Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A New Future 1 - Things Change ❯ Shattered Dreams ( Chapter 11 )

This is an alternate history (both the world in general and the Senshi in particular) continuation for both Sailor Moon and Ranma 1/2, set in a world with no space exploration, personal computers, cell phones, or anything else requiring a transistor. It is labeled hentai for the opening scene only (no lemons), and X for that scene and possible graphic violence later.

This was originally published by me under the name Anduril at Anime Addventures, with the only changes being a few corrections in spelling, punctuation and the occasional word choce and a very slight plot correction. If you like the beginning of my story but think I've gone off the rails, or have your own ideas for a great branch-off, or think I'm taking too long to update and want to continue the story yourself, come to Anime Addventures and join in the fun!

I claim no ownership rights to any of the works of Rumiko Takahashi, Naoko Takeuchi, or anything in the GURPS Ogre and GURPS Tales of the Solar Patrol settings published by Steve Jackson Games. Everything else is mine.

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Author's Note: I forgot to mention earlier, it's seemed odd to me that all the Senshi have Japanese names but Queen Serenity does not. So, according to the online English-Japanese dictionary “shizukeza” is Japanese for “serenity,” so for this story at least, that's the name of Ranma's and Usagi's mother.

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{... and then I returned while Xian Pu continued the surveillance,} Mu Tse finished his report where he and the aged matriarch were seated in the Cat Café's empty dining room, in their native tongue to cut down on the possibility of eavesdroppers, and Ku Lon nodded thoughtfully.

{So the princess is clear of all suspicion with the law,} she mused thoughtfully. {I am uncertain whether that is a good or bad thing — suspicion from the law could help send her to the village, but that could interfere with Lady Pluto's plans, and that is always ... chancy.}

The duck-cursed boy stared in confusion at his elder. {I don't understand. Isn't the princess the daughter of Lady Pluto's shield-friend as well as her liege? That's what you said to the princess.}

{And I did not lie,} Ku Lon agreed. {However, Lady Pluto has taken on the task of rebuilding civilization from the ashes of the Fall, and she is willing to allow horrible fates to come to those she loves if that is what the future calls for. As well, there are times that near-term pain leads to long-term happiness, and Lady Pluto is better than most at seeing what the long term will bring. Best to not get in her way if possible while fulfilling our duty.}

Mu Tse looked thoughtful and opened his mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by the sound of someone hammering on the door and the voice of Tatewaki Kuno demanding to be let in, in his usual flowery speech. Ku Lon shooed Mu Tse toward the door. “Let him in, we may as well get this over with,” she said with a sigh.

Mu Tse unlocked and opened the door, and Kuno strode in, the usual bokken strapped across his back, ignoring the one he considered a servant to focus on the Amazon matriarch sitting at the table in the middle of the room. “Agéd crone,” he intoned in his most sonorous voice, unconsciously striking a pose that he would have considered of noble bearing if he had been aware of what he was doing, “where have you secreted my loves? Tell me, for they will have need of my presence to gladden their hearts and uplift their spirits in this, their time of need!”

Ku Lon shook her head ruefully. “I must say, your ability to say things like that with a straight face is very impressive,” she allowed. “But I expected you some time ago, you've been delayed.”

Kuno frowned with offended disgust. “I was held and questioned for some time by base-born peasants claiming the right to dictate my actions. I was strongly tempted to punish them as they deserved, but in the end decided to be magnanimous. But be warned, my magnanimity is at an end!”

Ku Lon shook her head again in reluctant admiration and motioned at the seat across from her. “Sit, there are things you need to know.”

Kuno stared at her for a few moments, then nodded and sat, not noticing Mu Tse moving to stand directly behind him. “Very well, a few minutes will make no difference. But be warned, as much as it would grieve me to strike one of your ancient years, punishment will be swift if you seek to prevent me in my quest!”

Mu Tse twitched, but Ku Lon just chuckled, then straightened and put on a sober expression. “Tell me, noble warrior, your family is of the most ancient blood, is it not?”

Kuno nodded proudly. “Indeed it is — there are families that may better us in wealth and power, but few that can do so in tales of valor and none in lineage. The Kuno line stretches back to the first arrival of our people to these sacred isles and beyond!”

The white-haired elder nodded in approval. “And that means that your family knows of the ancient stories, passed from parents to children, of the history of your people long forgotten by the masses of humanity except in part in the most ancient legends?”

Now, Kuno was glaring at Ku Lon in ill-concealed suspicion. “Yes-s-s-s,” he drew out slowly, “but such stories are not to be shared with the peasants that make up most of our society — not even with one of your years and skills.”

Ku Lon nonchalantly waved off the statement, reflecting on moments repeating themselves. “There is no need to share them with me, for I already know them. Tell me, young warrior, does the name of Princess Usagi mean anything to you? What of Princess Yasuko and Queen Shizukeza?”

Kuno froze, then lunged to his feet and reached for his bokken, only to find his arm pinned behind his back and the razor-sharp tip of one of Mu Tse's many daggers resting against his neck. Careful not to move, he glared down at Ku Lon. “Witch!” he spat out in impotent fury. “How have you learned those most sacred of names!?”

“Sit, child!” Ku Lon demanded, nodding at Mu Tse, who reluctantly released Kuno and stepped back (though keeping the dagger at the ready). A fuming Kuno retook his seat under Ku Lon's stern gaze, and she nodded. “Better. As for how I know those names, your ancestors weren't the only bodyguard regiment to fail in its duty four thousand years ago.”

