Ranma and The Doctor

Chapter 15

Kimono Endeavours

The TARDIS continued to flow through time, through the tunnels splitting off to the various eras in the past, present and future, before selecting the correct region of space.

Ranma was quiet, sitting in the seat haphazardly as it bounced about the console, her face pensive.

"Don't go, stay here with me and we'll be safe. I promise..."
"Ranchan, you don't need to do this... The Doctor can do this alone, you can just stay here."
"I know things are dangerous, but the Doctor does bring many problems... You need to make your own decision on who you choose."
"Be that as it may, the Doctor is bad news for anyone he meets, bringing with him death. You're no different now either, now that you've changed, I think today proved it once and for all."

She was sitting in the seat backwards, arms folded over the raised back of the seat, occasionally kicking out her foot to stop herself from slamming into the barriers or the central control panel.

"What can I do though?" She asked herself, "I don't have much choice, do I?"

"Ranma is the centre, and people he knows are not as they appear..."

"What did he mean by that?" Her memories were difficult to understand whilst in Feral form, and she had little control over herself, but all she could do was remember.

"You say something Ranma?" The Doctor called out as he turned two dials.

"No, nothing..." She got up and joined him, "Are we there yet?"

A loud crunching sound replied in response.

"Yep..." He looked at the door, "Outside now is the Meiji era of Japan, but first, we have to make a few changes." He looked at her, "You need a new outfit..."

He went into the closet and picked out the suitable items for himself and Ranma, to which she objected immediately.

"No way in hell am I wearing that!'

"Come on, Ranma..." The Doctor sighed loudly, "You've not got much option really, women didn't really wear what they wanted back then, especially not that kind of top and trousers." He did a brief pose, "See, even I changed!"

"Liar!" She pouted, "You only put on your glasses!"

"Well..." He twirled them in his hand, "It makes me look more foreign..."

"But, a kimono?"

"You want me to help you tie it on?"

"Hell no!" Ranma snatched it from him, walking to the changing room, "I'll do it myself!"

She stormed off, and realised once she had finished tying the final obi that he managed to convince her by riling her up.

"Damn it..." She looked herself over in the mirror, "He got me..." She twirled about, "Still, I guess it looks good, he got the best one for me."

Stepping out of the room, she put her hands on her hips and frowned at the Doctor.

"Well, what do you think?"

He took a moment to take in her appearance, "Perfect, I couldn't have picked a better kimono."

"Yeah, okay... That's fine..." Blushing lightly, she coughed, "Any plans for today?"

"I thought..." He opened the door, "that we should just see where the wind takes us."

With that last comment, he left the TARDIS, leaving Ranma to follow.

That moment

"Time Period: 1882, January 7th, 6:04am." Yuko stated, having adjusted her UPS coordinates to the correct location and time, and looking up the date using common techniques to locate the time.

A deep snore was her response, as Ryoga was suffering from his narcolepsy, having already injected the Nanos.

"Oh, get up you..." She lightly slapped him on the cheek, though it still phased through him.

She sighed and sat near him, in a convenient spot to avoid being spotted by people, as holograms were definitely not normal in that time.

"Why did you do it Ryoga?" She looked at the dark red spot on his chest, from where he pierced his heart with the syringe, "I'm no one important, just an AI..."

He snorted once before mumbling something and turning his head.

"I'm worried for you, Ryoga..."

She glanced down at her hand and the glittering parts that were fizzling away, still broken and not healed yet.

"But, then again, whoever this Master is..."

With a start, he woke up, "Ugh, my head..." He blinked once to disable the Contacts, before groaning, "I don't feel too good..."

"Don't worry about it, the Nanos are probably healing you from your fight slowly."

"Where, and when, are we?" Ryoga asked, after seeing some old buildings around him.

Yuko told him the date and he was nonplussed, "Oh, at least I'm close to my time this time." He looked down at the clothing he wore, "I don't much about this outfit, but I probably look like a traveller, or someone homeless..."

She grinned, "It's not like this is new to you though, isn't it?"

He smiled back, "Nope, business as usual." He picked up his backpack, "I'd better find something to eat, I'm getting a bit hungry."

"Don't you want something from the Food Storages?" She asked, curious.

