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"She's beautiful." Ranma said with a smile on his face. He traced his fingers down her cheek and held Kima's hand tightly.
The woman was currently laid down on their bed, sweat covering her body after the long exertion. She had a smile plastered on her face and tears running down her cheeks as she examined her treasure. "Yes, she is."
During the last couple of weeks the fighting had somewhat stopped. It seemed like word got out of Ranma's and Nodoka's skill during the fight that night, and neither the Musk nor the Amazons were attacking on a daily basis now. It seemed like the elder Ranma had killed was one of the most proficient at fighting, yet the martial artist had taken her down easily. Too easily.
Nodoka's decision to let the others leave proved to be valuable. The Amazon warriors returned to their home telling stories of doom about the 'God Slayer' and the 'Sword Mistress.' An Amazon catching sight of Nodoka close to the front line stopped one of the night attacks instantly.
Even if Saffron had been heavenly pissed at Ranma for disobeying a direct order he inwardly thanked the warrior for this respite for his people. Most of the injured had recovered, and the soldiers were getting intensive training in preparation for the rain season. His wrath was also subdued somewhat by Kima's announcement that night. The young noble couple would be leaving the mountain in a couple of months to try and regain their focus. Saffron was sure they would succeed, but the problem was how long it would take them.
If news spread that Ranma and Kima were no longer in the mountain the attacks would resume with increased intensity. If they didn't get a chance to retain their control chances were they could attack their own allies, and quite possibly destroy half the mountain. It was a no win situation they were in.
And all that led to now. Kima gave birth to a girl both decided to name Karmine, in honor of her grandmother.
As the baby slept peacefully in Kima's arms Ranma sat next to his wife. What he was feeling right now he didn't understand. He had thought about being a parent. Hell, he had several months to prepare himself for it. Yet here he was, experiencing feelings he didn't know he had. Just watching at the little bundle in Kima's arms and knowing she was the result of their love. It seemed like everything else didn't matter, and at the same time it did. He promised himself then and there that he would see to it that his daughter grew up happy. And that meant with no Amazon or Musk threat. "I'm not leaving only to learn to control myself."
Kima nodded to her husband's words. "Neither am I." She would become stronger. Strong enough to destroy the Amazons if that was what it took. She would make sure Karmine had what she herself lacked, a loving family that supported her. She would also protect this little part of her from any harm, and that meant dealing with this war. This she swore in the name of Saffron.
In a silent understanding Ranma and Kima remained where they were, unmoving. Their eyes looking at only one thing, the most precious little thing they had ever set their eyes upon.
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"How are they?" Taro asked Nodoka.
Genma, Nodoka, Mouse, Pa Fum, Taro, Silgad. They all were in Kima's quarters just outside of the bedroom. Even if they were dying of curiosity about the newborn baby they respected the couple's privacy.
All Samando had told them before going to Saffron was that both the baby and Kima were in perfect health. Nodoka had been selected by the group to enter the room.
"They are still staring at her." She said keeping her voice down.
Taro snorted. "Who would have thought fem-boy for the contemplative type? I thought he couldn't pay close attention to anything but fighting."
"Look who's talking." Pa Fum sarcastically said. In the time she had spent here she had gradually started to fit in with the group. Kima had helped her enormously with her weapon training even if the winged woman couldn't practice at all. Ranma usually sparred with her and congratulated her on her progress on a regular basis. Mouse was by her side whenever she needed someone to talk to. Silgad accepted her and introduced her to some of the other soldiers in the front line. After the first couple of clashes with the Musk she was accepted as another soldier without question. Nodoka seemed to like babying her, and even if she denied it Pa Fum liked the attention. Genma was a great help in her midair skills, even if he usually made some demeaning comments about her martial arts. She understood after a while that he was like that with everyone. That was his way of motivating people.
Taro was a special case, though. After the initial uncomfortable atmosphere around the two, both had resorted to insulting and teasing the other. Even if it wasn't anything serious they had sometimes nearly come down to blows, a confrontation Pa Fum knew she couldn't win. She recognized Taro as a great fighter, and that made her smile mockingly. She loved the look on his face when she reminded him that Ranma always beat the crap out of him in sparring. Taro had an ego big enough to match his prowess in martial arts.
Back to the present, she was rewarded with a glare from Taro. She just smiled back, glad to have the upper hand this time.
"Children." Nodoka said as she exaggerated a sigh. Taro and Pa Fum crossed their arms and humped as the others chuckled at their expense.
"I don't know what's so funny about it." Taro said as he turned and left the room. Kima and the baby were alright. He could return to his daily activities without worrying.
Mouse stopped laughing and said. "As much as I want to remain here, I have important things to do. Please congratulate Kima and Ranma on my behalf." And with that he followed Taro out of the room.
