Ranma 1/2 was created by Takahashi Rumiko, and anyone who doesn’t already know this won’t understand this story anyway. Bleach was created by Tite Kubo; you don’t really need to have seen Bleach to understand this fic, but just so you know, anything not Ranma related in here was probably created by him.

Shaolan turned, and stalked angrily towards the far wall. "I would not mistreat her like you have, I would not want to be male, and I certainly would not be shirking my duties as Shinigami."

- - - - -

"We each have a private place; there, we can speak to our zampakto, and learn more about it. It differs for each person, this place. As you gain more experience, your zampakto can appear in the real world as well."

- - - - -

Masami smiled. "Perhaps we should recruit her."

"Oh, no." Ranko turned to face Masami. "Leave Nabiki alone if you know what’s good for your Soul Society. She’ll take over in five years. Ever heard of, ’Power corrupts?’"

"Yes. I believe it ends, ’and absolute power is actually pretty neat.’"

- - - - -

Ranko ran forward, and swung the glaive. The creature pivoted, so fast that she could barely see it move, and snapped a serrated blade-like arm towards her.

- - - - -

"You can’t fight this!"

Akane scowled at her fiance. "Don’t keep trying to--"

The creature struck.

Pale Horse

Chapter Five: Within And Without

Ranko opened her eyes, to find herself in her Inner Dojo.

"It worked..." She stood up, and looked around. "But where is she?"

"Who, me?"

Ranko turned, seeking the voice, but saw nothing.

"You turned too far."

She whirled again, reaching for her glaive, but her hand closed on empty air.

"Looking for this?"

A different voice this time, more familiar. Again, she turned, to see Shaolan holding her glaive.

"Hey! My nagimaki!"

"Whose?" Shaolan smiled.

"Well...ours, I guess."

"Of course," said Shaolan. "But still, I think from recent events that I have more right to hold it than you. To begin, it was mine for four hundred years. Further, it is still technically mine."

"Didn’t I just say that?" Ranko scowled.

"She hasn’t even given you her name, has she?"

Ranko blinked. "Name? It has a name?"

"Yes, she does." Shaolan’s emphasis on the female pronoun was hard to miss. "You’ve been treating her like a simple piece of metal and wood, and so you have been wasting her talents. And your own."

"My own, eh?" Ranko scowled again. "Seems to me that any talents I have for this business come from you."

"Yes." Shaolan tilted her head. "We’ve been together for more than a year now. In that time, we have moved closer together, but your determination to stay male has kept us from becoming one. Trust me," she said, raising a hand, "I understand why you keep the distance. If I could choose another form, it wouldn’t be male."

"How can you say that, if we’re the same person?"

"Because we’re not!" Shaolan tossed the glaive to her. "Not at all!" She turned, and stalked angrily towards the far wall. "I would not mistreat her like you have, I would not want to be male, and I certainly would not be shirking my duties as Shinigami."

"Hey!" Ranma took a step forward. "I’ve been goin’ out and fighting those things every--" He stopped, and glanced down. "When did I become a guy?"

Shaolan whirled. "You’ve always been a guy. It’s all you ever wanted! To be a ’Man Among Men!’ Remember?"

"But..." He looked confused. "In here, I’ve always been a girl."

"You cannot even understand a simple concept...In here, you are you, and I am I. Separate, distinct persons. Along with her. Out there, in your so-called ’real world’, we are the same." She sighed. "That is, before you started to reject me. And her."

"I didn’t--"

"Nonsense. Don’t try to lie to me, Saotome. I know you too well."

"Dammit, you’re not making any sense!"

"No? Look at your zampakto."

"Uh?" He glanced down, to find that he was holding a small white cat.

"Aaahhhh!"

Ranma bolted upright, sweat running in rivers from his face, stumbling, and crashed into the shrine.

"C-c-cat..." He shuddered, glanced around, and realized that he was back in the Tendo dojo.

"Oh, man, that’s a good way to wreck a decent meditation..."

He hurriedly set the pictures back up on the shrine.

- - - - -

Kasumi opened the front door. "Oh, Retsukawa-san. Welcome back." She paused. "Is today a lesson day for you? You were here only yesterday."

Masami nodded. "Sensei and I decided it would be best to have lessons every day for at least the next week."

"Ah. He has certainly taken a stern tack with your training."

Masami blinked. "Wind from the aft, and he wishes to change direction?"

"I’m sorry...I am a bit confused."

"Then we both are, and we’ll discard it as a communication gap. May I ask where Sensei is?"

"The dojo."

"Thank you. It was good to see you again."

