Disclaimer
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 created by him.
- - -
Something caught his eye. Something cold and dark...
-My nerves are gettin' to me...seein' Hollows in the middle of the day, in a classroom.-
- - -
Ranma poured a cup of tea. "I learned from Happousai--"
Masami shuddered, her hair standing on end.
"I see you've met him."
- - -
"Akane, look out--"
The blast of ki caught Akane dead on, knocking her back and into the wall.
- - -
Three fingers found the pressure point on her front; two on her back. Ranko unleased a torrent of power into her, then leaped clear.
Hinako smirked. "Honestly, is that the best you have?"
- - -
Ranko's hair rose on end, and she turned...to see the white kitten.
"If you want to win this battle, you will need her with you."
"I can't..." Ranko shook her head. "You know that I can't even go near her. After what Pops did to us, how can you ask that?"
- - -
Masami glanced over at Ranko. "You need to recharge; I think it's time to re-integrate with your other half."
Ranko scowled. "No."
There was a long pause, then Masami cleared her throat.
"Ranko. You can maintain your spirit form for only a limited duration in this world. Without a proper tie to the Soul Society, that time is much shorter than you think."
"What makes you think that I don't have that tie?" Ranko's arms were crossed in front of her, and her face was set in its scowl.
"Because I would see it."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. You're the great Shinigami."
Ranma spoke up. "Look, you're forgetting something here. You're still me. Remember?"
"Yeah, and that's half the problem." Ranko turned and scowled at him. "I'm startin' to like bein' my own person, okay?"
"But if Masami is right--"
"If!"
"We gotta trust her, Ranko, she knows more about this than us."
"No." Ranko shook her head. "I'm not buyin' her story. She's been here for a week. Why hasn't she been fadin', or whatever happens?"
"She told us that. She has a fake body."
"Good." She turned to Masami. "Can you get me a fake body?"
Masami blinked. "That...wouldn't be impossible, but it would be quite difficult. Only a Lieutenant or higher can do so."
"Then I'll ask Isane."
Masami nodded. "That might be a good idea."
"Hey!" Ranma turned in surprise. "Who's side are you on, anyway?"
Masami glanced over at him, and quietly said, "I am on the side of Soul Society. Never more nor less. You know that." She turned back to Ranko. "You will still need to integrate with him. But keep your mind fixed on your feelings. You both need to understand this. I will send a message to Lieutenant Kotetsu, about acquiring a faux body for you."
- - - - -
Ranma sat down at his usual place at the table. Beside him, Akane glanced over, then turned back to her breakfast with a sniff.
"Look, Akane, how many times do I gotta apologize?"
"You don't need to, Ranma. I've forgiven you. It was at least half my fault anyway." She scowled. "But I've got a full clip of mad to use up, and P-Chan isn't anywhere to be found."
Soun set down his newspaper. "Why would you be mad at P-Chan?"
Akane's scowl deepened. "Did you know that Ryouga was cursed?"
"Yes."
Akane jumped to her feet. "What!?! Why the hell didn't you tell me?"
"Because I wanted you to learn on your own." Soun sighed. "Trust me, it was very difficult to watch that twisted young man use you as he did. It was equally hard to watch him use Ranma. But if I had intervened, you would have learned nothing."
"You and Ranma both!" Akane threw her hands in the air. "Did anyone else know?"
Nabiki spoke up. "Actually, I think you were the only person who didn't know."
"And what was your reason for not telling me?"
Nabiki shrugged. "Ryouga kept making his payments."
Akane stared at her sister in shock.
"Kasumi knew, too." Nabiki rolled her eyes. "I mean, it really says something about your powers of observation if you missed something that Captain Oblivious picked up on."
"Why wouldn't she tell me?"
"Ryouga asked me not to." Kasumi set down the breakfast tray.
"Just that? You'd betray your sister because--"
"I had told him that I disapproved greatly, and that if he ever did anything more than just sleep in your bed, you would find out."
"But he did do more! He watched me change, he listened to my secrets--"
"That was your own fault." Kasumi's expression turned stern. "Like Father, I wanted you to find out on your own. And I wanted Ryouga to see the pain that this would cause you, when you finally found out."
Akane sat down, deflated. "So you all let him go on doing this, because it would hurt me?"
Soun nodded. "Sometimes, the only way to help one you love is to let them be hurt."
- - - - -
"Good morning, class!"
Ranma's night-time ghostbusting career notwithstanding, it was still Monday, and that meant the start of a new school week. He watched glumly as Hinako-sensei bounced around the front of the class.
Man, history first off today...not a good start to the week.
"Today, we'll be taking a look at the siege of Goryokaku, and its effects on the end of the Boshin Rebellion."
