****Author’s note****

Ok, here’s chapter 3 of my Ranma/Tenchi xover. I hope you like it. As always, c&c are welcome. This is only part 1 of 2. I hope to have the second half completed soon. Sorry for the long delay since I was out of town.

****Disclaimer****

Ranma ½ and Tenchi Muyu belong to their respective owner. I have absolutely no ownership of Ranma ½ or Tenchi Muyu in part or whole.

*******

Chosen

Chapter 3

***Masaki House***

Later that evening at the Masaki’s house, Tenchi and the others gathered in the living room. They had just finished diner and Ranma left to help Grandpa at the shrine.

Tenchi exited the bathroom and walked over to the couch where everyone had gathered. Sasami played with Ry-oh-ki while her older sister, Ryoko, and Mihoshi watched some drama on TV.

“Um… Washu-chan?” asked Tenchi, nervously. For some reason, he always felt uncomfortable around her, especially, especially if he had to ask her a favor.

“Yes, Tenchi?” Washu asked cheerfully.

Tenchi fidgeted with his thumb, “Have you been able to find anything that might help Ranchan?”

Washu shook her head, “I’m afraid not. There’s very little information available on this Junsenko. I’ve searched the galactic database and so far, nothing useful.”

Tenchi sighed, “Thanks, Washu-chan.”

“I don’t see any problem with him turning into a girl,” Ryoko commented. “I mean, he does have a great body after all. Much better than some of the people I know,” Ryouko grinned.

“What’s that supposed to mean, you dry up old mummy?” Ayeka shouted.

Ryouko snickered and floated before Ayeka. She turned sideways and made evident of her body to the Princess. “I don’t know, Ayeka. Maybe we should find the spring of drown girl for you.”

Ayeka glowed as she stared daggers at the space pirate. “Why you!” At her command, miniature cylinder blocks appeared and surrounded her. “If anyone needs the spring, it’s you, you mummy.”

“Ayeka, Ryoko, please!” Tenchi said sternly, but there were hints of disappointment in his voice. That stopped the argument cold and they looked at Tenchi sheepishly. “Please, let’s not fight. Ranma’s been through a lot and I don’t want him to be caught up in one of your fight.”

“Meow, meow,” Ry-oh-ki agreed.

“I’m sorry, Tenchi-sama,” Ayeka bowed.

“I still don’t see why we have to change because of some cross dresser,” Ryoko said, a little miffed.

Sasami and Ry-oh-ki glared at Ryoko, but she ignored them.

“Ryoko, please. You heard some of the story Ranma told us. He tired and he came here for help. I’m not sure what kind of help, but I’m going to do whatever I can,” Tenchi explained.

“What’s Ranma-niicha like when he was little?” ask Sasami.

“Heheh, I wished I could remember, Sasami. I mean, we were just kids back then and I can only remember glimpses of images. It’s hard to say, Sasami.”

“Hmmm,” Washu said quietly, while tapping on the panel of her floating computer.

“What’s wrong, Washu-chan,” Tenchi asked, bewildered. He didn’t like the sound of the tone coming from Washu. Nor did he like the pleasing look. It was the kind that told you you were in trouble, or she had a brilliant idea. Unfortunately, some of her brilliant ideas involved him, lots of needles, wires, and other gadgets strapped to him. It was something he preferred to remain a good distance away if possible.

“I just had a brilliant idea! Hahahahaha”

Tenchi and the other sweated. Tenchi involuntarily backed away and gulped.

Washu stopped abruptly in mid laugh and looked seriously at Tenchi. “You do want to help your cousin, don’t you?” It came out more as a demand than a question. “Just as well,” she thought.

“O-Of course,” Tenchi said weakly. “Ummm… W-What did you have in mind?” He knew better than to ask, but his curiosity overrode his sudden fear.

“Oh, don’t worry about a thing. I’ll just extract your brain wave pattern, run it through the decoder, and we can view your past on the screen,” Washu explained in delight.

Tenchi envision the scene of him tied to a long table with a large needle sucking out his brain. He shook violently and backed away even more. He looked around for support on this ridiculous idea, but found everyone staring at him with glassy eyes. “Why me,” he thought aloud.

Washu laughed again, “Don’t worry Tenchi. It won’t hurt a bit.”

Tenchi groaned audibly and sighed in defeat. Against seven females, he never had much of a chance in the first place.

