/Never! I can beat you myself! No one will interfere in our fight!/ she snapped back, diving forward in rage.

/Konara! Run away! Don't let Myria get you.../ Deis cried, and her voice faded as the glowing pyramid brightened more, the Guardian's words seeming to block out all other sounds.

/Deis! Damn you! Why!?/ Konara cried as the spell neared completion, tears stinging her eyes as she knocked Khu Lon backwards into the other Amazons. Freed from her battle, she took a few steps backwards, still staring at her guardian who was now peacefully lying in the center of the spell, seemingly asleep. Then she turned and began to run.

/Stop!/ Khu Lon cried, lurching to her feet, causing the girl to whirl, ready to fight again. /You must di--huh?/ she began, but cut off as a noise encroached itself on her hearing, growing steadily louder. Everyone save the two engrossed Guardians stopped to listen, and soon voices could be distinguished.

/Come back here, pervert!/

/Give us back our treasures!/

/Somebody stop him!/

And then a voice hauntingly familiar to Khu Lon made itself heard.

"Nyehehehe! With this love pill, Cologne-chan has to fall in love with me!"

A small figure came into sight at the head of a large mob of Amazons. Over his shoulder was a bag full of things Khu Lon could recognize as treasures from the village, and in the short man's hand she could see her own prized bracelet, discarded for her fight. When her mind finally translated what Happosai had said, she went white as a sheet.

/Not the love pill! Somebody stop him!/ she cried, forgetting her own fight for the more immediate problem. But also having heard the object of Happosai's interest, she ducked behind the other Amazons as they prepared to intercept the midget thief.

/What?/ Konara said, surprised to be so easily forgotten. Then she caught sight of the object of her enemy's attention, and gave an involuntary shudder. Something about the figure made her want to destroy it in any fashion possible...but now was her chance to run awa--

"SWEETO! I haven't seen you around!" Happosai cried, having caught sight of the blue haired girl. He made a flying leap, knowing he would land in the soft, warm safety of the girl's...sword? Dodging quickly, Happosai landed easily, staring up at the girl. "Well well well. You actually reacted fast enough to avoid my glomp," he said admiringly, not noticing her blank stare of horror that was swiftly turning to rage.

"I'd stay and get to know you better, but I've got my Cologne-chan to find!" With a swiftness inherent only to the true pervert, he managed a quick grope, then bounded away before any of the Amazons could react. Spotting the familiar form behind the pack of Amazons, Happosai happily flew towards Khu Lon. "Say 'Ahhh!' Cologne!" he sang out, holding out one of the pills from the bracelet.

Mouth involuntarily open in horror, Khu Lon couldn't react in time as Happosai came closer and closer...only to be knocked away, minus his bounty, by a large dragon's tail. Looking around in surprise, Khu Lon had time to see the white dragon stare furiously at the departing figure, before it shrank back into the recognizable form of Konara. Konara's face was twisted in disgust and rage, surprising Khu Lon as the girl, despite her anger from before, had never looked so fierce.

/She...saved me?/ Khu Lon said in shock. It didn't make sense... /Why didn't she run while she had the chance?/

As if realizing the same thing, Konara's eyes widened in horror and she swiftly turned to run again, but found her path blocked by the two Guardians. Having finished the spell, they now prepared to complete the second part of their mission.

Konara took a step back, raising her sword a fraction, then lowered it to the ground. She stared defiantly at the Guardians as Garr raised his massive spear to disembowel her, and she closed her eyes, bracing for death.

/Wait!/ Lo Xian cried, straightening from the pile of treasures Happosai had 'left.' /You cannot kill her!/

/What!/ Garr said angrily, whirling to face the Amazons. Geist was looking ill, still staring at the motionless Konara. The rest of the Amazons had gathered behind Lo Xian, and Khu Lon came up to stand next to her mother. /Why?!/

/She saved the village's treasures, and she saved my daughter from a fate worse than death,/ Lo Xian said commandingly. /Despite what the Goddess has ordained, she has proved her honor to the Amazons./ At this, Konara opened her eyes to stare incredulously at the Amazons. /Because she has protected the entire village from being robbed, she is welcome as a member of the tribe would be,/ Lo Xian continued. /Because she saved my daughter, our family owes her a debt of gratitude. I am truly sorry, Guardians,/ she added regretfully.

Through out the speech, Konara had been slowly edging away from the two Guardians, and now was far enough to make a break for it, but something stopped her. Could she, in fact, trust these women? Only moments ago they were her mortal enemies, as all followers of Myria were, but now?

Khu Lon's mind was awhirl with strange new thoughts. She'd been determined to kill the girl as commanded by her Goddess...but that wasn't why she'd been fighting, was it? She'd been fighting for her own honor, against an outsider who'd dared to interfere with their village, as was their law.

/You would go against the wishes of the Goddess for your petty squabbles?/ Garr was demanding. Khu Lon stiffened angrily, as did her mother.

/Our honor is not petty!/ Lo Xian retorted angrily.

