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Sometimes even Kami-sama has regrets about the choices he makes. It was needed, and there really was no other way to do it, but it still worried him. Skuld was being asked to take a tremendous risk, in her attempts to help Ranma.

When you live your life, you experience it. It happens to you, you put the walls in place to deal with life’s failures, fears, and follies. Betrayals, lies all of those things that cause you pain, you learn to handle, because you go through them as they happen. There are those few rare souls that can read others, so well, that in a moment, all that the person has been is dumped into the head of the psychic. Generally these folks go mad. Its better for them anyway. In this moment, Skuld and Ranma shared a total link. Everything the one knew, the other knew as well, All at once, A blinding dump of information. Gods and goddess’s are made of sterner stuff than normal humans but Ranma is anything but normal. All of the information he gets, of the ways that the universe works, washes over him. Its still here, but he doesn’t really comprehend much of it. And if anything he can Cope with new things. Its what he does.

Skuld on the other hand, is a young goddess, new to her task’s, and she is taking all of what has happened to Ranma into her all at once. Imagine if you can, the assumption of living through the Neko-ken training, while the “let be friends” is played in your mind, with the table, and abuse of two years, and waving goodbye to Uc-chan, your only friend, while finding you have her hurt for 10 years, while finding that Uc-Chan is in fact a girl. All while you are fighting Saffron, to save the one you love from death, while she is sleeping with her lawyer and you watch.

That is the mess Skuld’s mind has to cope with this instant. She has to reign it all in. She is a goddess, she can handle this. She knows she can handle it. Yes… she can handle it… she thinks, as blackness totally consumes her. But even unconsciousness cannot stop the memories that are now hers, and the pain that she must share. Ranma feels her pain, in response to his, and a sort of feedback loop is started, until unconsciousness claims him as well.

In the center of everyone’s mind is a spot, where someone feels the most at home. For Skuld, it’s a spot under a tree in heaven, for Ranma, It’s a spot near a bridge that he used to play with Uc-chan. And here, the inner Ranma, met the inner Skuld, under a tree, by a bridge, in their joined minds. Here he is free from the demons that await in the outer ranges of his mind. He is younger, back at the time he was last happy. He is uncursed, and uncaring of anything that happens outside of his walls. He is a happy boy, good at the art, and still has the love that the Kami granted to him at birth. Skuld is very much like she is now, But, the opposite. She is the grown up Skuld, the fully developed goddess. She is the image of what she wishes to be. She is free from her own doubts, about how much better her older sisters are, or if her inventions are good enough, when compared to the magic that Urd wields.

Ranma looks around, and sits, playing with a push-cart that Uc-Chan had. He ignores Skuld all together. He knows that she is part of the darkness that is outside his bubble. Maybe if he ignores her she will go away. She looks at him, and realizes that whatever this melding was it was not total. There was a part of each of them, still held in reserve. For him it was his childhood before the Neko-ken. That was his, and his alone. For her, it was the knowledge of what she was to become. Though was not yet. The dream she had, of who to become. These parts were separate, and from that separation perhaps she could work with the Ranma

“Ranma, what are you doing” she crouches down to be at his level

“nothing” he replies pushing the cart.

“that is a nice cart”

“Its Ucchan’s. he gave it to me.”

“where is Ucchan, Ranma?”

“out there” Chibi-Ranma pointed at the walls that lined the space that they existed in. swirling darkness surrounded the place they were in. if you examine it closely you could see images of things from both of their minds happening. More so from Ranma’s life, than Skuld’s.

“What is out there?”

“Bad things.”

Skuld spent some time pushing the cart with Chibi-Ranma, until he got bored of that. She spent time quietly playing with him, as he went from a ball to play catch with, to games he had as a younger child at home. She talked of meaningless things, with him, as he grew to talk to her more. In their minds, much time had passed, days weeks past, they get used to each other, comfortable. But still neither is closer to moving to the outside., through that massive storm of darkness that sits on the edges of the known world. She brings him games she knew, teaches him the proper technique of bug smashing, and how to fly. However, in the back of her mind, she knows she must take the lead. Its her job, she must lead him out.

“Ranma, Its time for us to go back.”

“why?”

“Would it be bad to never learn any new arts?”

“yes, but cant you teach me?”

“Not all of them. Would it be bad to never see your mother again? Or Ucchan?”

“yes, I want to see mommy again Ucchan”

“you have to walk out there to see them again.”

“don’t Wanna”

“why not?”

“bad things in there. Bad people out there. Safer in here.”

“are you afraid Ranma?”

“NO! I just… don’t want to.”

“Ranma, It’s ok to be afraid.”

“no its not. Men are not afraid. I am a man.”

“Is your father afraid of anything?”

“Uhmm Nope! Because he is a man”

“What about your mother. Isn’t he afraid of that?”