Ryoko stared blankly at the ceiling from where she floated. <<Oh, Tenchi. If we could see into your mind, then I’ll know exactly what you’ve been hiding.>> She suddenly hugged herself as images of certain possibilities floated through her mind.

Unfortunately, Ayeka had similar thought about Tenchi. However, her images were more tamed, only by a small margin, than Ryouko. <<Oh, Tenchi-sama!>>

Tenchi big sweated as the girls started giggling.

On the other hand, Sasami wanted a chance to see Tenchi in his childhood. Also, she wanted to see what Ranma was like from Tenchi point of view. She imagined Tenchi and Ranma happily playing.

Ry-oh-ki found herself with Tenchi and Ranma feeding her carrots, petting her, and scratching behind her ears. “Meow,” she poured.

When Ryoko and Ayeka started laughing maniacally, Tenchi swallowed hard and sought a route of escape.

Washu watched the group with an amused face. <<Interesting. Very interesting.>>

Suddenly, two voices cried out simultaneously.

“OH TENCHI”

“TENCHI-SAMA”

Within a blink of an eye, Tenchi disappeared from the room.

“Tenchi?”

“Tenchi-sama?”

“Tenchi-niichan?”

“Meow?”

Confusion turned to understanding as Ryoko and Ayeka faced each other and shouted in unison, “LOOK WHAT YOU DID!” “ME?” “HOW DARE YOU?” “YOU SCARED HIM AWAY” “WHY YOU!” Lightening flashed between them. Then both ‘hmpfh’ and turned in opposite directions.

The other relaxed that they didn’t resort to anything else.

After a minute, Tenchi crawled out from under the couch and sighed in relief. “Another impending disaster diverted,” he thought dryly.

***Nerima***

The rain poured over the city, drenching everything in its path. Lightning flashed across the sky and the thunder responded. Beneath the pouring rain, a lone figure roamed the street. Shoulder slumped, hair tied in a ponytail, fist clenched, and eyes narrowed as it scanned through the street like a hawk searching for its prey.

“This can’t be happening. It just can’t turn out this way. I won’t let it.” She quickly wiped the hot tears from her eyes and forced the anger deep down her heart. “I won’t loose. I will not! You hear me?!” she shouted against the fallen rain.

Determined, she ran through the street, ignoring the complaining body and wet clothes. She had more important matters to attend to and no amount of discomfort was going to stop her. She had a dream and she would do what ever it takes to make it come true, even if someone got hurt in the process.

And so, she ran through the street of Nerinma until she reached her destination, Ucchan. The restaurant was dark and gloomy, almost as dark as her mood, but that wasn’t important. She quickly entered the restaurant and ran upstairs to her room. She needed to prepare for when the Konatsu returned, she had to be ready.

Readied for action.

Readied for whatever obstacles her opponents tossed in her paths. She’d be ready and she’d fight back. Right now, she had a dream to make true and no one will interfere with her dream. And so, she gathered her belonging and packed what she needed for a possible long journey.

Once done, she sat and waited. Waited and prepared. She waited ten years; she can wait a little longer. She was patient. She was very patient.

She sat in her bed and waited in the dark. Neither the thunder nor lightning interrupted her thought.

She was patient.

She can wait.

She was prepared.

Soon, her dream will come true and she would be happy.

So, she waited patiently.

******

“WHERE ON EARTH AM I!” Ryouga screamed into the night. “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, RANMA!”

Ryouga looked around him again and grunted in disgust. He didn’t know where he was. That was nothing new to him. It didn’t matter though. He knew whom to blame for it. Ranma. It was always Ranma’s fault.

Always.

He ran away from their man-to-man fight. Ranma made him searched all over the world. Ranma cursed him. Ranma humiliated him. Ranma took away his girl.

Ryouga sighed as the thought of Akane. His heart lifted for a moment, but was suddenly shattered. Ryouga growled inhumanly.

Ranma’s fault.

He took Akane away. Ranma destroyed his happiness. Ranma took away his Akane. Ranma will pay. Ranma will pay dearly for the hell he caused.

“YOU HEAR ME! YOU’LL PAY! I’LL SEND YOU THROUGH HELL! I’LL TAKE AWAY YOUR HAPPINESS. I’LL KILL YOU, RANMA. I’LL TAKE BACK AKANE! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

Ryouga ran off towards the sunset. All he had to do was find Ranma. No problem. He just had to pick a direction. No problem. It was just a matter of time. He was patient. He could wait. He was patient.