Masami died at that battle, before she became a Shinigami. Ranma perked up. "Hey, Teach. There any women who fought there?"
There was a bit of a murmer; most of the students seemed surprised that Ranma of all people should request instruction.
Hinako-sensei shrugged. "There may have been. Japanese society was still very sexist, but considering how intense the fighting became, I wouldn't be surprised. But we have no records of such."
"Thanks." He leaned back again, ready to zone out, when something caught his eye. Something cold and dark...
He glanced up at Hinako-sensei again, but saw nothing.
My nerves are gettin' to me...seein' Hollows in the middle of the day, in a classroom.
He glanced back down at his notebook...and heard the rattle of chain. This time, he didn't look up, but tried to see it without looking...
Hinako-sensei didn't generate much of an aura in her smaller form, but what he could see of it was streaked with purplish-black lines.
She's not Hollow-ridden, that's for sure...maybe she's Impureza?
- - - - -
"Impureza?" Masami considered. "There is no hard and fast way to detect them, but from what you tell me, I think we can assume that she is so. You are certain it was not a Hollow?"
Ranma shook his head. "I'm certain."
Masami glanced back down at her scroll. "She isn't cursed by Jushenkyou...where would she have become Impureza?"
"No idea." Ranma rubbed at his lip with a finger. "She's got this ki-draining attack...maybe she absorbed it from a victim?"
"That is possible."
Akane walked in, carrying a teapot. "What's up?"
Ranma glanced over at her. "Good, tea. We need it right now."
"Apparently," said Masami, "Your teacher is Impureza."
"Really?" Akane looked surprised. "She doesn't seem evil or anything. Just a bit spinny."
"Yeah." Ranma poured a cup of tea. "I learned from Happousai--"
Masami shuddered, her hair standing on end.
"I see you've met him."
"You know that horrible monster?"
"Yeah. Among other things, he was the one who altered Hinako-sensei's meta-thingy--"
"Metabolism," supplied Akane.
"Yeah, that. Anyway, he made her into a ki vampire, and tricked her into helpin' him steal underwear."
"That would explain where she became Impureza."
"Anyway, he showed me how to shut down her powers temporarily." Ranma turned to Akane. "Sorry, but I gotta demonstrate. Do you mind standin' in?"
Akane shrugged. "It's okay."
"I just didn't want to get clobbered, is all. If I'd done this without askin', or demonstrated on Masami--"
"Really, it's all right."
"Okay. I just don't want you to think I'm gonna make a habit of grabbin' your--"
Akane darkened. "Hurry up before I change my mind, and clobber you for even thinking it."
"She's got five pressure points. Three here--" He spaced two fingers and one thumb around Akane's left breast. "And two on the back." His left hand went around behind Akane; one finger and his thumb touched her back. He pulled his hands away quickly, and blushed.
"Don't ever do that in front of anyone else." Akane crossed her arms over her breasts, and muttered, "I wish I'd been wearing a heavier shirt."
Ranma turned back to Masami. "Every time I tried to shut Hinako down, the Tomboy here would smack me."
"I can understand why." Masami nodded. "It is an...intimate grasp." She considered. "Did you expel any ki when doing this?"
"A bit."
"Next time, make it a lot more." Masami tapped the scroll. "As we know how her metabolism was altered, we can adjust it back with a hard enough blast of energy."
- - - - -
"Please, Dad?"
Soun considered. "The last time that she was here, you objected to her presence considerably. It cost us a lot of money to repair the damage that you did to the house."
"It's important." Akane did her best kawaii-pleading look.
Soun sighed. "All right." He picked up the telephone and dialled.
"Hinako-sensei? This is Tendo Soun. May I ask you to visit us tonight?" He paused, then looked at the receiver. "She hung up!"
"She's not coming?"
"No, she's coming. The last thing she said was a very emphatic 'yes'." He set the receiver down. "I still don't know why you asked me to do this. Do I have your promise not to attack her while she is here?"
Akane nodded. "I'll be good as gold." She turned, and hurried to the gardens.
Ranma looked up. "She on her way?"
"Yes. I had to promise Dad that I wouldn't attack her here."
"Fine." Ranma jumped to his feet. "We'll get her before she arrives."
- - - - -
Akane shook her head in disgust. "I just plain don't believe this girl's nerve."
Hinako was not in her smaller form, but in her more adult shape. This was easily explained; in one hand was her goldfish bowl, the Betta inside putting out enough fighting spirit to keep her empowered.
But it wasn't only the goldfish bowl. Draped over her arm was a kimono, large enough that it could only be a gift for Soun. And in the other hand was a rose.
"Flower...fish...cloth. All three of the traditional dowries," Ranma chuckled. "Looks like she's goin' for broke."
"Not with my father." Akane cracked her knuckles.