She hadn't been fighting for the Goddess, Khu Lon knew. Her village had agreed with the vision of the Goddess, knowing such a divine being would know what was best for the world, but was that really true? Was it possible the Goddess was in the wrong? The girl had saved her...

/It doesn't matter! Your honor is nothing next to the Goddess! You must abide by her wishes!/ Garr said firmly, turning back to Konara who prepared to bolt. Khu Lon's vision went red.

/Our honor is everything!/ she cried. /It's the Goddess who is nothing without us!/ Surprised at her own audacity, she gave a frightened 'eep' and covered her mouth quickly, as if trying to take the words back. Everyone stared at her in astonishment, and Garr turned slowly back around.

/What did you say?/ he asked deliberately.

/Well, it's true!/ Khu Lon said hotly, trying to still the hammering of her heart. Having that piercing gaze fixed on her was terrifying, but she had already gone too far to stop now. /The Goddess makes our lives better. We give our thanks to her for that. We never said we'd give up our way of life for her!/ Some of the other Amazons were nodding, giving her heart. She knew she could rely on her family, her clan, to support her, even in this.

Garr opened his mouth, but no sound came out. It looked as if he couldn't believe what was being said.

/My daughter may have been a little blunt,/ Lo Xian murmured, tearing her eyes off Khu Lon, /But she is right. Our honor demands we welcome the girl into our clan. We cannot let you kill her./

/Then I must kill you as well,/ Garr said monotonously, raising his spear again. Before he could even take a step, he jerked forward with a groan, falling limply to the ground. Geist stood behind him, his own spear still upraised from the blow. Lowering it, he glanced at Konara.

/Myria knows where you are, now that you've used your powers. She'll be here by morning. I suggest you get as far away as you can,/ he said softly, meeting the burning gaze with sorrowful eyes. Then he grabbed one of Garr's arms, seeming to easily heft the much bulkier Guardian behind him, and left without a backward glance.

/...Konara,/ Khu Lon said uncertainly, for the girl was still staring blankly at where the Guardians had disappeared. Shaking herself slightly, Konara turned to the Amazon.

/So you won't try to kill me?/ she asked harshly.

/No,/ Khu Lon replied softly.

/Will you free Deis?/

/That is not possible. The spell has been sealed by the Guardians,/ one of the spell casters answered quietly.

/Then...wake me in a few hours,/ Konara mumbled, and crumpled where she stood in a dead faint, too tired to do anything else.

* * *

/If you go northeast, you will reach one of our training grounds, a valley full of pools of water,/ Lo Xian said to the Brood girl. It was still a couple hours until dawn, and only Lo Xian and Khu Lon were there to see her off. /Beyond the valley is a range of mountains, and the coast. You should be able to hide there from Myria./

/...Thank you,/ Konara said stiffly. /I hope you won't get in any trouble because of me./

/It does not matter,/ Khu Lon replied.

/Well,/ Konara said, turning to the other girl, /This is goodbye. Thanks, even if you were trying to kill me./

/Yeah. Same here,/ Khu Lon said with a wan smile.

/Goodbye,/ Lo Xian said kindly. /I wish there was more we could do for you.../

Konara didn't smile nor give any indication of well being, but after what had happened to her neither Amazon could blame her.

/I am the last of my kind. I pray I will be able to see you again. Do not follow Myria so blindly anymore,/ she said in parting, and strode forward into the trees.

/...Did we do the right thing mother?/ Khu Lon asked softly, staring unseeingly ahead.

/Time will tell, daughter. Only time will tell,/ Lo Xian replied sadly.

*End Flashback*

"It was a few hours later that we sensed the battle begin," Khu Lon said. Ranko and Ryoko were surprised to glance around and see what seemed to be the entire village crowded around the diminutive woman. Someone had pushed food on them, and they were munching on the meat rolls as Khu Lon continued.

"Wild magic coursed across the sky. Some landed in the village, striking objects and people at random. Some of the people were changed. I myself was hit, and found later that I was not dying of old age. Hours later, the battle finally ended, leaving the village in ruins. We could sense Myria's power receding, and hoped for the best. When Konara did not return, we knew the Brood were no more," she concluded. There was a respectful silence from the listeners.

"So...what does this have to do with Ranma?" Genma asked, having changed back to human at some point. The spell was broken, and Khu Lon looked at the girls in surprise.

"You have not told him?" she asked sharply.

"Uh, we never got the chance to," Ryoko muttered uncomfortably.

"Yeah. The first time we saw him after gettin' cursed he went and insulted us, so Ranma booted him into Leo," Ranko said defiantly.

"Then we saw him stuffing his face at Xian Pu's prize, and you know the rest," Ryoko finished.

"Told me what?" Genma demanded, not liking being left out.

"Apparently the two boys fell into a Jusenkyou spring containing the spirit of Konara," Khu Lon told him. "Now her spirit resides within them."

"That's...that's ridiculous!" Genma cried, leaping to his feet. "Boy! Tell me it's not true!" he said, grabbing Ranko by the front of her gi and lifting her a few feet off the ground.

