Shinigami

Ranma Fanfic by Seras4545

A/N: Thanks a lot everyone! Your input has been greatly appreciated. I have revised chapter two to address the major issues you had with it, mainly the soul scene and the name of Ranma's zanpakutou. His Zanpakutou still has a surname, but it is the only way I could describe her and her very unique abilities. Kagame Fumetsu means 'Mirror of Eternity' or 'Eternal Mirror', however you wish to read it, though I prefer the first translation. The word for Reflection (Hansha) just didn't sound right. Anyway, sorry 'bout the long wait for this chapter, let's get on with the show.

Chapter Three: A New Body. A Reformed Soul.

The power was amazing, unlike anything Ranma had ever experienced. It roared through him, giving him the feeling that he could do anything if he needed. When he became aware of his surroundings once more he noticed the sword the woman had stabbed him with was now resting lightly in his palm, shimmering with an odd light as if reflecting or mirroring everything within view at once. It was about four feet and eight inches long overall with a thick spine and an edge that looked razor sharp, a plain round guard and an undecorated hilt with ray skin wrapped around it in the traditional style of a katana. He took firm grip of the hilt and knew that it was made to specially fit his hand, conforming perfectly to every contour of his palm. He looked toward the source of his ire, the monster that was currently threatening both the life and the soul of Nabiki, and knew that this thing was now his mortal enemy, it and all like it. He wasn't sure about using the sword, not that he couldn't, he had been well trained in the use of most weapons, but he always felt uneasy using weapons to win a fight. However, he knew that he had to destroy the monster quickly to save Nabiki and he wasn't sure how strong he would be without it.

Ranma also noticed something else. The monster seemed to be moving extremely slowly, as if time had slowed to a crawl. When he saw the drops of water from the thing stepping in the pond falling slowly he realized that everything hadn't slowed down, his reflexes had simply been amplified. He smiled confidently. This would be easier than beating the crap out of Ryoga, even as slow as he is this thing was slower by far.

Ranma leaped at the creature, slicing the left arm holding Nabiki off midway between the elbow and the shoulder. When he landed and turned around he was startled to see the thing suddenly speed up and turn around toward him, roaring it's surprise and fury as it's burning gaze sighted upon the source of it's pain and frustration. Ranma could feel the power begin to roll off the creature in waves and was surprised when he saw a clawed fist hurtling toward him at an incredible speed. He raised his Katana just in time to deflect the attack and was still knocked back into the wall, destroying a small section of it. Ranma shook his head to clear it and to shake out the fragments of concrete in his hair. He looked at the monster with new respect for it's power, speed and intelligence, it had obviously hidden it's true power, probably to conserve energy and trick it's enemies into thinking it was weak.

Ranma spared a glance for Nabiki, seeing that she was halfway to the ground, still falling slowly. Ranma knew that he had to end this fight quickly and catch Nabiki, or she might be injured from the fall. A fall from the height of the monsters shoulders practically guaranteed broken bones and a concussion for a non martial artist.

The monster saw him glance toward Nabiki and seized the opportunity to strike, thrusting it's clawed hand at him and Ranma was again only barely able to deflect the attack, managing to cut off part of the creature's hand off. Now missing an arm and two fingers, the beast retreated slightly and Ranma thought he had won for now. Then he watched in horror as the missing appendages began to regenerate themselves. When they were completely recovered, a process which had taken frighteningly small amount of time, the creature roared it's renewed defiance and fury. Ranma dodged the creature's first attack, grabbing Nabiki as he passed by and laid her down gently. He turned to face the horror that threatened them both now, turning to face them and it's bony face showing anger, preparing another attack.

How in the hell do you kill one of these things? He thought as the creature began it's charge. Then an idea hit him and he smirked. “Well then...” He said as he readied himself. He jumped over the first swipe, landing on it's forearm and ducked the second swipe from the other arm as he quickly scaled the arm, readying himself for a horizontal slash. “Lets see you regenerate this, you bastard!” He yelled as he reached the shoulder and swung, slicing easily through the bone plating, severing the head into two at the point where the jaws met. As he did he felt a sudden flood of energy from where he held the katana, flowing in from his palm. Light burst forth from his body in a column for a little, then retreated back within his skin and he suddenly felt weak as the energy left him, retreating back into the blade he wielded.