"I know the food there is good," He started walking out of the alley, "but sometimes, it's nice to eat some traditional food, home cooked meals, before all these instant meals were created..."

Yuko held her chin, "So, you miss old-fashioned food then? I can add it to my databases..."

"That's not exactly it, besides," He walked into the small street, with people milling about and tradesmen selling their wares from carts, "It's nice to see your history."

Yuko understood finally and shut her image off to prevent any stares.

Elsewhere

A murmur was surrounding the area due to one individual, lying just off the main road, his body stained with blood, and the clothes ripped, though he had no scars on him aside from the peculiar arm.

"Hey you!"

Two people dressed in blue saw him from a distance and ran to the person, who opened his eyes slowly.

"Where am I?"

"You know, it's been a while, but I'm surprised people like you still exist."

Kuno sat up and rubbed his head, "People like me?"

"Those people that still carry their swords with them."

"Pray tell, the sword is outlawed in this region? I was unaware..."

The bloody man got to his feet unsteadily, his nerves firing up at every minute movement.

"Are you stupid or something? They've been forbidden for years!" They drew their weapons, no blades, just guns.

Kuno casually saw the threat, but took no notice of it, instead he smiled.

"You see me, a young man covered in his own blood, and torn clothing, and you perceive me a troublemaker simply because of a sword?"

"The law is to be upheld." The lead policeman spoke.

"Then you leave me no option..."

Grabbing his blade, he swung it once and severed the guns, making each one useless for firing.

"Now, I take my leave officers, I bid you do the same."

Quivering, they stood there, watching the strange man walk away from the road to a nearby stream.

"I believe we should return to our desks, report on this."

All agreed at once and the ran back to their department.

Ten minutes later

"Doctor, everyone's staring..."

The sophisticated looking man was looking in a window of a watchmaker, strangely named in English as 'A Stitch in Time', before turning his attention back to Ranma.

"What was that?" He glanced back after getting a strange feeling from that shop, then shrugging it off.

"They're looking at us!" She whispered loudly, having covered her face up with the fan which came free with her kimono.

"I suppose it's only natural, I don't recall any natural Japanese redheads especially back in this time period." He pushed her fan down, "And hiding your blushing face isn't exactly going to make you less conspicuous you know?"

"Grrr..." She glowered at him before folding it up and stuffing it back in her sleeve. "Fine then! I'm going to walk this way, you can just go your own, and keep away from me."

"Whatever you say..." He pushed his glasses down to look at her, "But keep to the main streets, even if you can handle yourself."

"Hmph... I'm stronger than anyone here!"

"I'm sure you are, but that's my best kimono, don't want to replace it prematurely."

Grinding her teeth, Ranma cracked her knuckles with one hand alone, and looked at the Doctor angrily, "I'll get you for this, you know, I don't like dressing up girly."

"I'll remember that for the future," He gave her one of his winning smiles, "Now go have fun, not too often you can meet your ancestors."

"Yeah, I suppose..." She turned about and waved idly to him as she wandered through the streets.

Once she was out of sight, he pulled out a small vial which began to glow from a strange liquid inside.

"Now, to figure out why this is reacting here of all places..."

Moving off to one side and subtly using the sonic probe, he headed in the opposite direction.

"Okay, perhaps in Ranma's year this would go off, but why here?" He scratched his head as he followed the intensity of the vial's light, which he kept hidden within a small wallet.

"But why would amniotic fluid from a Slitheen egg suddenly feel close to its mother?"

Happy at a new puzzle, he continued on, as dozens of eyes followed his movements.

Meanwhile

"Damn it Doctor, you didn't have to make me go and say those things!" Ranma lashed out at an innocent birch tree in her path, making the branches shake slightly.

"What seems to be the trouble young miss?" An old man asked, sitting on a bench beneath the tree, some leaves falling around him.

"Oh nothing, just a guy who gets me mad when I don't want to be..." She sighed loudly and sat next to the old man.

"Ah, young love, so pure and -"

"I'm not in love with him!" She yelled, only to calm down quickly, "I'm not, he's just interesting to be around."

"Someone you admire then?" The man began to smoke on his pipe.

"I guess you could see it that way. He does say things though which really get me angry."