"Old man, I ain't Ranma, as I said before," Ranko said, eyes resignedly half closed. "And if you don't believe me, does Ranma know magic?" she added, casting a hand at the martial artist. "Cyclone!" A strong wind interposed itself between her and Genma, pushing on the martial artist until he had to let go of her shirt. She dropped back into a sitting position with a thud as the man went tumbling away, turning her attention back on the diminutive old woman.

"So we knew you back then?" Ryoko asked, curious, ignoring the brief interruption.

"Yes, you did. I would like to know why you don't remember," Khu Lon replied, eyeing the red-head girl speculatively.

"Well, when the guys fell in our spring, we split an' fused with them," Ranko explained. "It was...intense. I mean, I can kinda remember that I was someone else, but I can also kinda remember being Ranma as well. But not being Ranma. It's kinda confusin'..." she muttered unsurely. Ryoko nodded, though.

"That's what it seemed like to me, too. That, and the fact we were waiting 1500 years, added up and wiped our memories, mostly. I...I don't even remember how to transform," she said, looking at the ground.

"But you can?" Khu Lon asked, looking at the two girls in sympathy.

"I think so," Ryoko replied, shrugging. "It's...hard to explain, but I can sense the dragon within. It's how we realized the boys had been changed as well. There's...two dragons in us, so to speak."

{Does that mean Ranma and me can transform too?} Ryoga asked quietly. They hadn't much talked about the changes they'd gone through, since there were no real answers and none of them liked to remember the pain they'd felt when they'd fallen into the spring.

"Yeah, can Ranma and Ryoga transform? But, until we remember how, we can't test that..." Ranko said absently. Genma was pushing his way impatiently back through the lingering Amazons, but sat down without saying anything.

{What about a cure?} Ranma interrupted impatiently.

"Do you know how we can get cured?" Ranko relayed obediently.

"I would need to research it, but there might be some way," Khu Lon amended when she saw their hopeful faces.

"And Deis? Is she still around?" Ryoko asked eagerly. "She could help us, I bet. If she was our guardian and all."

"She is still sealed away. Unfortunately, I don't still don't know how to undo the seal, though I have tried hard. There seems to be some key that keeps the seal whole, and I do not know what it is," Khu Lon replied. "Only the Guardians would know." The two girls grimaced.

"Well, that doesn't help us. They're probably long dead," Ryoko sighed, leaning back on her hands and tilting her head back tiredly.

"Not necessarily," Khu Lon corrected. "The Guardians are not mere mortals. But," she added, seeing their hopeful faces, "They might all be gone by now. With their calling complete, they were said to have 'returned to the Goddess', their bodies turning to stone."

{How...pleasant,} Ranma said sarcastically. {Well, serves them right, I guess.}

{Well, let's go see Deis anyway. Maybe we can do something,} Ryoga suggested.

"Where is she?" Ranko asked expectantly of the old matriarch. Khu Lon blinked.

"The Goddess?" she asked, surprised. Ranko blinked.

"Ah! No, I meant Deis. Ryoga was saying maybe we can do something," she explained quickly, blushing a little in embarrassment. The other three chuckled at her.

"Ah, I see. Deis is in a shrine, a short distance away from the village. I will take you," Khu Lon said, hopping atop her staff and pogoing away. The two girls and a curious Genma got up and followed. The remaining Amazons parted to give way, dispersing back to their homes as the group left the village. They walked in silence, until Genma suddenly shuddered.

"I just thought of something," he said seriously. "This Happosai you were talking about...he was still around until a short while ago."

"What?!" Khu Lon cried, sliding off her staff in shock. She whirled on the man. "Is this true? How do you know?"

"He, ah, trained me and my old friend Soun in the Anything Goes Martial Arts," Genma said nervously, eyeing the Amazon warily. Ranko raised an eyebrow at this, and Ranma started in surprise.

{What? You mean...a freakishly old little pervert is responsible for the Anything Goes Style?!} Ranma cried, horrified.

{I don't think I could think of a worse punishment than that,} Ryoga teased, while the girls grinned. Their silent conversation was interrupted as Genma continued hurriedly.

"Ah! But there's nothing to worry about now, hehehe," the fat martial artist bragged, chuckling triumphantly.

"And why is that?" Khu Lon asked through narrowed eyes. Genma didn't seem to notice and continued boastfully.

"Well, me and Soun destroyed the little monster years ago!" he exclaimed. "There wasn't anything left when we were done with him!" He ignored the disbelieving looks from the others, chucking merrily at the memory of finally being free from the terror.

"...We will see," Khu Lon said finally, then hopped back onto her staff and continued up the trail. Ranko and Ryoko exchanged glances, then hurried to catch up with the Amazon, leaving Genma a little ways behind as he followed more slowly.

"Hey Khu Lon," Ranko asked curiously as they came level with the old woman. "Didn't Konara try to free Deis? I don't think I'd just leave my guardian behind, especially if I cared about her!"

"There was no time," Khu Lon explained gravely. "Konara had been exhausted from our fight, and was unconscious for several hours. When she awoke, she had to leave immediately for fear that Myria was getting too close."