- - - - -

As Masami entered the dojo, Ranma was just putting the last photo back on the shrine.

"Masami. Good. Just the girl I wanted to talk to." He stood, and turned. "I was just meditatin’, and I found myself in a place I’ve never seen. A dojo, but not this one. I’ve seen it twice before. She was there."

Masami nodded. "We each have a private place; there, we can speak to our zampakto, and learn more about it. It differs for each person, this place. As you gain more experience, your zampakto can appear in the real world as well."

Ranma frowned. "Doesn’t it anyway?"

"The avatar of your zampakto, I should say. His spirit."

"His? Mine’s a girl, apparently."

"That is not unheard of. The former Captain of the Twelfth Division had a female zampakto."

"I guess it kinda makes sense for me." Ranma shrugged. "I get the feelin’ that my zampakto’s spirit, or whatever, is Shaolan."

"No. Shaolan’s avatar is separate from your zampakto. I have seen this." Masami smiled. "Your zampakto will reveal herself when she thinks you are ready."

"Okay." Ranma glanced around. "Damn, old man Tendo figured it was wrong to put a clock in here...You got a watch?"

"No, but as I passed through the kitchen, I noted that it was almost seven o’clock. Night will soon fall in earnest, and we can begin your training."

- - - - -

"Why did we leave by the back gate?"

Ranko snorted. "You ain’t seen any kind of interrogation until it comes from Kasumi or Nabiki."

"I do not believe that I have met Nabiki."

"She’s scary. They call her the Ice Queen. And gatherin’ information is what she does best." Ranko shuddered. "She’ll blackmail, threaten, extort or use less savoury means to gain information."

"Ah. But surely Kasumi--"

"Don’t ever try lyin’ to Kasumi. She sees straight through it."

"Oh."

"Plus, if she asks a question, you’ve just gotta answer. It’s the way she is."

Masami smiled. "Perhaps we should recruit them. Intelligence could make good use of them."

"Oh, no." Ranko turned to face Masami. "You leave them alone. I don’t wanna see Kasumi goin’ through what I am."

"Nabiki, then?"

"Leave her alone if you know what’s good for your Soul Society. She’ll take over in five years. Ever heard of, ’Power corrupts?’"

"Yes. I believe it ends, ’and absolute power is actually pretty neat.’"

Ranko sighed. "Great. What are we doin’ tonight?"

"Standard Hollow patrol. And if we meet any ghosts, I shall be teaching you about Soul Burial."

"What the heck is ’soul burial’?"

"Have I forgotten? I should have told you of this much earlier. Our primary duty as Shinigami is to assist the souls of those departed to Soul Society. I have heard this called, ’sending them to heaven,’ in your language." Masami grinned. "Even those Hollows that you have defeated returned to Soul Society."

"Really?" Ranko looked puzzled. "They go around, eatin’ souls, and you send ’em to heaven for that?"

"The zampakto cleanses the Hollows of their sins committed after death. Then, the purified soul can travel to Soul Society." Masami stopped walking, and turned to face Ranko. "It is important to recognize that a Hollow is a being driven purely by instinct. It cannot help itself from performing such evil deeds; its attachment to the world of the living, and to those things it was closest to in life, leads it to commit its crimes. It is not the Hollow’s fault."

"Okay, so they’re blameless."

"Not entirely, but still, it would be the heart of cruelty to destroy them for doing what they must."

She looked about to say more, but her pager buzzed. She pulled it from her pocket, and glanced at the screen.

"We have orders. A Hollow will appear three hundred meters north and one hundred meters east."

"The school." She turned and ran. "C’mon!"

- - - - -

"Rough day, eh?"

Akane nodded. "I know. The sooner we get the last of these sets built, the sooner I can actually make it home in time for dinner for a switch."

"I hear you." Yuka mopped her brow with the back of her arm. "Sleep is something I only hear about recently."

"I gotta get out of here, before Sayuri decides we have time to paint another backdrop. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." Yuka turned and ran off.

Akane didn’t feel up to running; she started down the sidewalk towards home.

Between drama club and training, I have no free time anymore... She sighed. I just hope that Ranma’s not too angry that I had to skip training today.

There was a howl nearby, one that she had become familiar with recently. She turned, looking for the source, but saw nothing.

"Oh, no..."

She ducked closer to the boundary wall, hoping to stay concealed.

"Where the heck is Ranko at a time like this?" She glanced around nervously, uncertain she’d be able to see--

"There!"

It was difficult to make out, harder to see than Ranko, but she could make out the outline. Animalistic in movement and presence. Thoroughly dangerous, she was sure.