"Is it because they're true, or because he wants you to get angry at him?"

"I don't think he wants me to get angry, it's not like him..." She paused at the man's quietness, "I'm not so sure that they're true either..."

"Well, when he says those things, what do you do?" He took a long puff from the pipe and exhaled.

"I dunno, I just think a lot about them..." Ranma answered with a frown on her face.

"Sounds like a wise man, he must be older than you by a few years."

Ranma scoffed, "Yeah, just one or two hundred..."

The old man laughed, "Come on, people of older generations aren't that bad! We may have old values like honour, dignity and justice, but it doesn't stop us from dreaming of easier times."

"What about you? Where's your family and children?" She couldn't help but notice he was alone in the crowded street, and how people actively avoided them, though she wasn't sure if it was because of her hair.

"I have none, my wife passed on a few years ago from a disease. My children died back in Kyoto during the first years of the restoration, their families too."

"I'm sorry to hear that..." Ranma looked down, "My family is very... far away from me now, they're not happy with the choice I made, so I feel a bit lonely sometimes too."

"You chose this man instead of your family?" He sounded curious, "It must have been for an important reason, if it isn't love."

"I suppose that it must have been..." She looked off into the distance, "Like you said, honour, dignity and justice."

"Hah, that's a first!" He coughed out as the smoke billowed around him, "Still, better than the others around here." He shook his cane at the street, "No spirit, do you hear me!"

"Hey, calm down..." She lowered his walking stick, "Don't get overexcited over nothing."

"But it's not nothing..." He shifted his eyes suspiciously at everyone, "Things are different now, people are different."

"It's a new era, isn't it? Lots of things change at times like these." She shrugged, not knowing much about history in truth.

"That's not what I meant." He moved closer to her, his voice becoming quieter, "They're not the same people, something's wrong with them all."

"Wrong in what way?" She replied, growing a tad more fearful.

That moment, a group of geisha walking by stumbled over a non-existent crack in the road, and the other people watched those two, then stared at Ranma.

"I see..." She stood up and smirked, "We're not alone really, are we?"

She focused on the geisha, who both hid beneath their own fans and walked off down an alley towards their home. Everyone returned to their usual aloofness and went on their way.

"You're right..." She sat down again, whispering, "There is something odd going on here, like everybody is afraid of something."

"Afraid, you really think so?"

"Yeah, I've seen these kinds of faces before..." She thought back to her time in the far future, the humans who were fearful of the unknown Ferals, "The problem is, it's like these people don't know who the enemy is exactly, like it's one of them."

"H-How can you tell?"

Ranma turned to face the now white-faced man, "You know more than you let on, old man..." She narrowed her eyes at him, only for his own eyes to widen greatly.

"Wait! You've got it wrong!" He waved his hands in a warding-off fashion, "I promise you, I'm not one of them..." He shut his mouth quickly and stood up, using his cane to lean on, "Come with me."

Doing so, she kept on her guard as they moved through the streets, as the number of people slowly emptied, until it was relatively quiet.

"Good, now we're alone..." He looked at her, continuously glancing at the surroundings, "It's just as you say, I don't know what is happening, I'm just an old man reaching the end of his long life, but I've seen things recently that I cannot explain at all."

"Try me, I've seen stuff you would never imagine." She folded her arms, still keeping her senses heightened just in case.

He looked off into the distance, recalling his memories, "People are going missing, this does happen anyway, but despite looking for them, the police can't find them at all."

"If it was just people going missing, it doesn't have to be strange, there could be a large number of kidnappings, assassinations, or just simply running or moving away." She began to wonder if he was just paranoid.

"Of course, the problem is that they all come back, it used to be one week later, then six days, and so on." He paused, "Yesterday, the last group of people that went missing, policemen in fact, were found in their patrol route, unconscious like all the others, with no memory."

Ranma caught something the man said, "How long were they missing for?"

"Exactly one day. Midday they went missing, then the next day they were found just after midday."

"How long has this been going on for?" She already guessed correctly.

"28 days, since the first group went missing."

"So, each group was captured just after another group was returned, and this went on until yesterday, the duration getting shorter each time." She thumbed her chin, thinking. "I take it this isn't the only thing you've noticed.