He stood there for awhile, panting from the sudden loss of power, not completely understanding what happened. He stared at the sword he held in his hand for awhile and was astonished to see it begin to change color, becoming the same shade of his skin and then being absorbed into his body. He stared at the point on his palm where the blade had disappeared without a trace. What the hell is going on here? He wondered, shaking his head in confusion. He looked to where Nabiki was and decided to get her inside. It was still in the depth of night and it was cold out. He started walking over to her and noticed then that he wasn't wearing his normal clothes. He was wearing some kind of white and black samurai robes that clung to him and limited his movements, with sandals instead of his usual black kung fu shoes. He felt a wave of sadness as he looked at them. Nabiki had given him the pair he had been wearing at Christmas last year, his old ones finally having been worn down to rags. It had been one of the few possessions he had that he truly treasured, along with the scarf that Akane had given him and the book on chiatsu pressure points that Kasumi and Tofu had given him.

As he thought of his old garments his new ones began to shimmer and then seemed to melt, reshaping themselves, and before long Ranma was staring at his usual garb. Ranma stood amazed for a second, feeling the familiar silk beneath his fingers. Then he immediately began to explore this newfound ability, altering the size, shape, and color slightly with merely a thought. This could be very useful. Ranma thought with glee, anticipating it's applications in battle.

A groan brought Ranma's attention back to the unconscious Nabiiki and he mentally kicked himself for having forgotten her. He went over to her and checked her for any injury. Finding none but some bruising and the lump on her head, he let out a sigh of relief. Then she began to stir. She groaned a bit more and then slowly opened her eyes and stared right at him.

“Ranma?” Ranma could hardly believe what he was hearing. She could see him?

“Wait, you can see me?”

“Of course I can, why wouldn't I?” She said, seeming to have forgotten the past couple months.

“Um, well... 'cause I'm dead, Nabiki.” Ranma said and braced himself for the worst.

Instead of the outcry of sorrow and pain that he expected from the way Nabiki had acted after his death, she reached up and cupped his cheek with her right hand and Ranma could feel the gentle warmth of her skin against his.

“You feel alive enough to me, Ranma-kun. Though I don't know why.” She said with a smile, and Ranma could tell by the tears welling up in her eyes that she had not forgotten his death. Then she buried her face in his chest and started crying earnestly.

“Oh, Ranma! I thought I would never see you again! I.. I've missed you!” She managed through her choking sobs. It wasn't until the door to the house opened that Ranma realized what a racket they were making.

“What the hell's going on here!” An angry and tired looking Akane yelled, wielding a bokken over her head. The rest of the family stood behind her in a huddled group, staring at the scene.

Akane sighted Nabiki first and immediately noticed the large lump on her head. “Nabiki! What happened?! How did you get that lump on your head?...”

Finally she noticed the one holding her. “And who are you? Why are you holding my sister like that? You... YOU PER... vert... Ranma?”

Akane's outburst lost power as Ranma picked Nabiki up and stepped into the light, illuminating his features. Akane's eyes widened and Ranma could see the tears welling up as the situation hit her.

“H.. How...?” Soun began, Genma simply staring blankly at the son he thought dead. To be honest, Ranma hadn't seen his father for a long time after he had died and now that he did he saw that Genma was much the worse for the wear. No longer was he the fat, lazy looking man that he was. He had thinned considerably and now merely looked stocky and slightly undernourished, muscles that had been hidden in fat now revealed, though slightly lax from lack of use. Ranma now saw the effects that his death had had on the old man and knew then that even though his pops was insensitive and often acted rashly in regards to Ranma, he still cared greatly for his son and only child.

Ranma smiled weakly at them. “I'll explain later, I think it's best to get Nabiki inside.” Nabiki had fallen asleep, tears still staining her cheeks, her arms still wrapped around Ranma. He walked toward the entrance and as he came close everyone moved apart, still staring at him as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing. He proceeded through and up the stairs, everyone following behind him silently, and entered Nabiki's room and lay her down on her bed, covering her with the blanket tenderly.