And from what Masami had said, impossible for her to fight.

If Ranma had said it, I might have tried. But Masami...

The Hollow was lumbering towards the school; as it moved, she found that she could make out at least six limbs, two held upright, four for walking. She glanced around worriedly.

How is a Shinigami like a cop? There’s never one around when you need one.

- - - - -

Ranko leaped over the boundary wall.

"Man, look at the size of this one!"

The Hollow was easily three meters tall, and twice that in length. Four long limbs supported its mass, and two arms, longer than the legs, were folded near its chest. Almost a mantis, but for the bone-white skull with its vaguely human shape.

Ranko pulled the nagimaki from her baldric, and glanced down at it.

"So if you’re alive, and you want to help me, this might be a good time."

The weapon was silent. Ranko snorted. "Figured as much."

The Hollow had paused, and now stared fixedly at Ranko.

"Oh, yeah, these things like the way I smell." Ranko grinned, and snapped the glaive down to a battle stance. "Maybe I can use that to my advantage."

But the creature turned, and began lumbering towards the school again.

"So this time you ignore me?" Ranko ran forward, and swung the glaive.

The creature pivoted, so fast that she could barely see it move, and snapped a serrated blade-like arm towards her. She dodged to the side, and stabbed with the nagimaki.

Only to see the tip skid harmlessly across the beast’s exoskeleton.

"Oh, not good at all."

She leaped up and over it as it struck again, and landed on its back. A weak point between its wings beckoned, and she slammed the blade down. The creature howled, and bucked, knocking her off its back.

She landed and rolled, coming to her feet, and ran towards it again. The Hollow struck again, this time with both arms, but she dodged between them, leaped, and cut through the mask with one quick strike.

She touched down behind it, as it dissolved into black mist, and sheathed the nagimaki. "Piece of cake."

"It was a weak Hollow; you should not become overconfident." Masami walked through the main gate.

"That was a weak one?" Ranko blinked. "It was awfully big."

"Do you honestly think that size matters?"

"Hey, I’m a guy, remember?" Ranko smirked.

"A good point." Masami rolled her eyes. "At any rate, we have no further orders in this area; I doubt that there are any ghosts nearby."

"Where to next, then?"

"I think that your idea of freeing the Cursed from their affliction is a good one; at the very least, it is unhealthy to be harbouring a Hollow. Who else in this area is Cursed?"

"Well, we got Ryouga and Pops. In this area, that leaves Shampoo and Mousse in this area. Plus, Taro wanders through often enough, and generally causes some serious property damage." Ranko considered. "There’s others, but they aren’t nearby; Rouge, Herb, Lukkousai, Kiima...probably others that I don’t know. Kiima and Herb are in China, and I’ve got no idea where Rouge and Lukkousai are."

"So of the two you mentioned, who is the more dangerous combatant?"

"Shampoo. Easily. Duck-boy sucks."

"Then we shall proceed after Mousse."

"Why Mousse?" Ranko blinked. "Shouldn’t we deal with the nastier one first?"

"You are not yet ready."

- - - - -

The Nekohanten was locked up, and every window was dark.

"Damn..." Ranko frowned. "They don’t normally close this early."

"Perhaps there is a reason why they are closed."

"I dunno, but still, I can tell no-one is in there." She closed her eyes. "I can feel Hollows, now, and Shampoo and Mousse should stand out pretty strong, but..." She opened her eyes again, and sighed. "Nothin’."

"How far can you extend your senses?"

"Not far."

"Try."

Ranko nodded, and closed her eyes again. Reached out, and felt a trace of corruption.

"North of here...I don’t know how far."

"Let’s go."

Unnoticed by the two Shinigami, Akane slipped from the shadows and ran after them.

- - - - -

Mousse was asleep, head tucked beneath a wing, in the park fountain. Ranko looked down at the sleeping duck.

"When I knock the Hollow outta him, he’s gonna turn human. Can’t have him drown; he’s an annoyin’ pest, but not really a bad guy." She glanced over at Masami. "When he turns human, can you pull him outta the fountain?"

"Unless he’s a very large man, I should have no problem."

"Well, you might. He’s gonna be naked."

"...Naked?" Masami looked worried.

"Nice to finally break through that cold front. Yeah, his clothes ain’t cursed, and they don’t really fit him in duck form."

Masami fidgeted. "To lay hands on a naked man, one I don’t even know..."

"Would you rather let him die?"

"No." Masami steeled herself. "Let’s get this over with."

Ranko raised her zampakto, and brought it down on Mousse. There was a searing flash of light, and she was knocked backward.

She rolled, regaining her feet, and looked up. "Whoa..."