"But can't Myria just appear anywhere?" Ryoko pointed out. "Why didn't Myria just appear when Konara used her power?"

{And why did Konara use her power, anyway?} Ranma asked. {Deis told her not to, and she didn't even use it to defend herself or her guardian! But when her enemy is attacked, she used it? It doesn't make any sense!}

"I don't know..." Ranko said unsurely. "I can't remember anything about this village or the little freak." Khu Lon sighed exaggeratedly.

"I realize it makes no difference to you who is speaking, but not all of us are blessed with the ability to hear your invisible companions," she chided, and Ranko ducked her head in embarrassment while Ryoko rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, Ranma just wanted to know why Konara used her powers. It doesn't make sense," Ryoko explained. Khu Lon gave a thoughtful hum.

"I am afraid I can not give you true answers, merely my own thoughts on other people's motives," she said. She stopped suddenly, gesturing to the thick foliage to the right of the path. "We must leave the trail here. The shrine was built to protect Deis from outsiders, and even my people do not visit it, for there are many traps and dangers about the place."

She hopped off her staff and began using it to push her way through the undergrowth, the others following slowly. The two girls, being slim and agile, had an easier time of following, but judging by the curses of the other martial artist, Genma was having a hard time pushing after them, and soon his voice was lost to the sounds of the forest.

"I have been haunted by the question of why Konara used her powers to save me, when it brought her to her own end, and the end of the Brood," the old woman began sadly. The four teens were listening attentively. "I have thought over the years, and I think I have found the reason, as well as part of the reason for Myria's vendetta against the Brood."

"Really?" Ranko blurted out in surprise.

{You mean she actually had a reason?} Ryoga asked, equally surprised.

"Seems like it," Ryoko muttered quietly, then gestured impatiently for Khu Lon to continue. "So why then?"

"Cheeky child," the Amazon chided. "You would not understand, having never met Happosai," she held up a hand as Ranko opened her mouth, "that you can remember, at least. Everything about him, his aura, screams at women to attack, to either fight or flee. So when Happosai attempted to accost Konara, she was overcome by anger and disgust, and did not stop to think of anything but removing the source of her ire." She sighed heavily. "She probably had not even considered that she was saving me, nor our village's treasures. Despite that, because her actions did result in the safety of our village, we were and still are bound by our honor to protect her as one of our own."

"Hmmm, so what does that have to do with Myria then?" Ryoko asked. "Does she like creepy little perverts or something?" she added, smirking.

"Such an insolent child!" Khu Lon said, chuckling. "No, the reason I believe lies in the nature of the Brood. They are a fighting race, and loved to do little else--"

"But they never fought back!" Ranko interrupted hotly, Ryoko bristling at her side. "I remember that much! We never fought back when we were attacked!"

"Do you wish to listen, or do you wish to shout?" Khu Lon reprimanded. When the two girls remained silent, she continued. "The Brood loved to fight, mostly among themselves. Not in a malicious manner, but much like training, sparring, and friendly rivalries. Of course, there were times when bad feelings arose, and some were killed in the infractions, but on the whole, the Brood kept to themselves. But they had a temper. It was easy to spark their anger, and it was only their self control which kept them from becoming the terrifying creatures they are portrayed as today."

{Wait, people know about the Brood still?} Ranma asked. {How come I never heard about them!}

{When was the last time you went to school?} Ryoga asked dryly. {And paid attention, that is. I don't remember a lot about what they taught, just that the Brood were supposed to be terrible.}

"And why don't you remember, if you're so high and mighty as all that?" Ranko asked sourly, as Ranma grumbled quietly to himself.

{Last time I went to school was with Ranma. I spent the last couple years trying to find him, if you recall,} Ryoga snapped.

"'Guess we do have a bit of a temper problem," Ryoko said, rolling her eyes. "Chill out, guys. We'll find out when we go back to Japan. Okay?" She looked back down at the Amazon, who was patiently waiting for them to finish the half-heard conversation. "So I guess Myria was worried the Brood would snap, or something? Is that what you're trying to get at?"

"The potential was there," Khu Lon agreed, nodding sagely. "The Brood was a powerful race that could have broken the world."

"But we didn't," Ranko said darkly. "We didn't break the world. We didn't even try. We were killed off because of what might have happened."

"And the world was broken anyway," Ryoko added. "Myria thinks she knows best, and isn't afraid to destroy anything she thinks is necessary." There was silence for a while, except for the normal sounds of the forest and the group making their way through the underbrush.

{Hey...does Oyaji know we're Brood?} Ranma asked absently.

"He knows about us now," Ranko said, flicking a hand between her and Ryoko.

"And that we can use magic, thanks to you," Ryoko added, poking the girl in the side. Ranko sidled away, poking her tongue out at the blonde.

{But, I don't think we ever actually said we'd been changed,} Ranma insisted. {An' he hasn't been around for a lot of the really important stuff, right?}

{Ranma's right,} Ryoga said, as the other tried to think back. {Ranko blasted him away before Khu Lon asked if we could transform. I don't think we ever said anything while he was around that suggested it.}

"So what then?" Ryoko asked.