He turned to see the rest of the family looking at him curiously and keeping their distance in the hall. He left the room, making sure to shut the door as he left, and faced them.

“Well? What are you staring at?” Ranma said with a smile, trying not to burst out laughing. He wasn’t sure how they could see him but it made him feel great that they could. Soun looked like one of the koi he kept in his pond, Genma looked stunned and still a little dazed, while Kasumi still smiled, though Ranma could tell from experience was one of her sincere smiles and not one of the masks she put on for the family. It was then that he noticed that Akane wasn’t among their group.

“Hey, where did Akane go?” He asked as he looked around for the missing tomboy.

“She went to her room, Ranma-kun.” The ever helpful Kasumi answered, as if he had never left.

“Thanks Kasumi, I’ll talk with her later. Actually, would you mind telling her what I tell you guys and have her come see me when she’s ready?” He asked, giving her a pleading look.

“Of course I will. Before you start however, let’s all go back down to the common room and I’ll fix up some tea. Does that sound alright?”

“That sounds great, Kasumi! And maybe some of those snacks you always make…?” He asked, reinstating the puppy dog look.

“Oh alright. I guess even ghosts get hungry.” She said and walked off before Ranma could say anything else.

Everyone else followed her down the stairs and Ranma went down a little after, feeling the walls as he did. He wondered why they felt so different. When he was a ghost he could touch things and was aware that they were there, but he never felt the item itself, nor did any of the food he ate have any taste. He still felt pain and heat and cold, but in a strange detached way, as if he wasn’t quite feeling it himself. Now he felt everything as when he was alive, in fact he felt as if every nerve was firing twice as much, as if he was more alive than ever. Ranma had no idea how but he was living and in a body again.

He took his hand from the wall and caught up with the others, forming an explanation as he went. He decided to tell them what he could, but nothing of Kagame. He reached the room and seated himself in precisely the same place that he and Genma had sat two years ago, when they had first arrived at the Tendo household.

They sat in uncomfortable silence for a while, Kasumi putting the kettle on to boil for tea then sitting directly opposite Ranma. Ranma scratched the back of his head nervously, trying to figure out how exactly he should explain.

“Ahem. Well, I'm not quite sure where to start.” Ranma said, lowering his hand and looking at the others beseechingly.

“Just start at when you left us, Ranma-kun.” Kasumi said with a comforting smile.

“Well, all right...” Ranma said, preparing himself to relate his adventures in the spirit world.

He told them almost everything, carefully leaving the scene with Kagame out and the use of a sword, simply ending his battle with the hollow with the Moko Takabisha.

He told them of when he had awoken to find his body below him, how he had first traveled beyond the walls of the compound, how he had met the first hollow and the girl and the black robed woman, his fight with the second hollow and how he had felt an immense burst of power...

o0o

“... And now it seems I'm alive again. The body I'm in is real.” He ended simply, tired from his storytelling and suddenly wishing he could go to sleep. The tea cup in front of him had long since been emptied, Kasumi having brought in the tea about a third of the way into the story.

Everyone seemed to be thinking of his story and what it could possibly mean and how there were monsters even in the afterlife. Then Genma suddenly perked up.

“What about the engagement boy?” He asked excitedly. Ranma rolled his eyes. Figures that that is the first thing he thinks about asking.

It wasn't till he was about to answer that he noticed the glares everyone was directing at Genma. Even Kasumi, one who is ever pleasant, was giving him a cross look.

“Whats goin' on guys? Pops? Why are you giving him such dirty looks?” Ranma asked, confused. Apparently he had missed something when he was dead.

Kasumi gave him a sad, pitying look. “I'm sorry, Ranma-kun. Apparently uncle Genma forgot already, but... Well... Akane, she's got a boyfriend.”

Ranma was completely stunned by this revelation. Akane has a boyfriend? Who? When? How? These question whirled in his head for awhile until he realized something that been kinda odd. He remembered seeing Ryoga around more and more often and had a sinking feeling in his gut. He looked at Kasumi with a pained and questioning gaze.