“WHERE THE HELL AM I NOW!”

He spun on his heel and looked around. Sand. All sand. Ryouga growled again and ran off in another direction. Another thing to add to the list of offenses against Ranma, he noted.

And so Ryouga ran and search for his arch nemesis. At some distant behind him, a small sphere floated several meters above him. So lost in his depression, he was completely oblivious to the floating object as he ran through the vast continent of Japan.

***Unknown***

The room was vast and dark. In the center of the room sat a figure. He was leaning to his right with is elbow rested on the arm of the chair. The only light reflected off the floating screen two meters in front of the figure.

The figured leaned his on his elbow in the comfort of his chair and watched the screen before him.

“Interesting,” he muttered. “Very interesting.”

A weary smile appeared in the shadow.

***Hospital***

“Well, doctor. How’s your progress with the Kuno’s sibling,” a man in business coat asked.

Dr. Kasugi shook his head in disappointment. It had been almost a week and neither he nor his fellow doctors have made any progress. “I’m afraid not. We had attempted to inject the two patients with drugs, but they became, er, rather hostile when we approached. We had to fill the room with sleeping gas before we entered the room.”

“I see.”

“I’m afraid that’s not all. It seemed that the dosage we gave Tatewaki was ineffective. For unknown reason, he’s immune to many of our drugs. We’re currently testing a divergent of additive that might help him calm down to a level where we can start talking.”

“Thank you for the information. I look forward to the next report. Again, thank you, Dr. Kasugi.” The man bowed and left the office. As he rounded the corner, he pulled out his cellular phone and dialed a number.

“Hello? This is Mr. Mariko reporting.”

“Yes, Sir. They are fine and stable.”

“I absolutely agree.”

“They’re in separate rooms and under minimum security, sir.”

“I do believe it’s the best option, sir.”

“Yes. I’ll get right on it.” With that, he disconnected and walked down the hall and disappeared within the mass of people.

***Masaki***

Tenchi sat quietly on the patio as he stared up at the stars. Having a house filled with people from various parts of the galaxies made him searched the sky more often, always wondering where the next visitor might be from. He sighed at the thought of having another visitor added to the already crowded house. It wasn’t that he did not like the company; he wished that they weren’t so…so expressive towards him.

He could understand why his cousin wanted to leave his previous trouble behind and starts over. That thought had crossed his mind several times, but he felt that if he left, he would greatly hurt their feelings and he couldn’t bring himself to pursuing that course of action.

But Ranma did take that path. What force him to make that decision? He knew that Ranma didn’t want to, yet he did. Ranma felt that he had to take action. But why?

****Washu’s Lab*****

“I don’t see why I have to be here,” Ryoko nearly snarled.

“My, my. Such disrespect for your mother. I might have to do something about that,” Washu grinned.

Ryoko gave her an annoyed look and turned away.

Washu continued her data collecting as she played with the lights before her. She glanced at Ryoko, who was strapped in the armchair a few feet away.

“Interesting. Very interesting indeed,” she said softly enough for Ryoko to hear.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing. Though, I’m a bit disappointed with the data.” Washu relaxed back in her chair and stared at the screen, thinking.

“What are you talking about?”

Washu ignored her.

“Answered me!” she demanded.

Washu gave her a small smile and a gleam crossed her feature as she looked away from her screen at the retire space pirate. “You’re fat,” she said cheerfully.

It took a moment before Ryoko registered what Washu had just said and then she exploded, “I AM NOT FAT!”

Washu ‘tst’ and rocked her index finger back and forth as she looked at the screen. “According the data, you’ve gain 5.128 centimeters to your waist.”

“I DID NOT!”

“Now, now. Don’t get angry. You know as a fact that gaining weight is a sign of old age.”

“I AM NOT OLD!” Ryoko stared daggers at the red head. “YOUR OLD THAN ME!”

“True, but I’m not gaining any extra weight,” she said matter-of-fact.

Ryoko growled and retorted, “I’M NOT OLD OR FAT. I CAN TAKE ON ANYONE WITHOUT SWEATING.”

“Really?”

“YES!”

“What about Tenchi?”

“Er… Well….” Ryoko said weakly, her anger temporarily forgotten.