"Don't worry, Akane. We'll put paid to her once an' for all. Your Pops ain't gonna be too interested in her when she looks younger than you from now on." He waved her forward. "Distraction time."
Akane jumped down off the roof, then ran towards Hinako-sensei. Ranma moved more furtively, using the Umi-Sen-Ken to mask his ki presence.
Hinako paused as Akane approached. "Tendo-chan." She smiled. "Here to stop me from visiting your father?"
Dial for shock, Ranma said. Akane grinned widely. "No, Hinako-sensei. Last time, it seemed you were forcing your presence on my father. This time, he asked to see you."
Hinako's eyes widened.
"So, I just wanted you to know...If it works out for you two, I'll be so happy for you!"
Hinako's jaw dropped. "Tendo-chan--"
Ranma struck from behind. His left hand bridged the points on her back, and his right hand came around the front to grasp--
Hinako grabbed his wrist, and he gasped as the thorns bit into his skin.
"Really, you two." Hinako's smile turned ugly. "And here I thought you were finally growing up." She twisted his wrist, but Ranma executed a break-hold, and jumped clear.
Hinako whirled to face Akane. "Happo No-Yen Coin Return!"
"Akane, look out--"
The blast of ki caught Akane dead on, knocking her back and into the wall. Hinako's body shrunk to that of a teenager, and she slowly turned to face Ranma.
"Now then, little boy..."
"Who's little?" Ranma leaped forwards.
Hinako raised a hand; between two fingers was a five-yen coin.
"Happo Five-Yen Satsu!"
- - - - -
The Dojo again.
Ranko glanced around. "What the heck--in the middle of a fight, I zone out?"
"That attack was very dangerous to us."
Ranko turned, to see Shaolan standing near the door, arms crossed.
"There's a counter, but I had no time to use it."
Shaolan smiled. "Even with your counter, she could switch to the Fifty-Yen Satsu, and still drain you."
Ranko blinked. "You know about--"
"Fool! We're the same person." Shaolan uncrossed her arms and stomped towards Ranko. "You keep forgetting this!"
Ranko scowled. "That's because I don't wanna be you!"
"Then why do you continue to fight Hollows?"
"They're evil! Isn't that a good enough reason?"
"No...because it's false." Shaolan sighed. "You will never be a true Shinigami, unless you accept me. And her."
"Her?"
Shaolan pointed behind Ranko. "Your zampakto."
Ranko's hair rose on end, and she turned...to see the white kitten.
"If you want to win this battle, you will need her with you."
"I can't..." Ranko shook her head. "You know that I can't even go near her. After what Pops did to us, how can you ask that?"
"To you. It happened before we became one."
"Well, it's all the same, isn't it? We're the same person, like you said." Ranko backed a step away from the kitten. "And since it's gotta be me fighting Hinako, I can't--"
"You can." Shaolan stepped up to her, placed a hand on her shoulder. "If you do not want to be me, I can understand that. But if you wish to fight Hollows, you will need to be me."
"I'm a man!" Ranko stared in horror at the cat. "And I can't even touch..."
"Do you not realize that our merging has changed me as well?" Shaolan's voice dropped. "I can feel your fear, but I know what lurks behind it."
"Neko-ken..."
"Exactly. Is that not your most powerful weapon?"
"But it's not controllable!"
"That is because you fear it." Shaolan turned to face the kitten. "You are rejecting your most powerful weapon, as well as the source of all your powers as a Shinigami, because of fear."
Ranko calmed her breathing, and looked down at the floor. "But the fear is what makes the Neko-ken so powerful."
"No." Shaolan shook her head. "The fear drives you away from the Neko-ken, until the Neko-ken bursts free. When was the first time you actively used the Neko-ken?"
"Cologne." Ranko blinked. "The Phoenix Pill. I got Shampoo to trigger the Neko-ken...I embraced the fear..."
It was as if a light dawned on her.
"I embraced it!"
She knelt, and held out a hand. The kitten jumped into her arms. She could feel the madness building, but she hugged the kitten to herself.
Shaolan smiled. "Be one with her."
- - - - -
"Happo Five-Yen Satsu!"
Ranma fell back, his battle aura draining away. Ranko leaped away from him, up and out of the path of the attack.
Hinako, restored to full size, turned to face her.
"Saotome...how..." she stammered in confusion.
Ranko grinned, and readied the nagimaki. "Surprised?"
"Somewhat." She smirked. "I'm not sure how you did this trick, or why--"
"The why is easy. Hinako-sensei, you have been touched by evil, and I plan to cleanse it from you."
"Evil?" She laughed. "Happo No-Yen Coin Return!"
Ranko raised the nagimaki, and blocked the blast. It rippled around the blade, deflected in all directions but towards her.