Silgad and Pa Fum left as well, leaving only Genma and Nodoka in the room. "We're getting old, grandmother." Genma said to his wife as he put his arms around her.
Nodoka returned the embrace. "Indeed we are, grandfather. Indeed we are."
"You do realize your being grandparents changes nothing, right?" A male voice was heard. Both Saotomes turned to see their son. He was currently sporting the biggest grin on the face of the Earth. "Would you like to see little Karmine?" He hadn't even stopped talking when Nodoka and Genma were already past him and next to Kima. He smiled as he heard both adults fussing over his little girl. *My little girl. I can definitely get used to that.* He thought as he walked out of the room and down the hall towards the training area. *I promise you, Karmine. Your old man is gonna become stronger to defeat anything that threatens you.*
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All too soon three months passed. Kima recovered in a couple of days and by the end of the week she was sparring with Ranma to catch up with him. Both spent all of their time either in the training hall or with their daughter.
Both knew the time for them to leave was getting closer, and it was only through a will of steel that they didn't back down. They understood leaving Karmine would be very difficult, but the consequences of not doing so would be something even worse.
The rain season arrived shortly after Karmine's birth, and with it the renewed attacks by the Amazons and Musk. They seemed to think they had the advantage now that the Phoenix people didn't have wings. That hope was quickly and efficiently crushed when they made a joint effort to breach the Phoenix front line. With Kima back by his side both Ranma and her joined the defenders. Genma, Nodoka, Taro, Pa Fum, Mouse. They all formed a small assault group. Many Amazon and Musk warriors lost their lives that night.
Not that they fought alone, but they attacked the opposing leaders, effectively cutting off the enemys head, so to speak. After that the invading troops were forced back. All their skill and power in the martial arts did no good against a well organized attack from Saffron's subjects. The Amazons returned to their village and the Musk returned to their Citadel, defeated.
Right now, Kima and Ranma were out on a terrace saying their good-byes to their friends and daughter. Karmine was held closely by a crying Kima, who couldn't help but smile as the little one reached up and pulled her mother's hair.
Karmine inherited Kima's wings and silver hair, while she had Ranma's blue eyes and features. The baby had brought a great joy to the noble Phoenix woman, and it was because of that very same joy that she could part from her daughter today.
Ranma placed a hand on Kima's shoulder. "It's time." This wasn't any easier for him than it was for his wife, but he knew that if he didn't leave right this instant he wouldn't be leaving at all.
Kima nodded and handed a protesting Karmine to Nodoka. "Please, take care of her." She pleaded of her mother-in-law.
Nodoka hugged the baby close and nodded. "Just be sure to return for her. She needs her parents." Just at that moment a light rain started to fall. Not much but enough to activate several Jusenkyo curses.
Kima smiled at seeing they were suddenly in the company of a panda and a duck. She turned back to Nodoka and said. "Better take her inside. I don't want her to get a cold."
Nodoka nodded and smiled. "Take care of each other and good luck." With that she turned around and entered the halls. Kima's eyes never left her until she completely vanished from sight. She remained looking in that direction until she was called out of her trance by Saffron.
"What are your plans, Kima? We don't know how long it'll take you to reach your goals." The king said. He knew perfectly well that time wasn't on their side.
Kima lowered her eyes and answered. "I'm sorry, Lord Saffron. I can't answer your question because I myself don't know the answer. I can only promise you that we'll be back as soon as possible."
Saffron nodded with a small smile. "Take good care of your husband. You and I both know how reckless he can be."
This brought a smile to the silver-haired woman's lips as she turned to look at her husband, who was right now talking to Taro. Listening in to the conversation were Mouse, Genma, Pa Fum and Silgad.
Taro shook Ranma's hand. "Be sure to return, fem-boy. I'll be training the entire time to finally beat the crap out of you."
Ranma flashed his friend a cocky grin. "You can try."
Finally the time came to leave. Having said their good-byes to their friends, Ranma lifted a huge backpack and slung it over his shoulder. Without another word he jumped over the edge.
Kima jumped right after him. Very soon all the present could see as Kima flew away with Ranma on her back. The rain intensified as the couple got further away, until they could no longer be seen. Each of the observers sighed, knowing difficult times were ahead. "Good luck." One of them said under the rain, the sound of the words lost under the thunderous rain pouring from the dark skies.
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Kima flew forward against the strong winds. The rain hardly bothering her as she flapped her wings to reach even higher speeds. She strained her body to the maximum to try and override the feeling of emptiness that tortured her. Her green eyes set on the horizon, on the destination they had chosen to serve as training grounds.
Ranma frowned, knowing what Kima must be feeling right now, as he was feeling the same way. The fact that he knew there was nothing he could do to alleviate their pain was what frustrated him more. As he felt the wind force increase he tightened his hold on his wife. He had to force himself not to look back towards the place where Phoenix Mountain was. A place he had come to call home, even if it had brought him so much pain.