“How about Ayeka?”

“Ha, I can take on the Princess anytime.”

“Ranma?”

Ryoko burst out laughing hysterically. “That sex changing cross dresser. I can take him on easily.”

Washu grinned. “Really?” she said, voice dripping with honey.

“Of course!” Ryoko stopped laughing and faced Washu. “What? You don’t think I can win?”

Washu said nothing as she continued to smile.

“Argh…. I bet you that I can beat him without any problem!”

“Bet?”

“You got that right.”

“Hmm… And what do you suggest,” she asked with such sweetness and a gleam in her eyes that even the Kami would be startled.

*****

[Nekohanten]

A loud crash in the hall indicated the return of Mousse and from the racket; she deduced that his search wasn’t successful, which was to be expected. At the moment, she didn’t care. It was just a diversion to keep the blind fool busy while she took care of more important matter.

Knock, Knock.

“What is it?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“Honor elder, I haven’t been able to find my beloved Shampoo,” he said with as much respect as he could muster though he wasn’t sure why he started now.

“That’s not what I want to hear. Go find her! If my great granddaughter dishonor the Masaki in any way, she will not only dishonor herself, but also her clan and I will not stand by and allow that to happen. I suggest you find her and make sure she doesn’t do anything we’ll all regret,” she threatened.

Mousse visibly gulped and nodded, “Yes, elder. I will find her no matter what.”

“Make sure you do or there might not be anything left of her,” she said sternly.

Mousse gasped in shook and quickly grabbed some food from the kitchen before running out the door.

“Well, that should keep him busy for quite sometime,” she thought dryly.

Silently, she pulled out a piece of paper from her rope and laid it on the table and began writing. It didn’t take long before she added the finishing touch and sealed the document with her clan symbol. With a wave of her hand and a flashed of light, suddenly a shadow appeared in the room.

“Take this to the council!” she ordered and the shadow was gone an instant later.

“I only pray that the council will agree to my request,” she whispered tiredly.

Cologne made her way across the room and sat before a shrine in her room with her eyes closed, head bowed, and looking very solemn. For the first time in centuries, she felt tire and helpless. She had hoped to raise her great granddaughter in the true ways of the warrior; she made her strong physically and mentally. She taught her the honor of their magnificent tribe and a greatness that surpassed all other. She had hoped that her heir would lead the tribe into the next era with honor and pride and a strong husband at her side.

She wanted Ranma to be that husband and even with the knowledge of him being a Masaki didn’t extinguish that that desire. Unfortunately, such wishful thinking can’t change the law. She knew the legend behind the Masaki and realized that such heritage will make the Amazon powerful.

So much had change with Nodoka’s announcement and though she would have preferred to add Ranma to the tribe by marrying Shampoo, but she knew it was hopeless. She had hoped that she would wear him down and have him submit, but he was too strong will. She snickered, “I should have guess that from a Masaki.”

She sighed sadly.

She moved through the completely dark room with ease and gathered chest hidden within the wall. After placing it on the floor, she lit some candles and strategically placed them around in a small circle around her and the chest. A quick movement of her hand removed the dirt and reviewed strange characters. She reached into a drawer and pulled out the package wrapped in silk cloth. She removed the cloth with great care to review a red rope with characters similar to those on the chest.

She slowly removed the robe and wrapped it around her and gently placed the wrapping outside the circle. Then, she knelt before the chest and bowed deeply and held that position for several seconds. From within the robe, she pulled out a gold mantle where in matched the image at the top of the chest. Just before the mantle locked, there was a moment hesitation but was quickly pushed away. As the mantle locked with the chest, the chest glowed a faint blue and brightened slowly. Soon, the room was bathed entirely by the light from the chest.

Cologne bowed before the chest again and chanted in some strange language for several minutes. As if understanding, the light changed colors until it was pure white. At the end of the chant, the chest creek open and three round discs, red, yellow, and green glowed their individual color before rising into the air. Slowly, the discs spun around an invisible axis until it completely disappear and a golden ring formed.

The area within the ring swirled and twisted until a burst of energy exploded, almost knocking Cologne out of the circle. The energy swirled and finally merged into an image of a woman.

Cologne bowed deeply before the image and spoke with great respect, “It is with great honor and privilege to meet you Lady Tsunami. Please forgive his old woman for disturbing your peace.”

*****