“It's... Now please don't get mad at him Ranma... It's Ryoga. He seems to have overcome his problems with his sense of direction and now he's dating Akane. Oh, please don't take it out on him, Ranma. It was Akane who asked him out after all.”

Ranma could feel the rage boiling and building up as Kasumi confirmed his suspicions. Then when he heard that Akane was the one who had asked him out the rage vanished, leaving a strange empty feeling in it's place.

“... I see...” Was all that he said. Then he got to his feet and left the room, slowly climbing the stairs.

“Oh, poor Ranma.” He heard Kasumi say faintly. That drove him even further to be alone. He didn't want pity, all he wanted was someone to be there for him.

He entered Nabiki's room, silently shutting the door behind him. He saw that she was still asleep and made sure to make no noise as he sat down next to her bed and finally let himself sift through his own feelings.

It wasn't that she was dating his rival, nor that she had betrayed his trust as they never really had any to begin with No, what truly saddened him was that she had gotten over him so easily, as if everything he had done in her life and everything they had been through together meant absolutely nothing to her. He couldn't hold anything against Ryoga, the guy has been pining after Akane for ages now anyways. No, it was Akane to blame but Ranma couldn't even hold a grudge against her. All he could feel was bitter pain at being forgotten so easily.

“You really are the only one who cared about me, Biki-chan. Oh, Kasumi cares, but you are the only one who came to my shrine every day. Sorry that I never noticed how much you actually cared till I died. Maybe some day I can make that up to you.” He said quietly, knowing that Nabiki was asleep and couldn't hear him. He was talking more to himself than anyone else, solidifying his resolve. He would devote himself to Nabiki now and no one would get in his way when it came to her.

He silently left and closed the door behind him. Unnoticed, Nabiki opened her eyes and stared at where Ranma had stood a moment before. Tears glistened in her eyes.

“Thank you, Ranma. And thank you Kami-sama, for giving both of us a second chance. I will do my best.” She said faintly, then slowly her eyes drooped closed again and she slept, though it was with a smile on her face this time.

o0o

Ranma woke when he was suddenly splashed with water and groaned aloud when she noticed that the curse still had hold of her.

She looked up at the source of the water and saw her father setting down a bucket and then looking at her with an expectant look on his face.

“What the heck did you do that for, oyaji?!” Ranma yelled at her father.

Genma merely smirked.

“Time to get up and spar, boy. If you had that much trouble with those monsters then you've gotten soft.” He said with a condescending look.

As usual her father knew exactly how to push her buttons to make her angry. She got up from her bed and when he jumped out the open window she followed with angry zeal. They began to fight over the koi pond like before she had died, though her father seemed a little faster and was putting more energy into the fight. When she noticed this she realized just how much her father had missed her and decided to put her all into the fight as well. After all, she had been out of practice as she had no opponents on the other side except for the monsters who just wanted to eat her, not actually fight and improve each other's skills.

Surprisingly her father kept up very well and they sparred for much longer than usual, keeping to simple physical attacks and techniques so as not to destroy the yard. Ranma wasn't sure if her father could keep up with her ki based attacks. The fight finished with Ranma grappling with her father, a task much easier now that he had lost much of his girth, into submission. Then they got up and bowed to each other, without any last minute sneak attacks for a wonder.

Ranma heard clapping and saw Soun off to the side, having watched the entire fight from the dining room. She and her father walked in to join him for morning tea that Kasumi had prepared.

“Good fight you two. Seems that everything is finally returning to a semblance of normalcy around here for once. No, wait, I would have to say that the mood is even better. You two seem to be getting along much better than before.” Soun said with a smile, glad that his best friend and his friends son were finally getting along.

Ranma looked at her father and saw the emotion in Genma's eyes and knew that, though her father was not very emotional nor open about his emotions, he did love her, without a doubt and was better for having his part son-part daughter back.

He heard a noise behind him and saw Nabiki in her nightclothes descending the stairs, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She saw him and smiled tiredly.

“'mornin Ranma. Father. Mr. Saotome.” She said with only a little fatigue in her voice.