Hours later, when they had left the area of the conflict, Ranma released his hold on Kima and let himself drop down. "Race ya." He said just as he started falling. Kima smirked and speeded up, knowing she needed to take every second available if she wanted to beat her husband.
And so both husband and wife let their minds concentrate solely on the task of covering the most ground possible. Kima would take advantage of all the air currents, or in their absence put an extra burst of power to her wings. Ranma would study the terrain miles in front of him to take the easiest route, straining his leg muscles to the limit all the way.
They spent a couple of days like that, stopping only to rest as they either ate or slept. The distance they were able to cover was incredible, and they made a long journey in less than half a week. The forth day they woke up to see they were about to reach the training grounds.
Ranma finished packing their things just as Kima returned from the small river, clean bowls on her hands. They both had stopped wearing their uniforms and were now clothed in their training outfits. The man smiled as he stood up and shouldered the backpack. Kima approached him and put the bowls in the pack. "We're almost there." Ranma said.
She adjusted the straps of the pack and started walking, Ranma by her side. They started climbing a mountain wall carefully, since a fall from here could mean death. The rocks down the mountain seemed as if someone had sharpened them like spears looking to the sky. Kima didn't fly to the place they were going because the air currents were quite treacherous in this area. Even if she could manage to reach the cave it would tax her greatly.
Ranma found no more handholds within his reach and scanned the wall near him. Finding none he reached up and delivered a claw strike to the hard stone. His fingers penetrated the wall with ease and he tested his hold putting a little weight on his arm. Seeing the rock would hold he hoisted himself up.
Kima jumped back and flapped her wings to reach a protruding rock a few feet above her. That she couldn't fly didn't mean she couldn't use her wings to help in their ascent.
After almost an hour of this they finally reached a cave in the middle of the wall. They were currently a few hundred feet above the base of the mountain. Ranma pulled himself up and sighed, he reached down and took Kima's hand in his, pulling her up. "Finally." She said as she flexed her back, audible pops were heard and echoed from the inside.
After a few seconds of catching their breaths, and admiring the view they had of the valley down bellow, they turned around and started walking into the cave. Big enough to be like one of the halls in Phoenix Mountain and illuminated by a soft green glow emanating from the walls, the tunnel extended for a hundred yards. Not a sound was heard as they walked the distance to reach a circular chamber twenty feet in diameter.
The chamber glowed the same soft green, the difference being in the red symbol painted on the floor. Ranma and Kima stopped just before reaching it. "Are you ready?" Kima asked.
Ranma took Kima's hand in his. "Let's go." And with that they took a step forward. The red symbol started glowing, bathing the chamber in a warm light. The walls started sporting arcane runes in a language long forgotten. Slowly but surely, their vision started to blur until they couldn't recognize a thing. Their bodies felt lethargic as they were cut off of their senses one by one. Consciousness was the last thing to leave them.
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She opened her eyes slowly. "I'll never get used to that." She whispered as she sat up. A groan from the side called her attention. She turned to see Ranma getting back his senses. She smiled and stood up, studying her surroundings. *This place hasn't changed at all.* She thought.
They were in the middle of a large garden, the symbol formed by lines of differently colored grass. The place seemed to be well preserved, considering no one had been here for years. It was one of the things they found confusing about this training grounds. It was almost as if the place had a keeper, yet it didn't.
To the north of the garden was a small building used as living quarters. Everything else was used for different kinds of training. Beyond the rock wall was a dense forest as far as either one had seen. They hadn't left the training grounds, though. There was a warning from ancient times not to enter the forest or face peril beyond imagination. No one knew what that meant, but it would be tempting fate to try and find out.
Ranma and Kima regarded the place, memories from their times together here warming their hearts. They slowly made their way to their room and unpacked, never breaking the silence that seemed to rule the place. It wouldn't remain that way for long.
All the food they would need could be taken from a small part of the grounds that held several trees with unknown fruits. It wasn't much but for two people it was enough. There was also a small river that crossed the garden. Ranma and Kima did speed training fishing with their hands without getting wet.
Once they were done settling in they headed for an open area with stone floor. "How should we approach this?" Ranma asked. Truth be told, he didn't have a clue about what to do.
Kima turned to him, an expression that mirrored his own on her face. "We should probably just remove the limiters and work from there." She knew it sounded stupid, but she was in no way an expert when it came to spiritual training, which was what Samando told them they lacked.
Ranma nodded, taking a step forward and pressing several points on his wife's body just as she did the same. What happened next neither of them was prepared for.
Their minds were filled with conflicting thoughts in a whirl of emotions. Their contact with the real world was drastically turned upside down as they had to fight to remain in control of their own bodies.
Ranma staggered to the side, trying to regain his balance that had all but gone to hell. He felt angered by this, even if he consciously knew he shouldn't be angered.