With a gasp, the shocked kendoist asked, “You are the descendants of the Lost Ones?”

Ku Lon chuckled. “So, that is what you call us? Yes, we are — a few thousand of us left in the mountains of China.”

For a time, Kuno simply sat and stared at the tiny elder in awe, then rose and bowed deeply. “I did not know! Please, forgive any offense I may have given in my ignorance.”

“Sit, sit!” the now faintly embarrassed Ku Lon insisted, and the kendoist yet again took his seat, then frowned slightly at Ku Lon.

“While this is joyous news indeed,” he said, “why did you need to hinder my quest to tell me now?”

“Because,” Ku Lon replied with a sad smile, “I must tell you that your `quest' is over — your loves are beyond you. When Happosai sought to violate the pigtailed girl, the one you have labeled `the foul sorcerer' fought to prevent the assault. He failed, at the cost of his own life. But in his failure, he bought time for the pigtailed girl to awaken to her true destiny, and in her awakening kill her attacker.” Kuno drew in a shocked breath, and Ku Lon nodded. “Yes, she is Princess Yasuko, the one we have awaited these many centuries, and so as far above you as you are above the common herd and beyond your reach. But her awakening has been traumatic, and she will be withdrawing from Nerima seeking peace — and her newest handmaiden, Akane, will most likely be leaving with her.”

For a time Kuno simply sat, tears streaming down his face. Finally, he rose and bowed to the ancient matriarch. “My thanks for your words, however painful the knowledge they bring might be. But, if my loves are beyond my reach, I shall at least offer my services as a guardian for these most precious of maidens on their travels.”

Ku Lon shook her head regretfully. “It shames me to have to refuse such loyalty, but at this time men are the last thing she wants around her, and she already has bodyguards.”

The tall kendoist frowned down at Ku Lon, crossing his arms across his chest. “To date, you have manifestly failed in that task. Why should I trust you with it now?”

Behind him, Mu Tse's dagger twitched again as his face twisted in anger at the accusation, but Ku Lon remained calm. “Because, child, circumstances have changed. Before, the princess was unaware of her destiny and so would have rejected the protection we would have liked to give her. Until her memories awoke, not even Lady Pluto could intervene. But now she is awake, and will not escape our eye again.”

Kuno stared down at the tiny woman, again awestruck. “Lady Pluto!” he finally gasped out. “She is involved in this!?”

“Yes,” Ku Lon replied, “and has been these past two years. But until the princess awoke, even her hands were tied. But now she is freed to take a more active role in Princess Yasuko's life. I do not think you need to worry overmuch for the princess's safety.”

Kuno raised his eyes and stared at the wall behind Ku Lon for a time, then nodded. “You reasoning cannot be denied,” he admitted in a defeated tone, turning toward the door to the café. At the door he paused, then without turning around asked, “You will be with my ... with the princess and her handmaiden?”

“Yes, we will,” Ku Lon said softly, and Kuno nodded, straightening.

“Then let them know, that if ever they have need of my wealth, my blade, my life, they have but to ask — all that I have or am is theirs.” Without waiting for a reply he strode through the door and was gone.

Mu Tse stared at the now empty doorway. “That was actually sad, in a weird, twisted sort of way,” he mused, and Ku Lon nodded agreement.

“Yes, it was,” she said, “but we have other concerns now, and it is time for you to be returning to your post — Part-Timer.”

Mu Tse shook his head ruefully. I'm never going to get rid of that nickname, am I?” he complained as he disappeared into the back to the sound of Ku Lon's chuckles, and a few seconds later a duck flew across the room, out the door, and off toward the Tendo dojo.

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As Ukyo busied herself about the kitchen handling the dinner rush, she heard the door from the street open, and again stared over the counter, only to slump once more as another familiar face entered — a valued repeat customer, but not the face she was looking for. Then the chef caught a whiff of the beginning of smoke and rushed back to the stove to grimace at the sight of yet another okonomiyaki blackening around the edges. Sighing, she scraped it off the stove and flipped it into the garbage, and poured out the batter for a replacement — again.

As she carefully added the toppings, she glanced at the clock on the wall and found her vision growing blurry. He didn't come. The thought echoed through her mind on an endless loop, try as she might to force it away. He didn't come.

Angrily, she wiped at her eyes and slipped a finished order onto a plate and hit the ringer to alert Konatsu. It was Nabiki, she tried to convince herself, Ranma didn't know she'd been there that morning, hadn't known she'd fought to keep Kuno away from him, didn't know how much she was worrying about him! But all along, Nabiki's words sat in the back of her mind, laughing at her — And that's why he hasn't been by to see you since, right?

The gorgeous crossdresser she employed as a waitress (in appearance, at least) stepped up to the counter and took the order, and Ukyo gave him a bright smile at odds with the tears slowly trickling down her cheeks and Konatsu returned her smile, only to have the smile change into a worried frown as soon as he turned back into the dining room. He pasted the smile back on as he placed the plate in front of an eager customer, stopped by a booth to apologize to yet another customer for a late meal, hurried over to the newest customer. Placing the new order up for Ukyo, he paused for a moment to glance at the front door. Where are you, Ranma? he thought with an indecipherable mix of pity, happiness, and shame.