{So I think we shouldn't tell him. If the Brood are supposed to be evil or something, well, who knows what my old man would do if he found out about us!} Ranma explained.

"You don't think he'd do something terrible, do you?" Ryoko asked in disbelief.

"Deeepends on what you consider terrible," Ranko said, weaving her hand back and forth in front of her to indicate an 'either-or' status. "I don't remember specifics, but Ranma knows."

{It could be anything from disowning us to trying to sell us as unusual oddities,} Ranma sighed. {If he thinks he can profit from something, he'll try it. But sometimes, even his sense of honor kicks in and he acts somewhat...seriously.}

"Sell....us?" Ryoko asked slowly.

{I'd like to see him try!} Ryoga said hotly. {It's not like he has any say over us!}

{Anyway, can we just keep it quiet? Until we know more?} Ranma asked plaintively.

"Yeah yeah, fine. It's not like I'm dying to talk to the panda or anything," Ryoko grumbled. Ranko rolled her eyes.

"You know I won't," she said.

{Do I look like an idiot to you?} Ryoga complained.

{I dunno! You don't look like much of anything right now!} Ranma teased.

{Why you! I'll get you for that later!} Ryoga yelped, and the two girls began to laugh. Ahead of them, Khu Lon just shook her head.

* * *

It was a couple of hours later that the three women finally came to a break in the forest. Ahead of them, looming high over head, was a pyramid shaped building. The pyramid had several tiers, with crumbling walls and moss covered stone everywhere. There was a long set of stairs leading to the top tier, though what was on top of the structure couldn't be seen. Around the base of the ruins was an obviously man-made stream, with only a small path across that lead to the base of the stairs.

"You call this a short way from the village?!" Ranko asked crankily, wiping sweat from her brow.

"You call this a shrine?!" Ryoko demanded, craning her neck to see up the stairs.

"This was not made by the Amazons. Not far from here," Khu Lon ignored Ranko's baleful look, "there is a city known as Urkan Tapa. It is a city of fanatics who still revere the Goddess."

{I've been there, I think. There are priests everywhere, and everyone is praying to....well, Myria I guess, though I didn't know or care at the time,} Ryoga said.

"The Guardians created this, and called it Angel Tower," Khu Lon was saying, not being able to hear Ryoga. "They would speak to Myria from the top. Inside is a labyrinth of puzzles and traps, where only the Guardians are allowed to go. We must be careful, for there are guards from Urkan Tapa around, and they will try to stop us from entering Deis' resting spot."

The girls nodded, looking around with renewed wariness, and they began to stealthily climb the long flight of stairs.

"Do you know what's inside?" Ranko asked quietly of the Amazon matriarch. Khu Lon shook her head.

"The entrance to the tower is well guarded, and the traps inside are deadly. I never saw a reason to learn what was in there, and without a Guardian guide I do now know if even I could make it out alive," Khu Lon replied softly. "I believe the Guardians built Angel Tower next to our shrine to prevent us from being able to free Deis, though it hasn't been too troublesome to avoid the guards around our entrance."

There was a break in the walls lining the stairs, the stone having crumbled away long ago, and Khu Lon hopped through the gap. Around the corner was another walled stairway, and the two girls could just see a dark door way built into the last tier. But Khu Lon ignored the stairs, instead hopping down the tiers to last one before ground level, near the base of the new stairway. She signaled for the girls to stop, and be silent.

The two girls had been crouching below the top of the stair wall, and now crouched even further as they heard the quiet breathing of two people nearby. Ranko peered over the top of the wall cautiously, and saw the backs of two guards. The guards held pikes in their hands, but were staring straight ahead, guarding the stairway from any casual travelers. Ducking down again, Ranko turned to Khu Lon with a questioning look. Khu Lon shook her head, then pointed back up the way they came. They hopped back up to the gap in the first stair wall, and Khu Lon frowned.

"The shrine is just beyond the guards. It is strange they are guarding the entrance to Angel Tower instead of the prayer platform. Normally they do not bother Amazons so long as we do not try to enter the tower, but I think we should not alert them to our presence all the same," Khu Lon said.

"So we just have to sneak by?" Ranko asked brightly. Khu Lon nodded, then gestured the two girls to follow her again.

{This place is creepy,} Ranma complained.

{And I really don't want to know what's inside,} Ryoga agreed, shuddering. They had only glanced at the gaping doorway, and that had left the four teens chilled with dread. The two girls didn't dare say anything aloud, as they were nearing the guards again, but agreed with their passengers. Khu Lon scooped up a pebble and tossed it over the wall of the stairs. At the tiny clatter, the guards both turned, but only saw a small rock tumbling down the stairs, which wasn't anything unusual in the crumbling ruins. They turned back, not seeing the shadow disappear deeper down the stairway in front of them.

"The shrine is underground?" Ryoko hissed quietly as the trio made their way further down the stairs. There was a soft green glow coming from somewhere ahead.

"How did you manage to move the seal?" Ranko wondered, looking to the matriarch expectantly.