“Well, yeah I guess”

“Think a sec, Ranma. What is your father REALLY afraid of… Really”

Chibi-Ranma ponders this a bit “Not Eating Dinner, he is really afraid of that”

“Does that make him not a man?”

“No my Daddy is a man.”

“Then men can be afraid right?”

“I guess so, Daddy always steals food because he is afraid of not eating.”

“He fights against his fears. “

“but not mommy. He runs form her”

“But you don’t run form her, you want to see her”

“yeah”

“We can go there, but you have to trust me, and hold my hand as we go.”

“Are we going out there?” Chibi-Ranma looks at the storm.

“Yes, we are going to go through that. But your not alone, I am with you.”

“ok… But you have to promise not to let me be alone there. Promise?” She takes his hand, “I promise Ranma, I will not let you be alone in the in that storm.”

A light glows from her for a moment, and she realizes what she has done. She has bound herself to him, for as long as he lives, she will always make sure he is not alone, to face the world. This is NOT what she had in mind starting this conversation. But if it’s the only way she will ever get him out of here… Well, Kami-sama would not like it if her charge went insane in response to being given the wish. She walked with him into the storm to face the demons that lay there.

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As the elevator doors open, she is greeted by a women in professional dress. “Miss Tendo?”

“Yes, but Its no longer Tendo, I am Nabiki Satou now, I am very pleased to meet you.”

“ I am Miyabi Kagurazaki, and I am very pleased to meet you as well. Why don’t you come with me, and let talk in the meeting room.”

She is lead into a well apportioned meeting room, with a lovely young woman in a blue Kimono sitting there. She rises, and bows, “I am Sakuraba Aoi, I am greatly pleased to make your acquaintance, Tendo-san.”

Nabiki bows back “I am no longer a part of that clan, Sakuraba-san, Please call me Satou Nabiki. I am honored to make your acquaintance.” They all sit, Miyabi-san starts off.

“May I call you Nabiki-san?” a nod, “ you come highly recommended by Nodoka-sama, and I am well aware of your talents. I have done some considerable research on your activities, and while many of them are questionable, I can see the use for them in the context of your previous life. Be warned that nothing of a questionable nature will be allowed in the Sakuraba employ. You are to be my assistant, learning to do everything that I do now, for the family. My duties extend well beyond what I do here in the office, and in fact, most of my work is done remotely, and you will learn to do that as well. I expect you to learn eventually to anticipate my needs, just as you will anticipate the needs of the members of the Sakuraba household, and put those above your own. If you are unable or unwilling to work in this fashion, we will end this discussion now. Are you aware of what we are expecting form you?”

Nabiki was not expecting this, she was expecting a normal ‘lets talk about your skills, and we will get back to you’ kind of interview. This is a “this is what I expect from you, its more than you were aware of, Can you do it” kind of interview. She, however, was not going to let this opportunity go, and responded after a moments thought “Yes, I will do whatever is required of me, that I can offer honorably.”

Miyabi-san smiled a moment. “good, you will be moving into the manor with us. You will actually be staying in the apartments, with the Tenants, rather than the main house with me and the family members. If Aoi-sama needs anything I expect you to provide it for her, just as I would. Also, you will be enrolled into Meiritsu University, and be taking a class schedule that I will design, things that will be of the most use to us, in the company and yourself working for us. Sunday afternoon’s you will expected to attend Nodoka-sama for afternoon tea. That is her request, and something you will just be aware of. I will go over all of the details of the position, once we are at the manor. You will be specifically tasked to take care of one newer members of the family, and help him in anyway that you can. This is the same position I have with Aoi-Sama” Inwardly Nabiki screamed, she knew this meant babysitting and she Detested this idea. She was about to say something when Aoi-chan cut in “You really should get into the position before you make any judgments Nabiki-san. I can see it in your face, but you will find you are a better fit for this than you may feel like at present.”

Nabiki sighed.

“In return for this, we will offer you room, board, education and a salary. In return for loyalty you will have the protection of our clan. Nodoka-san feels you are Very loyal, to family, and we hope that you will come to see us as such. Your gifted, with figures and we shall offer you much in repayment for use of your talents. Are we agreed?”

Nabiki thought about what all was being asked of her. It was a lot more than she was expecting, but it was also a better position than anything she by any rights had the ability to expect. Especially since they were aware of her other ‘activities’ at school. She took a deep breath and nodded “ I will be honored to serve the Sakuraba household, Kagurazaki-san, and look forward to a long relationship with you.” She stands and bows, the other two ladies also stood and bowed. “good, We have already taken the liberty of having the car move your things, I have some paperwork you need to sign, and we shall then return to the manor, so you can get settled.” Nabiki was also a little shocked by this action, there was a very real possibility that once she found out about the “side” tasks she would have turned the position down, but confidence, or just being used to getting the correct response, seemed to by Kagurazaki-san’s mode of operation. She could really get to admire that, as she was apparently better at it than Nabiki herself. “And Nabiki-san, please call me Miyabi-san.”