“Morning.” They all chimed in at once.

“How are you feeling, Nabiki?” Ranma said, suddenly at Nabiki's side.

“Just fine, Ranma. A little dizzy from that bump yesterday, but fine.” Nabiki said with a smile.

“You really shouldn't be walking around yet. That was one nasty bump.” Ranma said, worry on her face. In truth, she shouldn't be able to walk at all yet. How is she recovering so quickly?

“I'm fine. In fact, except for the dizziness, I'm better than fine. I haven't been this energetic in the morning in a long time.” She said, brushing past Ranma and into the kitchen where Kasumi promptly handed her her morning cup of coffee.

“Ahh. That hits the spot.” She said after taking a swig of her java.

Ranma stared for a minute and then looked around, expecting to see Akane come in from her morning jog, as she usually did around this time of day. It was then that he noticed that her ki hadn't moved from her room.

“Is Akane still in her room?” He asked.

Nabiki gave him a searching look, then nodded. “Yeah. She hasn't come out at all since you came back. I think it's hitting her really hard about now.”

Ranma started up the stairs with a grim expression.

“I wouldn't go up there if I were you, Ranma.”

“I've got to talk to her. We need to settle things between us. Otherwise this will always bother us.” Ranma said simply and continued up, ignoring Nabiki's warning.

She went down the hall and knocked on Akane's door. He heard some fumbling and a muffled “Who is it?” from behind the door.

“It's Ranma. Akane, we have to talk.” Ranma said, her voice completely serious and unwavering.

“... Just a minute.” Was the reply and soon he heard the latch being opened and Akane opened her door and looked at him.

She was a sight, her eyes red and swollen and tears still streaking her face. She looked as if she hadn't slept all night and Ranma suspected that to be the case.

“All right if I come in?” Ranma asked, noting that she seemed very tense.

She nodded and went over to her bed and sat down, her head resting in her hands. Ranma entered and closed the door behind her. She looked around and noticed several new things among her prized possessions. They looked to be items and souvenirs from all over the world and Ranma suspected them to be from Ryoga. Well, guess he doesn't get lost very often anymore, but when he does, he really gets lost. Ranma thought with a smile, seeing some souvenirs that were from all the way in America.

Ranma looked back to Akane who was looking at Ranma with apprehension. Ranma simply walked over and plopped herself down next to Akane. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Akane finally spoke.

“... I'm sorry, Ranma.” She said, and Ranma could see the tears forming from the corner of her eye.

“For what?” She asked, as if she didn't know.

Akane gave her an incredulous look.

“For betraying me? For dating my rival? For forgetting me?” Akane winced at each accusation.

Ranma shook her head. “Don't be ridiculous.”

Akane's head whipped around to look a suddenly smiling Ranma-chan in the eye.

“What do you mean? You're right, I did betray you. I'm an awful person.” Akane said, tears flowing freely down her face.

Ranma's smile faded slightly. “No, you're not an awful person. I had died, and you did what any normal human would have done. You moved on.”

Akane looked at Ranma in wonder, trying to figure out where the familiar, socially fumbling Ranma had gone.

“Do you love him?”

“... What...”

“Ryoga. Do you love Ryoga?” Ranma asked, her smile gone, her face showing no expression.

“I... Dunno... Maybe, I mean I think...”

“No, no maybes, no 'I dunno's. Yes or no. Do you love him?”

Akane was silent for awhile, her face showing that she was thinking hard on the matter. Then resolve and something else burned in her eyes.

“... Yes, I love him, deeply...”

Ranma's face broke out in a smile. “Well then, all is forgiven. If you love him then that is enough for me.”

“... Wha...” Akane started, but Ranma had already gotten up and left.

Ranma headed downstairs and met Kasumi as she was on her way up.

“Oh, Ranma-kun. I was just about to get you and Akane. Breakfast is ready, come on down to eat.”

Ranma flashed her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Kasumi, but could you put mine in a container to heat up later? I kinda got a lot on my mind and really don't feel like eating right now.”

Kasumi looked slightly worried, after all since when did Ranma miss a meal? However she shrugged it off and smiled at her. “Of course, Ranma. It'll be in the microwave whenever you want it.”