"We did not move the seal, merely sunk it below the ground so no one could accidentally stumble across it," Khu Lon explained. "It was easier to keep it hidden from prying eyes. I will go no further, this time. I will keep a look out in case our presence was detected," she said, stopping and turning back to the distant light from the surface. "It is only a little way further," she added, gesturing to the bottom of the stairs where the green glow had been getting brighter and brighter. Ryoko nodded, grabbing Ranko's sleeve and dragging her along.

The two girls came into a fair sized room, where they could see the glowing pyramid seal. Peering through the transparent sides, they could make out the form of Deis, lying peacefully in the center. Unfortunately for the boys, Khu Lon forgot to mention one small piece of information.

{AAAHHHH! LOOK AWAY! LOOK AWAY!} Ranma cried, powerless to move in his current state. There was an odd sort of silence from Ryoga, almost as if he had fainted...

"What?" Ranko asked, jerking backwards in surprise.

{Khu Lon didn't say she was naked!} Ranma cried, 'gasping' for breath. {Don't you dare look, Ranko!}

"Sheesh. Don't over react," Ryoko muttered. Ryoga's presence came back, faintly. "Are you alright?" she asked. Her only response was a faint whimper. "How are we supposed to do anything if we can't even look around? You big babies..." she muttered.

{And what would you do if Deis had been a guy!} Ranma retorted.

"I don't know...enjoyed the view?" Ryoko said, grinning ferally. Ranko giggled and elbowed the other girl playfully.

{...our girls are perverts...} came the traumatized voice of Ryoga.

"Oi! We're just teasing!" Ranko said indignantly. She avoided looking at the woman lying in the center of the glowing pyramid, and instead began inspecting the seal. Ryoko reached out hesitantly to touch the glowing sides, only to have it brighten minutely at the contact. She jerked her hand back, but nothing happened. Ranko cocked an eyebrow at her, and both girls reached out to firmly put both hands on the pyramid. Aside from the seal brightening wherever they touched, nothing happened.

"Would magic work, you think?" Ranko asked, trying to put her foot on the pyramid. It didn't go through the seal, but there was also no traction and her foot slid back to the floor.

"Doubt it. Khu Lon must have tried that. I was hoping that I'd remember something if we saw her," Ryoko sighed, thumping her fist against the seal. "But no such luck."

{I don't think there's anything we can do here,} Ranma said impatiently, wanting to get away from here as soon as possible.

"Alright, let's go. Are you going to live, Ryoga?" Ryoko asked the silent boy.

{Mrrhl...}

"Yeah, he'll be fine!" Ranko giggled, and the two girls left the room, thoughts on the strange woman and what secrets she held. Khu Lon was not where they'd left her, and they could hear loud voices coming from the surface.

"Uh oh," Ranko said, and the two girls sprinted to the top. Bursting out of the stair way, the two girls saw Khu Lon yelling at a cowering Genma, the two guards sprawled near by unconscious. Genma caught sight of them, and immediately pounced.

"Alright, Ranma, enough games for now! We must return to Japan!" he said, latching onto Ranko's arm and trying to drag her away. Khu Lon's staff came smashing down on his head.

"You fool! Don't ignore me!" she cried at the whimpering martial artist.

"I'm not Ranma!" Ranko shouted as well. "And I wanna stay here and see if Khu Lon can find a cure!"

"Besides, I thought we already said me and Ryoga are coming with you!" Ryoko growled, cracking her knuckles ominously.

{We did?} Ryoga asked. {When?}

{I did, when we were back at Jusenkyou. You do want to come with us, right?} Ranma asked expectantly.

"Of course we do!" Ryoko said, just as Genma said "Now, I never agreed--" The fat martial artist stared at her in confusion, then yelped in pain as Khu Lon's staff hit him again. Ryoko grinned.

"What did he do, anyway?" she asked, toeing the cowering man. Khu Lon huffed in aggravation.

"He just came barreling up, no stealth at all!, and started demanding to know where we went from the guards," she spat. "I didn't want anyone to know we'd visited this place. Those at Urkan Tapa do not look favorably on we who have forsaken the Goddess."

"So who knocked out the guards then?" Ranko asked, nodding at the two unconscious figures.

"I did. Hopefully I will be able to come up with a story to cover your presence," Khu Lon said stiffly.

"But...we must return to Japan right away!" Genma interrupted, regaining his feet and backing away from the irate Amazon. "I've already sent word to my old friend!"

"No way!" Ranko began, "We're not goin--"

{I...really wanted to go home,} Ranma broke in.

{I know we need to find a cure, but it would be really nice to see Japan again,} Ryoga added.

"I...but...he'll..." Ranko spluttered, trying to think of an argument.

Ryoko grabbed the other girl's arm, dragging her off as she called over her shoulder, "Hang on, emergency meeting!" The two girls stopped when they were far enough away not to be overheard by the other two. "Okay, now what are we going to do? We never did decide before, and now we have a lot more to worry about!" she said, folding her arms and glowering at her feet. Ranko huffed, putting her fists against her hips in annoyance.

"I want to stay! Khu Lon will find a cure, I just know it!" she said fervently.