"No..." He shook his head, and in fact his whole body shook, "They come back with no memory of the time they're gone. They act the same, and have their old memories, but they're different. Certain times, they go away for an hour, but come back like normal without saying where they went."

The red head puzzled over this, "Do you think they've been brainwashed?"

"Brainwashed, what does that mean?" He asked, confused.

"Never mind..." She thought over it a bit more, "If your dates are right, that would mean that new people could be taken away today, and returned in a few minutes without anyone even knowing the change."

"I didn't think that far..." He began to cry, "One of these was my old friend, and even he seems different, I'm positive it is not the same person."

"This sounds bad... If what you say is true, this means that any number of people could be taken away and 'changed'."

"Yes, when you put it that way, this is a possibility."

"I have to tell the Doctor, he should know what is going on." She started to run off, "Look, stay in crowded places, and don't ever be alone, you got it?"

"Why else do I sit in the market for the whole day these past few weeks?" He smiled wanly.

"I've got to go, see you around..." She halted in her jog, "What your name, sorry?"

"Just call me Katsuhito, and your name is?"

"Ranma Saotome!" She shouted as she rounded the corner.

"Saotome... Why does that name sound familiar to me...?" Turning to find the best route to the market, his face clouded over as he touched the hilt of a seemingly broken sword by his hip, "This is not the time to use this, not yet..."

Meanwhile

A group of people noticed a change in their vision as they received simultaneous orders.

"Mauve Alert, warning keyword 'THE DOCTOR' activated. Human with abnormal life energy attempting to find 'THE DOCTOR'. Omega Response Team, Intercept and Immobilise for immediate processing. Permission for advanced weaponry authorised for ten second interval."

"Acknowledged." Fifty people said this word under their breath and left whatever they were doing to run for the spot they were allocated.

"Abduction Team Alpha, prepare for standard operating procedures, target is one hundred individuals within coordinates Beta 14, Gamma 12, Delta 5. Total time for extraction and processing will be five minutes."

Another fifty people responded the same, and moved from their homes, workplaces, all the while giving reasons, in order to follow their instructions.

That moment

Ranma stopped, in the middle of an old and abandoned part of the city, a former industrialised region which no longer manufactured the cotton and materials which were required, having lost a lot of business.

"I know you're there..." She stood tall and clenched her fists, feeling the ki swirl inside her body, "Face me now, or I'll destroy this building, that way more people will come. You don't want to be revealed in public, do you?"

From every window, rooftop, doorway and alley exit came fifty people, mostly men, though a few women were present.

"So, you're the legendary people, eh?" She seemed undaunted by the numbers, "You can't all be normal humans, otherwise this would be an unfair fight, no?"

"Omega Response Team, prepare to engage." One man spoke, as each person nodded, "Area secure. Civilians unaware. Attack."

In one instant, all of them glowed blue and white, as Ranma watched disgustedly as their foreheads split open and their skins peeled away to reveal what was beneath, their movement too sudden for her to react in time.

"But... how?"

Forty-nine red beams struck Ranma, pinning her figure in the same position, as the lead figure marched towards her, his bald head gleaming in the sunlight without his helmet on.

"My deepest and most heartfelt apologies, but for the glory of war, you must be removed from the battlefield. I must say, I expected more of a meta-human, but sometimes it is necessary for the warrior to be disappointed."

He placed a small circular object onto her forehead, as Ranma's eyes traced up to look at it protruding from her head.

"You bastard... What are you going to do to me?" She dug down to find the anger she wanted, to bring up the hidden part of herself, but wasn't sure if she could tap into that power easily.

"Your body makes a useful host, we can use you to get close to the Doctor, someone who could ruin our plans." He cast an eye over her curves, "I must say, you have a remarkable body for a normal human, one I may even call attractive if forced to make an opinion by my superior. Your strength in battle will also be of a great help to us."

"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." She smirked, before growling, "I'll get out of this and show you my strength, with a fist to the face."

"Splendid! Just the demeanour we want!" The short man saluted her, "We will exploit your abilities to the utmost. We thank you for this wonderful opportunity."

"You'll be thankful to see the last of me, once I get my hands on you."

"A shame though, that this will not happen. We bid you farewell, Ranma Saotome. We look forward to your cooperation in the future, for the glory of Sontar!"

