Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sealed Past ❯ Chapter 19 ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter 19

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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“Tell me again why you're coming with me while I have my `talk' with Shampoo?” Ranma asked as he escorted Kagome to the Nekohanten.

 

“From what you've told me about Shampoo is that she has a very strong sense of honour, especially towards her family. So the way to deal with this fiancée thing is not through her, herself, but the matriarch she answers to, her great-grandmother.” Kagome explained with a mysterious smile, “And I've got an edge that will simplify things nicely.”

 

Ranma shook his head in bafflement, privately wondering just what trick she had up her sleeve.

 

“Airen!” Shampoo squealed excitedly as Ranma stepped through the door, but barely suppressed a hiss of outrage when she saw that he was accompanied by a strange woman. “Who's she?”

 

Ranma merely grunted, “Shampoo, where's Cologne?”

 

“Airen wish to speak with great-grandmother?” Shampoo said wide eyed.

 

Ranma nodded curtly.

 

A huge smile broke across Shampoo's face. The Amazon nodded enthusiastically as she latched onto his arm and dragged him to her family home above the café. “Great-grandmother! Airen speak with you!”

 

“Mukodono[1],” the Amazon elder greeted warmly as her great-granddaughter dragged him into her spell room. “Nii hao[2], who is this mukodono?”

 

“Cologne, this is Higurashi Kagome and would it be possible we talk about something without Shampoo or Mousse?”

 

Cologne suppressed the urge to frown. Higurashi… that name was important, very important. Eyeing the cool, composed woman who stood patiently at Ranma's side, a premonition shivered up her spine. “Of course, Xian-pu[3], you and that boy take care of the café while I talk with Ranma.”

 

“B-but—” Shampoo protested in confusion.

 

“Go child!” Cologne ordered as she made a shooing motion with her hand. “Please, have a seat.” She gestured to her two guests, her unease becoming more pronounced when Ranma actually insured his companion's comfort before sitting beside her.

 

“Elder Cologne, as Ranma has said, my name is Higurashi Kagome and I recently corresponded with you about an exorcism for a Jusenkyo Curse.” Kagome began.

 

Cologne nodded sagely, now she remembered, but there was something else… “Ah, so you are the priestess that contacted me. You performed exorcism? It successful?” She had attempted her own exorcism on her great-granddaughter but had not had the power capable for the spell to be successful.

 

The woman nodded. “Yes, it was successful. Ranma no longer has his Jusenkyo Curse or any other.”

 

Cologne felt her eyes widen, “Such power in one so young.” She murmured, thinking furiously. There was something else that was teasing her mind. And her sinking feeling of doom deepened.

 

“Yes, well I am the Shikon-Priestess.”

 

Cologne nearly fell out of her seat. The Shikon-Priestess?! What was the woman who was called the Queen of the Priestesses doing performing a mere exorcism? And if the spell was successful, then what was she still doing with Ranma?

 

“However, during the exorcism the soul memory seal that all humans have was destroyed by the complex spell. And Ranma's previous lifetimes were revealed to him.”

 

Cologne tisked, this was not a very good thing. It caused a great deal of confusion in one's spirit.

 

“Elder Cologne, I would like for you to look at his spirit now.”

 

Casting a glance of curiosity at the priestess, she did so, slipping into the Third Eye trance that allowed all magic users to see a person's true self.

 

“Aye-yah!” She screeched as her eyes flew open in shocked fear. “He's a demon!”

 

“Demon souled,” Kagome corrected, “Yes in his previous life he was a half-breed dog demon.”

 

“But that is impossible! Demon souls can not be reborn in a human body!”

 

“I don't believe you were listening to me,” Kagome reprimanded gently. “I said he was a half-breed, thus his soul is capable of being born into either race.” She waited patiently for the elder Chinese woman to regain her equilibrium before continuing. “I would like you to take another, deeper look please Elder.”

 

Cologne took a fortified breath and allowed her senses to awaken on the metaphysical realm once again. This time she had previous warning, so was not surprised by the overwhelming demonic soul that was now awakened within her son-in-law's body. As the priestess had requested, she probed deeper, looking past the obvious. Trying to ignore when the demon soul poked back.

 

What she saw surprised her as badly as the demon soul. Ranma's soul was what romantics would call `soul-bonded' with another. But what the supernatural bond was, was a union of souls chosen by the very Gods themselves. Not human convention. Two separate souls mended into a new soul and then divided between two bodies. And it was with who the other half of this soul resided that upset her deeply.

 

“You are a single soul,” Cologne said flatly as she returned to the physical plane. “Bound by your very souls, promised beyond death, you can love no other. No wonder none of my potions or spells worked. He was already sworn to another.”

 

“Yes Elder Cologne and that is why I request that, as a prior claim that can not be disputed has been made, that your great-granddaughter, the Chinese Amazon Shampoo cease her pursuit of Ranma as her husband.”

 

“And if I do not?” Cologne questioned. Even if they were soul bound, as this priestess was not of the tribe there was still a possibility of her great-grandchild's success.

 

“Do so, or be foresworn,” Kagome replied evenly as she held out a medallion towards the Chinese woman.

 

Cologne felt her world tilt on its axis. That medallion was one of only five that had been given throughout the tribe's existence to honorary sisters—sisters that were Elders of Elders. Two had been given centuries ago to a priestess who hunted the Shikon-no-Tama and the other to the demon slayer that had begun the fighting arts for the tribe.

 

Why had she not made the connection? Higurashi… it was also the name of one of their founding women—the priestess that had trained the tribe's foremothers in magic. And this woman was something neither mortal man nor immortal demon could ever hope to stand against. For some would say she was a goddess given a physical form.

 

“I see we are in agreement then?” Kagome said with a bland smile as she tucked the medallion back away.

 

Cologne nodded solemnly, “Yes my Lady-Elder, I shall see to it that Xian-pu ceases her pursuit of your soul-half.”

 

“Good then, I hope you have a good evening then and I hope you enjoy your journey home.” Kagome said formally as she stood and accompanied by Ranma she left.

 

For long moments the Amazon Elder stared without sight into the empty space before her. That fire, skill and tenacity had not quite been lost to the tribe. But the honour of his marriage was not to be bestowed upon their house lineage. Perhaps it was for the best…. For it was obviously not meant to be. And the Lady-Elder Shikon-Priestess was right. It was now time to return home.

 

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Footnotes:

[1] Mukodono: (Cantonese) son-in-law

[2] Nii hao: (Cantonese) hello

[3] I've had conflicting reports of the `correct' way to spell Shampoo's name in Chinese. I initially had it spelled Xian-pu, then a reader told me the correct version was Shan-pu and now I've gotten Xian-pu again! Argh. So I'm switching back to Xian-pu for what I've been able to track down, Xian-pu is the most common way to spell Shampoo's name in Chinese hence my usage of it once again. But if anyone reading this is fluent in Cantonese, please tell me which way to spell it!