Kima's body exploded in pain as she gritted her teeth in an attempt to remain conscious. Her fists clenched tightly as her vision turned red with the desire of destruction. After all if there was nothing else she wouldn't be hurt by it, wouldn't feel any more pain.
They both suddenly noticed they weren't alone. Their thoughts a mess and their vision clouded by anger they attacked each other. But this wasn't a fight of skill but a fight between mindless beasts. There were no attempts at defense at all, no skillful maneuvers, no use of weapons or anything else but their bodies.
Ranma charged forward and grabbed Kima by her hair, his other hand punching her in the face with a resounding smack. The silver-haired woman staggered back but recovered almost instantly and head-butted her husband. Blood spewed from his nose as she followed with a vicious kick to the groin.
Ranma gasped but he managed to deliver a punch to her throat before taking a few steps back to recover. Both fighters had difficulty breathing after such a short and simple exchange. What would have taken an hour of skillful maneuvers and debilitating strikes was accomplished with a couple of savage blows in a matter of a few seconds.
Blood lust still shining in their eyes, they charged one another in irrational fury.
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The place was a mess. Red stains of blood were seen all over, the floor was cracked in a lot of places, tattered remains of blood stained cloth were scattered in the entire area.
In one of the corners of the area Ranma and Kima were still trying to kill each other, though weakly now. They had somehow managed to tear their clothes apart, now only tattered rags hanging from their bodies uselessly as they didn't cover their modesty at all. They were severely bruised and had small cuts all over their bodies, which hinted to the fact that they had somehow accessed parts of the Nekoken in their primal rage.
Right now Kima was on top of Ranma punching him in the face with her left hand, or at least trying to do it. All she could do was lift her arm and let it drop on Ranma's bloodied face. Her right arm hung uselessly to her side as did one of her wings. Her jaw was swollen from a savage blow sometime during the carnage.
Ranma was in no better shape. His nose was a complete mess and his left eye was swollen shut. His left leg was bent in an unnatural angle. Even though he was in a lot of pain he was still trying to squeeze the life out of Kima as he had his arms around her, trying to crush her but just barely being able to keep his tired arms on her bare back.
Kima suddenly couldn't keep herself up anymore and fell over Ranma. Her head impacted with Ranma's own, sending them both to a well deserved unconsciousness. If not for all the blood that covered their bodies someone that saw them might think they were a couple tired after making love.
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Ranma woke up to a world of pain. *I hate it. I'm getting used to this.* His leg was killing him, he couldn't open his left eye and he couldn't breathe through his nose. All over his skin he felt a horrible ache, similar to the one he felt during the Nekoken training. He tried to get up but found there was a weight over his chest. Focusing his good eye he noticed it was his wife, or at least it appeared like it was Kima under all the blood. *What happened?* He asked himself. And try as he might, he couldn't come up with an answer. All he could do was guess they had fought each other until unconsciousness claimed them.
Kima felt as all her body protested painfully to her. She opened her eyes to find two Ranmas staring at her. Since she was laid on a man's chest she assumed she was simply seeing double. He was looking at her through his right eye, his left one swollen shut. She tried to get up, but as she moved her right arm pain shot through her shoulder and she ceased all movements. She moaned, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes again she could see Ranma looking at her worriedly. "I'm okay, love. Just a little sore." She said to erasure him.
Ranma heard the words and he suddenly found himself laughing his heart out. The burning pain in his ribs didn't stop his mirth as a confused Kima eyed her husband worriedly, wondering if he had somehow gone insane. After a few more seconds of that Ranma managed to control his laughter to a chuckle and he explained to his wife. "When was the other time you said those exact same words to me?"
Kima blushed not two seconds after he asked that. She laughed together with him at the memory. "When getting dressed after our first night together." She answered trying to reign over her embarrassment.
They remained where they lay for a bit longer before starting the strenuous task of getting up and setting the broken bones back in place. More than one cry of pain escaped their lips. They had an incredible healing factor, yet they needed to reset the bones for them to heal correctly. One of the most painful bones to reset was the one of her right wing.
When they finished they were once again breathing hard, yet now they were in sitting positions. Ranma suddenly sobered and said. "I'm glad we didn't do this back home."
Kima leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. What happened today both horrified and calmed her. She had just attacked Ranma with the intent to kill, that she didn't accomplish it did little to diminish the fear or the guilt. But this also proved their decision to leave everyone, even their daughter, behind was the right one.
They remained where they sat for hours, thinking what to do next. They had their control back, but they didn't know for how long. Fear of actually managing to kill each other gripped them in a tight hold.
It didn't matter right now. All that mattered was that they were together and they had taken the first step on a difficult road. And the first step was always the hardest one to take.
Wasn't it?
END PART 13 |