"Not bad, little girl." Hinako pulled a coin from her belt. "But I can see that you are nothing more than a projection of ki."
"Somewhat more than that." She jumped forwards, but was forced to dodge as Hinako directed a Fifty-Yen Satsu at her. She sidestepped, and closed.
Three fingers found the pressure point on her front; two on her back. Ranko unleased a torrent of power into her, then leaped clear.
Hinako staggered, fell to the ground. Ranko smirked. "Piece of cake!"
Hinako got back up.
"Honestly, is that the best you have?" She smirked.
"What--" Ranko's jaw dropped. "Even if it didn't cure you, it should have sealed your techniques!"
"Wrong. Happo Fifty-"
- - - - -
"The power from your body isn't enough to drive the Hollow energies from her. You hold her, but have not yet embraced her."
- - - - -
"-Yen Satsu!"
The momentary lapse caught Ranko flat-footed, and she felt her essence begin to drain towards the pint-sized teacher. She gritted her teeth.
"No..." She closed her eyes, and focused on the zampakto. "I need your help..."
The glaive vibrated faintly in her hand.
"Koneko!"
The nagimaki flared, and extended. Ranko grabbed it with both hands, as it grew to two meters, tipped with a half meter of blade.
Hinako's hand dropped. "No!"
Ranko opened her eyes. "The blade, of course...it is designed to destroy Hollows." She brought the naginata down, pointed the blade at Hinako. "The touch of the blade will drive the Hollow energy from your body."
Hinako sniffed. "Even if you say so, how are you going to strike five points at once with that, especially with two of them on my back?"
Ranko grinned. "Koneko...purr."
The blade growled, and shimmered.
"Ever hear of a vibro-blade? Five thousand vibrations per second...and I only need five."
"Happo No-Yen--"
Ranko leaped in, and swung the glaive. The blade blurred, splitting into five, and she slammed it into Hinako's chest.
Hinako screamed, her body wreathed in black energy. Ranko pulled the glaive free, and the energy poured in ribbons from the five wounds, fading to black mist seconds later.
- - - - -
Ranko pulled her hand away from Hinako's chest. Though the woman's clothing was ripped, the skin underneath was completely unharmed.
Hinako's eyes fluttered. "Wha..."
"Easy, Sensei. You're still weak." Ranko sat back on her heels. "Luckily for you, Koneko remembers the healer's arts."
"I..." Hinako sat up. "You stabbed me!"
"Yeah." Ranko sighed. "It was the only way to clear your body of the evil energy."
"But..." She felt her chest. "I'm not dead?"
"No." Ranko grinned. "I sealed your wounds."
Hinako glanced around, noticed the two unconscious teenagers. "Did I...hurt them?"
"A bit. Akane's tough, she'll be back up and around soon. But Ranma..." She sighed. "You drained him pretty bad. I'll need to help him."
She stepped over to him, and touched his cheek. There was a sharp crack, and she was gone.
Hinako looked at the two, then down at herself.
"She said that she cured me..." She stood up unsteadily. "I'm..."
Her hands moved of their own accord, up and down her body.
"I'm fully adult!"
She turned to a nearby phone booth, and raised her hands.
"Happo No-Yen Coin Return!"
Nothing happened.
"Yahoo!"
- - - - -
Soun and Kasumi looked up as the threesome entered. Soun set down his book and stood.
"Ah, there you are. I was beginning to wonder--"
He broke off, as he took in their bedraggled state. All three had damaged clothing, though Hinako was wearing a kimono over hers. Ranma looked very tired, and Akane was walking painfully.
"Oh, Akane..." Tears welled in his eyes. "You promised me--"
"Tendo-san." Hinako stepped forward. "Please, do not scold Akane. She and Ranma did me a great service today."
Soun looked down at her, as though seeing her for the first time.
"Hinako-sensei..."
Kasumi frowned. She opened her mouth, but Akane caught her eye, and shook her head.
"Sis...?"
"C'mon, Kasumi. Let's go upstairs. I'll tell you all about it."
Ranma watched them walk off, then turned and went to the dojo.
- - - - -
Masami looked up as Ranma entered.
"Eventful night?"
"Yeah." Ranma sat down and picked up a teacup. "We cleared her."
"Good."
"Yeah..." He touched a finger to his lip. "The Hollow energy...if it's removed, will that affect the person immediately?"
"Yes, though often not in a great way. It usually takes time for the personality to reassert itself."
"Odd." He sipped the tea. "Hinako seems like a whole different person now."
"Truly?" Masami tilted her head. "Or maybe it's the first time you have really met her?"
"Could be...normally, we end up fighting." He shrugged. "By the way, about the fake body for Ranko..."
"Have you two reached a decision?"
"The four of us have." He looked up. "We will be needing it."
- - - - -