"Sontar Ha!" Chorused the other Sontarans, repeating until Ranma's body began to flicker as the transportation beam began to carry her away.

Cursing to herself, she spat on the armour of the leader, before laughing. "I'll personally come to kill you, mark my words."

"That is a day I look forward to, come look for me, General Strall will not run from a fight."

Closing her eyes, Ranma was no more, the teleporter having taken her away.

"Omega Response Team, resume normal human activities, reactivate human behavioural programs until next stage."

Returning to their human skins, the non-humans went back to their homes or alleyways, being mostly homeless or unimportant people, those that society did not place much effort on checking up on.

Ten minutes later
Coordinates Beta 14, Gamma 12, Delta 5

"I appear to have lost my police tail, this sword does make itself a nuisance in a time when they are outlawed." He watched it in his hilt, as it was eager to fight, "However, given the situations I have been through, it is not unlikely that I may need to use it at a moments notice."

He could feel his left arm sting, and as he could feel the four veins inside it writhing, like snakes trying to escape a drainpipe, it disturbed him.

"I must find an opportunity to test my new abilities, in order to assess their strength and uses. It is like I have been endowed with new knowledge on the arcane, to counter the forces I meet with all to frequently."

A single policeman turned up at the end of the alley, before pointing at him, "Hey!" He walked over to him, "I'm afraid you can't carry your sword like that in the streets."

"I am all to aware of this fact, what have you of me?" Kuno replied.

"You will be required to come with me for a short time, we will not confiscate your sword, just ask you a few questions."

"That seems reasonable..." Kuno began, until the policeman smacked a circular object onto his forehead.

"This will ensure you get to your destination." The non-human smiled, a little too widely.

"Is this a practical joke of some description?"

Kuno spoke some words, half singing them, "Oh ye of poor stead, do not invoke my ire; remove this item from my head, and consume it with fire."

The teleporter flew forwards and landed on the ground, burning up as it hit the ground.

The policeman was taken aback, and withdrew his sword instinctively. Mentally, the other personality opened a communications conduit.

"Alert. Require maximum support. Human with unknown abilities. Teleporter underwent self-combustion upon request of human."

"Acknowledged, sending Beta Police Team, keep all powers restricted. If required, send request. The age of Ano IR must be fulfilled!"

Kuno watched as the policeman verged between scared and calculating, "You appear to be in two minds, do you still wish to fight myself?" He pointed at the burnt teleporter on the ground, "This object is not of this era, where did you come across it?"

The policeman said nothing, just moving to one side slightly, blocking off the exit behind him.

"I shall assume your silence to be guilt if you do not speak within the next ten seconds."

The enemy just smiled as a large group arrived.

"Stand and fight!" A group of swordsmen spoke, simultaneously, which unnerved their object of anger.

"I will not fight you." Kuno drew his sword, "Stand down or face your doom."

Ignoring his threat, they charged towards him.

"Let me see... Ras Tel Ma Scir, Magister... No, too difficult... Avada Kedavra... No, too lethal." He thought briefly, "I need help with these poor innocents..."

Ducking back as the numbers grew to several dozen, Kuno smiled.

"This may do..." He held the sword up, his lightning veins glowing blue, "By the powers that be," The sword swirled with blue energy, draining from the veins, moving like a tornado around it, "On a path to the North, deliver my missive; to where Ryoga set forth, do not be derisive."

The swordsmen unbeknownst to the incoming attack, continued their charge without question.

That moment
Elsewhere

In a darkened alley, a figure flickered into being, and a person stood there, clad in her kimono.

Walking forwards, the red hair caught the beams of light as she walked into the crowds, passing by other people who watched her carefully, before a look from her got their attention, and a hidden communication was sent and received.

Smirking widely, Ranma went to where she last saw the Doctor, the forehead zipper completely hidden from human sight.

-
Author's Notes

Yes, I updated this story, life has been very busy for the past year, I hope to continue all my stories one day. Problem is the time to write, and the fact I'm writing my own book which I plan to get published one day.

Overall, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, short as it was compared to the previous one.

I do intend on finishing this story, just bear with me, time is of no object (ironic given the crossover).

- J