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Taeko-chan was panicking. She had to go get Tina-sempai and Karou-Sempai for help, because Ranma-san and this other strange woman were passed out, in the center of the manor. A Doctor had been called, but had not arrived yet. They were breathing, and Tina-sempai seemed to think they were both ok, especially after she felt them both up. Karou-sempai just sighed when she did this. But A doctor was supposed to arrive soon, so that they could see what was wrong with them. Nothing would wake either of them up, even when a glass of water was poured over Ranma-san head, by Tina-Sempai. This prompted anther fondling by Tina-sempai, of course, and Karou-sempai seemed to doubt her claims that she was trying to wake him up.

Ding Dong the door bell rang, and Taeko-chan opened the door to a white haired woman, “HI, I am doctor Urd Wottensdaughter, where is the patient…”

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Ok that is it for the day. Yes, I try, work level depending to update this story on a daily basis, which is why the chapters are the size they are. Its just how much I can write in the day. I am doing this because I am enjoying it. And yes I love the reviews, but I am not deliberately doing short chapters for that reason. Just consider my work serial in nature, not novella in nature.

Some reviews that I should respond too

Wonderbee31 Kasumi will be helped eventually. Give it time, I have to get to that.

Bluedragon81 I am leaning this way, on how to resolve this issue. Nodoka is prob my best bet, at least for how I want the story to progress.

dennisud Seeing the depression from Skuld’s eyes will be more useful. He wont understand what its doing to him, but he may understand it seeing completely how its hurting someone who is not set up to deal with it

deckman thanks for the reminder. Title typo fixed as soon as I got your feedback.

Borg rabbit Yeah the total mental link idea, I killed because when I wrote the first attempt at chapter 6, it got weird and dark fast, it involved Skuld loosing her mind. From the pain in Ranma’s past, more or less, and Ranma having to face his own demons to bring her back. This was the nicer of the two alt’s where they still keep a part of themselves. I may post that as a Omake, as there was some neat stuff in it. But this fic was getting entirely too dark, even for me.

Alathon ok, Lots to chew on here. Urd was my first choice. Urd is Always my first choice, because she has the most “weirdness” factor. But… Urd would feel the need to meddle with him relationship wise, and that is the least of what Ranma needs at present. Skuld will do her job, and leave, as quickly as possible, no matter how much she feels for the guy. Urd would defy heaven to make sure “Ranma was properly married” even if Kami-sama himself appeared in front of her.

On Nabiki. Ok, I know this may not be entirely cannon, but if I don’t assign some sort of positive motives to her actions, then it makes it more or less impossible for even Nodoka to see good in what she does. This is a personal preference I guess. I can understand your frustration, at the fans, myself included, adding this bit of character to her, but we want to see this in her I think more than anything else. Also, I have only watched part of the anime, (some epes through 7, but not all) and read none of the manga, so my characterizations are going to be a bit fizzy and heavily influenced by the fan fiction out there.

Nodoka, For all she is trying, is still one whacked cookie. She is very low-key at present, because Nabiki, her chosen target, has not gotten into her hand picked position yet. She also realizes that the pressure from the parents is what killed the “Akane” relationship. But. She WANTS grandkids, and knows that Nabiki has strong feelings for him, and likes and respects him. She is screwing up by doing this “put Nabiki in the employ of Ranma” bit and will come to realize that.

And yes, Ranma has to become closer to his old self, but with a stronger sense of “female side” than before for this to work out. He also needs a guide to help him learn when to say something and when not too. Nabiki needs to learn that she cant dominate everything, nor is it in her best interest to do so. This may NOT work, but I am trying very hard, mostly because Of the original fiancée’s I have always liked the Na/R pairing, over any of the rest of them.

DCWestby It is mentioned briefly about Nabiki arranging the marriage in secret, flying them out of Japan and faking the deaths of Ranma and Akane, to try and give them a fresh start. ;)

And sometimes even the most loyal of woman, will screw around to get back at her lover, Akane is not what I would call the most faithful of women. If it had been Ryoga, someone who was a martial artist, Ranma would prob have killed him. A non-martial artist lawyer. Well, fight or flight, and he chose flight.

Innortal Motoko? What… you want Every cliché known to Fan Fiction” ;)

JohnnyG And I want to do this. The problem I ran into is I generally use the honorifics, when certain characters are involved. I cannot think of a scene with Taeko, without calling her Taeko-chan. However I can easily think of scene’s with the Ranma characters without the honorifics. I will remove them in the future, as this speeds the story up.