{I think she'll find a cure too, but it might take years! I don't really wanna stay around here for that long!} Ranma complained.

{And we'd have to put up with Xian Pu and Mu Tsu, and all the other Amazons and their weird laws and rules,} Ryoga added morosely.

"That's true," Ryoko said thoughtfully. "But on the other hand, if we do leave, we might not return here for years as well. Do we want to continue sharing bodies for that long?"

{It's kinda a pain, but I don't really mind it all that much,} Ranma said.

{It's actually kind of nice in a way,} Ryoga put in hesitantly. {At least if I do wander off and get lost, I won't be alone.} Ryoko blinked, a little touched at this.

"Aww, how sweet!" Ranko cooed at the other girl.

"Shut up Ranko!" Ryoko said with a blush, punching the other girl in the shoulder.

{I wish there was an' easy way to keep in touch with Khu Lon,} Ranma said. {That would solve the problem. As soon as she had the cure, she could let us know and we'd come back!}

"Well, maybe that will work anyway," Ryoko said thoughtfully. "We can at least ask her if it's possible. If she can't do that, then we can stick around for a while. She might be able to come up with a cure sooner rather than later."

"I guess..." Ranko whined. "If she can let us know when she finds a cure, I'll agree to leaving."

{And if she can't let us know, I guess we can stick around for a while,} Ranma conceded sullenly.

{I don't really have a problem either way. We're just kind of along for the ride,} Ryoga said diffidently.

"Don't hurt yourselves with exuberant good will," Ryoko said sarcastically. Ranko stuck her tongue out at the other girl, then bounded back toward the two waiting adults. Genma was nursing another bump on the head, having tried to sneak closer to the pair to hear what they were saying.

"Hey Khu Lon! You're gonna look for a cure for us, right?" Ranko demanded when she got close enough, Ryoko trailing behind.

"My, you children get quite rude when you're upset," Khu Lon tsked, thumping the girl sharply with her stick. "Yes, I will certainly find a cure for your current predicament. I take it you want to return to the other side of the inner sea with this...man?" she added with a contemptuous glance at the fat martial artist.

"Yeah. Is there any way to keep in contact with you so we could come back when you find a cure?" Ryoko asked politely, eyeing the moaning Ranko nervously. Khu Lon sniffed.

"I will come to you when I find a cure," she said simply.

"But, isn't that too much trouble?" Ranko asked through teary eyes, hands clutching her aching head. That had hurt!

"Bah. It's been too long since I've been out of the village," Khu Lon scoffed, cackling happily. "I'd be glad to."

"Then it's decided!" Genma cried, startling everyone as he sprang up, clapping Ranko and Ryoko on their backs. "We leave now!"

{Wait, I just realized...we have to put up with him if we leave?!} Ryoga asked in horror.

{I wanna stay! I really really wanna stay!} Ranma cried in panic.

"Ooooh no. You said you really wanna see Japan again!" Ranko said sweetly. Genma was looking at her oddly, but she ignored him. "I know you're just sayin' that to make me feel better. And I wouldn't want to disappoint you guys, now would I?"

"Exuberant good will," Ryoko muttered. "I can hear the angels writing you up for saintdom now..."

* * *

They had returned to the Amazon village, Khu Lon sending some of her people back to the shrine to take care of the situation with the guards. By then it was well into night, so the visitors had accepted the Amazon's hospitality. The girls had switched with the boys, but after Xian Pu tried to glomp on one and Mu Tsu tried to kill the other, the boys had unceremoniously demanded the girls remain in control while they were there.

They left the Amazons the next day, well provisioned and in new attire. Genma had complained at the new clothes, claiming that they would slow the boys down, and had been subsequently pounded by the boys who had no trouble at all moving in the Chinese style clothing. They left with a final warning from the Amazon matriarch.

"The pass back to the Rhapala region of Japan at Mt. Zublo has been blocked," Khu Lon had said. "The volcano erupted, and the pass is covered in molten lava. You will have to take the boat across the inner sea if you want to return to Japan."

It had taken them a week of hard travel to get through the forest, but now they were finally nearing the sea. The forest had disappeared long ago, the area near the sea being rather desolate and barren. They were racing along a rocky cliff, dodging around or over the large boulders scattered around the area.

"Hurry up!" Genma called over his shoulder at the two boys. It was amazing how well the two of them could work together when they wanted. And that Ryoga boy was a good sparring partner for Ranma. He was glad he'd thought of letting the boy come along. Nothing like a friendly rivalry to bring out the best in a martial artist!

"Follow me!" Ranma yelled at Ryoga, cutting off to the right and weaving through another rock pile. Ryoga followed as fast as he could, but soon lost sight of the pig-tailed boy amongst the rocky terrain.

The pigtail had been Ranko's idea, as she had always liked her hair in a braid. Ryoga had adamantly refused to grow his hair out for Ryoko.

Ryoga growled under his breath. Damn that Ranma! Ranma knew how easily he got lost! Was he trying to lose him on purpose?