The Hollow, like the last two, was resolving itself from fine black mist pouring out of Mousse’s body. But this time, it was coalescing fifteen meters in the air. She steadied herself, raising the zampakto, as the Hollow’s form took on that of a giant bird of prey.

"Uh...Masami? Can we fly?"

There was no answer; Ranko could only assume that Masami was too busy to reply. She scowled, and leaped into the air, but could not come in reach of the Hollow.

The beast laughed, a deep booming chuckle, and dove towards her. She slashed at it as it passed, but missed badly, and the creature struck her a curled claw, knocking her backward. It pounced towards her, and she jabbed at it with the nagimaki, trying to force it away. It dodged, and struck with its beak; she parried with the glaive, but was forced backward.

"Not good; I haven’t got an opening to counterattack."

The creature struck again with the talons, and this time, Ranko was out of position to parry; the massive claw knocked her to the ground, pinning her.

"NO!"

Akane burst from cover, a long branch held like a staff, and dealt the creature a crushing blow. It howled in rage, and twisted to snap at her. She dodged to the side, swinging again, smashing the makeshift cudgel into its mask.

Ranko managed to free one arm, and used it to jab the creature between two large knuckles. It howled with pain, and she pulled herself free. "Akane! I’m up, get the heck away from it!"

Akane was looking a bit stunned. "I hit the mask...why didn’t--"

"You can’t fight this!"

She scowled at her. "Don’t keep trying to--"

The creature struck.

"NOO!!"

Akane gasped, as the Hollow bit down savagely on her arm. Blood welled up through the cloth of her jumper. Ranko leaped forward, and swung the nagimaki as hard as she could. The creature twisted away, dragging Akane with it, and the nagimaki buried itself in its breast.

The Hollow released Akane with a howl of pain, and launched itself into the air. Ranko knelt beside Akane. "Are you okay?"

"Of course not, moron!" Akane growled at him between gritted teeth. "That damn thing bit my arm, then nearly pulled it out of its socket."

"If you can still snarl at me, you’ll live." Ranko stood, and turned towards the Hollow. "I’ll take care of this thing right now."

The Hollow dived, and Ranko rolled to the side to dodge, then watched helplessly as it regained altitude.

"I can’t reach it way up there!"

It dived again, and Ranko ducked, raising the nagimaki to slash as it passed. She hit nothing but air, and the creature climbed back out of reach.

"It can keep up these slashing passes all night, and eventually, it’s gonna get lucky." Ranko stared at the Hollow circling above him. "Yo, Akane. Think you got enough left in you to lend a bit of help?"

"I’ve still got one good arm." Akane stepped up beside the Shinigami. "What do you need?"

"I got two words for it."

The Hollow came about, preparing for another dive. It never got the chance.

Propelled by Akane’s brute strength, Ranko flew straight up at it. With no chance to parry or dodge, the Hollow was easy prey. Ranko’s glaive smashed directly through the mask, and it fell halfway to earth before dissolving to fine black mist.

- - - - -

Ranma leaned back, and inspected the bandage. "You’re lucky, Akane. Much deeper, and you’d have had problems with that arm."

"It damn near bit it off," growled Akane. "What more problems do I have to worry about?"

Ranma began ticking them off his fingers. "Chronic pain, impairment of movement, severed tendons or ligaments, dislocation."

"I get the point." She sighed. "Where the heck did you learn anything about medicine, anyway?"

"You learn more in the Art than just how to break bodies. You learn how to put them back together, too." He grinned. "After all, it might be you who needs the repairs."

"Okay." Akane flexed the arm. "Ow. Any ideas, Doctor Saotome, when I’ll be able to use this arm again?"

It was Masami who answered. "I think you will have more pressing problems, and soon."

"Oh?"

"A wound from a Hollow, on a person of sufficient spiritual power, can be infectious."

"I can get some Poly Sporin--"

"Spiritual infection cannot be cured by Earthly medicine." Masami’s face was grave. "I hope you are stronger of will than the Hollow that struck you. For you are in danger of becoming tainted by the Hollow’s spirit."

Akane’s eyes widened. "You mean I’ll become a Hollow?"

"Those tainted by a Hollow invariably become Hollows almost immediately after death. But there is a greater concern." Masami put her hands on Akane’s shoulders. "The spiritual infection can affect you long before death, turning your heart black. You will harm those around you, especially those you love, and become a terrible force of corruption."

"Those around me...like my sisters, and Ranma?"

"You will cease to care about them, and will cause them horrible pain."

Tears welled up in her eyes.

"No..."

- - - - -