“Thanks, Kasumi.” She said. She continued down while Kasumi went up to get Akane. She decided to get some fresh air and went out into the streets, wandering aimlessly as her thoughts sorted themselves out. She found herself at the park and went over to a bench near a pond and sat down, staring into the waters.

The reflections on the water reminded her of the sword she had used to fight the monster last night. As soon as she thought of that she felt a tingling sensation in her palm and then a sudden weight fell into it. She looked down and found the sword in her hand, ready to use and polished to a mirror sheen.

So, all I have to do is think of it to use it? She thought as she stared at it's mirror surface. She got the feeling that there was a depth there that a sword shouldn't have and she looked at it more closely. Suddenly she was bathed in light and she disappeared from the world...

o0o

Ranma found herself in the mirror like world again, standing atop the poles.

“So, you have discovered how to manifest and how to enter your soul. Congratulations.”

Ranma whirled at the sound of the voice, not losing her balance in the slightest. She was confronted with her male half this time.

“What... Why...”

“Why am I a guy now?” The young man finished for her, smiling. “Well, it's simple really. When you change, I change. It's not always that simple but for you, for now, it is.”

“What do you mean by manifest? What's happened to me? What am I?” Ranma was mostly interested in the last.

“Manifest means to bring out your sword. What happened to you is that you have awakened the hidden power within your soul, namely me. What you are, well...” He actually seemed to have to think about it for a bit. “... I would have to say that the closest thing to what you are is a shinigami, though you are much different from them in many ways. You are very... Unique.”

“Shinigami? Unique?” Ranma asked, even more confused than she was before.

“How should I put this? Well, might as well explain it from the top. You remember that thing you saw last night, correct?”

Seeing her nod he continued. “That thing is called a hollow. It is a spirit who is unable to rest for some reason and ran out of time. They have lost their hearts and mercilessly attack other souls, devouring them to soothe their own pain and loss and to become stronger. Now, a shinigami is something of a regulator of souls and soul traffic. They send wandering souls to a place called soul society, what you would call heaven in a way, and they destroy and purify hollows, also sending their purified souls to soul society. You are like a shinigami, but different, unique even. You will discover what I mean as you grow in power.”

Ranma thought on this a bit, thinking it was just a little strange. But, she had gotten used to strange things in her life. Heck, she was a boy who turns into a girl with cold water and changes back with hot for heavens sake! So she took this in stride.

“So, what should I do?” She asked simply.

“Do? Well, you don't HAVE to do anything. But, if you want to grow in power, then find that young man, Ichigo, again. He too is like you, similar to a shinigami yet unique in his own way. He is being instructed by a shinigami himself and the lessons she will be teaching and the people she will introduce you to will help you greatly.”

“Find Ichigo? Another shinigami? What...” Ranma began to ask but the world around her was already beginning to ripple and then went dark...

o0o

Ranma woke to find herself lying down on the bench and the sword was nowhere to be seen. She got up and stretched, grimacing at how drained she felt. Find Ichigo, huh? Well, guess it's something to do.

With that thought she began to head home. Suddenly an explosion rocked the ground and she heard the screaming of a little boy.

She turned to see a little boy spirit being chased by a gigantic spider like hollow. She was about to intercept when she heard someone yelling. She looked to find some dark haired girl in a highschool uniform talking to...

Well, speak of the devil. Ranma thought as she saw the bright orange hair and black robes. There Ichigo stood arguing with the girl, holding a gigantic katana nearly the size of his own body. It looked like he intended to save the kid and Ranma decided to wait and see what happened, ready to jump in at any time if need be...

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A/N: I know, everyone hates cliffhangers! And it did take me forever to get this new chapter out. All I can say is...

Author gets into a crouching position and bows rapidly while yelling

“IM SORRY! IMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRY!”

Really, I am, I'm really sorry for the cliffhanger and such a late post, but really, school kills most of my free time. Hope you liked the changes I made to ch.2 and hope you like this chapter. I'm now working on a new chapter for The Dragon Within so hope you like the chapter when it goes up!

Ja Ne!