{Ryoga! You can do it! The sea is just beyond these cliffs!} Ryoko said worriedly. {Straight ahead, no way to get lost!}

"This is just....the sort of situation...where I do," he panted, miserably aware that it was a futile effort. He hadn't wandered off in over a month, which had never happened before, but his luck couldn't hold out. Now that he was, essentially, on his own, his feet would unerringly take him to some remote part of the world, without bothering with the intervening distance. Rounding a final curve, he bounded over a rock pile and came to a sliding halt. There in front of him, sparkling merrily in the sun, was the sea. Ranma and Genma were standing nearby, panting for breath.

Ryoga blinked once, twice, then gave an almighty cheer and began to dance with glee, Ryoko crowing triumphantly in his head. He didn't notice the LARGE sweat-drops on Ranma and Genma's heads. Before he knew what was happening, Ranma had been swept into Ryoga's victory dance. After a few dozen twirls, Ryoga calmed down enough to release the gagging Ranma.

Pretending not to know them, Genma edged farther away.

"{WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!}" Ranma and Ranko chorused.

"I didn't get lost! I didn't get lost!" he cheered, too happy to do anything else.

{Take that Myria!} Ryoko hissed quietly to herself.

"You didn't have to do that!" Ranma cried, clutching his chest.

{Jeez, Ryoga!} Ranko added, 'scowling.'

"Yes, well, anyway," Genma coughed, "Here we are. As a training exercise, we are going to swim to Japan, rather than take the boat."

Instantly there was dead silence as the two boys froze. They could feel the rage inside begin to simmer and burn, and though they tried, they could not contain it.

The two girls exploded in rage.

{HE WANT'S US TO SWIM ACROSS THE INNER SEA?!} Ryoko demanded, very very loudly.

{HE'S JUST TOO CHEAP TA PAY FOR THE BOAT ACROSS!!!} Ranko shrieked.

{LET US AT HIM!} they chorused.

"..."

"..."

"Boys?" Genma asked uncertainly. He had gotten used to the seemingly random conversations they had with people who weren't there, and had convinced himself that the spirit or whatever from the spring really was haunting the two boys. It was that or believe his son was insane, and the thought sent a chill down his soul, much like the feeling of cold steel from a katana. He would much rather believe in ghosts than insanity, oh yes.

"...I think I've gone deaf," Ranma said conversationally.

"What? I can't hear you. I've gone deaf," Ryoga replied blandly.

Jusenkyou cursed individuals have a unique tendency to attract water no matter how hard they try to avoid it. True, standing next to a large body of water preparing to go swimming is not the best way to avoid getting wet, however the laws of Jusenkyou decree that life cannot be that simple. Thus is was that the cursed group didn't even get a chance to get in the water before it started raining. Hard. And it was just Genma's luck that Ranma and Ryoga, having become so used to it as to make it second nature, switched control with the girls.

"Oh panda man!" Ranko called in a singsong voice, making said panda turn from its contemplation of the cloud-covered sky.

"Did we hear you right?" Ryoko asked, continuing in the same sugary voice as Ranko had.

"We have ta swim all the way back to Japan?" Ranko asked.

[Now, girls, it's for the ART...] the panda signed, looking nervously over its shoulder.

"For the art? Hah! You just don't want to pay to ride the boat across," Ryoko cried, pointing an accusing finger at the panda.

[Ah, I see how it is!] the panda signed. [You girls are too weak to make it across!]

"Too...weak?" Ranko asked in a strangled voice. Ignoring this, the panda continued to sign, adding the occasional gesture to emphasize his point.

[Yes, I should have known. Oh the curse of having two such weak little girls under my care! The heavens weep at such unfairness!]

"Panda...hurt...maim...kiiilll," Ryoko snarled, hands coming up as if already wringing the animal's neck.

"You...did not...just call us...weak," Ranko choked out, also advancing on the nervous panda.

[C...come on now, girls. Can't you take a joke?] the panda signed, beginning to back up in step to the two advancing girls.

"Oh, we like jokes," Ranko said, grinning terribly at the panda.

"Yeah, and we're going to get a BIG laugh out of this!" Ryoko howled, charging forward. Genma needed no more urging as he plunged into the incoming waves.

"COME BACK HERE YOU STUPID PANDA!!!" they chorused, diving in after him.

{Well, Oyaji sure knows how to get us to do what we don't wanna,} Ranma said to Ryoga.

{I'm actually impressed. I wouldn't think he'd have the guts to get the girls this angry,} Ryoga agreed. Sighing in unison, both boys settled back to watch the interesting race back to the mainland.

Genma grimaced as he swam along. He'd have to swim under this load of soggy fur the whole way. Oh well, it wasn't like he could afford the boat anyway. He just hoped he could stay far enough away from the girls until they got to shore. Maybe by then they'd forget?

His thoughts turned again to the postcard he'd sent earlier that week. 'Finally, my old friend. Our dream will be realized.'

End Chapter 03

-
Author's notes: Hum~ So, a few things were probably a bit confusing here, though I tried to explain without outright saying it. Mah well. If you have questions, I'll of course be happy to answer.