Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ The Chosen One: Sidestories ❯ Side Story 0-2: One with the Water ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

The Chosen One

Chapter 5

By: Angel Princess of Heavens

Author's Ramblings:

This is Morning Dew's story. Thank you for all those who have
faithfully reviewed my story. I'm so sorry that I haven't posted in a
while. It's been very hectic lately. I'll try to be more diligent!

Disclaimers: I don't own Ranma , so don't sue me... I also don't own
any of Housman's works.

Amidst the Water...

Morning Dew glanced up toward the blue sky.

"Angel, where are you???"

She looked left and right to find her mistress. She crouched and
touched one of the bushes.

"You there... Did Angel pass here?"

At her command, a strange aura enfolded the bush and surrounded her
hand.

"She was with WHO?"

With an enraged cry, Morning Dew jumped into the river. Running in the
swift current she headed toward the hill and pounced on the two
figures.

"ANGEL!"

As she was hanging onto Akane's neck, she glared at Tsuki.

"You go and protect pig-boy, Tsuki. Angel's mine."

At her fierce comment, Tsuki smiled wryly.

"Geez, Morning Dew. Stop with the possessiveness already."

Morning Dew stuck her tongue out at Tsuki and stared adoringly at
Akane. Akane turned to her and smiled gently. Tsuki gave Akane one
last glance and summoned his wings.

"I guess I'll look for Ryouga."

As Tsuki flew away, Morning Dew loosened her grasp on Akane.

"Angel, you know better than going off by yourself."

"Morning Dew, when will you stop getting over-protective? You're worse
than onii-chan."

"Well such a kawaii girl like you should have all the protection you
can get."

"You know I can take care of myself."

"I know, Angel. But I swore I'll protect you."

"Hmmm? To whom?"

At Akane's curious, innocent expression, Morning Dew smiled.

"No one..."

And closed her eyes at the memory.

~*~

It was so long ago... that day I met him, your father. Yet I remember
every detail, every sound. Because it was the same year SHE died. And
I did swear, my little Angel. To protect you, because in you, I saw
HER. The same person... my beloved twin sister...

~*~

"Sea Angel!"

A six year old Morning Dew gleefully jumped up and down as she waved
at her twin sister. With matching pale blue skin and delicate
features, the two girls were exactly the same. The only difference was
that Morning Dew had long dark blue hair and ice-blue eyes and Sea
Angel had light green hair and dark green eyes. The twin clapped their
hands together. They were orphans and lived in the Blossoms Orphanage
as long as they could remember. Neither of them were lonely, though.
They had each other.

"Morning Dew, what's wrong?"

Sea Angel fingered a small bruise starting at Morning Dew's arm.

"Nothing. Some guys were being jerks so I decided to teach `em a
lesson. Boy, did I give it to them."

"Morning Dew. You know you can get into a lot of trouble if you keep
fighting."

Admonishing her twin sister, Sea Angel reached into her little pouch
and gently rubbed a bit of salve in the bruise. Soon the bruise
disappeared.

"There, all better."

"So what happened?"

"Hmmm?"

"Why did the doctor call you?"

A shadow passed by Sea Angel's face.

"Nothing... Just a routine check-up. Morning Dew, you have to promise
me, you have to learn how to control your temper."

"Geez, okay, little sister."

"Hey, I'm not that much younger than you!"

"You're still younger than me. But I'm not worrying. Even if I keep
fighting, you'll always be there for me to patch me up, ne?"

Sea Angel smiled.

"Of course."

~*~

"In this condition, it's hard for her to live."

"Oh, doctor."

"The disease already spread to her vital organs."

Morning Dew's eyes widened with fear. She burst in through the door.

"What do you mean?! What do you mean, she's not going to live?!"

In a rage, she rushed toward the silent doctor and started pummeling
him with her little fists. The orphanage matron held her back.

"Oh, sweetheart, I told you to go to your room."

Morning Dew wildly shook her head.

"Where's Sea Angel? Where is she?!"

"Shhh... Calm down, honey. I'll take you to her."

Morning Dew followed the matron to a sterile, white room. Her twin
sister was lying among the tubes and beeping machines. She looked so
lifeless that it started to scare Morning Dew.

"Angel?"

Eyelashes fluttering, Sea Angel opened her clear green eyes.

"Hey..."

Sea Angel's voice was hoarse and soft.

"Hi there, little sis."

"So... sorry..."

"What are you sorry about? There's nothing to be sorry about."

"Can't... stay... to patch... after fights... Break...promise..."

At Sea Angel's struggling voice, Morning Dew tearfully silenced her.

"What are you saying? You're not going to break any promises, because
you're not going any where. You're going to get better soon and then
you will be there to patch me up after my fights."

Morning Dew blinked away her tears. Sea Angel slowly shook her head.

"I...know...See... parents...Tell...about you..."

"Hey sis, you sure aren't going to see our parents any time soon. You
know how selfish I am. I want to have you to myself for a long, long
time... We're going to see our parents together after a few decades."

"Sorry... Wonder... how... they look... like... Wonder... if... they
loved... us?"

"They loved us, little sis. They loved us very much."

"I... love... you..."

"I love you very much, too, little sis."

"Love... so much..."

With a sigh, Sea Angel died that day. And Morning Dew died beside her.

~*~

"Morning Dew... someone's here to see you."

"Hai."

It was three months after Sea Angel's death, but to Morning Dew, the
pain was fresh and new as ever. She couldn't get rid of the sorrow or
loneliness that plagued her every moment of her life. She contemplated
following her twin, but each and every time she was about to grasp
that happiness, someone always interfered. Now they had her under
surveillance. They even tried to get her therapy, but stopped trying
when Morning Dew nearly suffocated the sixth therapist to death with
her bubble attack.

They don't understand anything. How it feels to be so lonely... How it
slowly chokes you that death will be better than this torture. They
don't know that I see Sea Angel every where I go. I'm so sorry, Angel.
I couldn't protect you. I have no purpose to live any more...I am not
alive...

Bitterly, Morning Dew contemplated the exact moment her sister died,
again. She relived each second, feeling the same helplessness, the
same despair. She broke out of her trance at the sound of the door
shutting. She realized that she was in a dark room, alone. Then, as
her eyes focused, she discerned a man sitting in an armchair. His
piercing gaze was staring into her eyes. Defiant nature flaring, she
stood stiffly.

"Hello, little one."

Silently, she examined the stately figure.

"My name is Tendo Soun... yours, little one."

"Stop calling me little one. I am Morning Dew."

"A pretty name for a pretty girl."

"What do you want?"

"I am here to open you locked door to your Destiny."

"Destiny?"

"Yes, the Fates have arranged a role for you."

Morning Dew smirked.

"There is no Destiny. There are no Fates. You cannot tell me there is
anybody arranging my life! You can't be serious."

"What happened, little one, that made you so bitter against fate?"

"If there are the Fates, how can they allow for my twin sister to be
taken away from me?! It is not fair!!! It's... not fair."

For the first time since her sister's death, Morning Dew started to
sob. They were harsh, loud sobs that racked her whole body. With tears
running down her face, she faced the stranger.

"How do you explain that? How do you?"

"I'm so terribly sorry, little one. But... there is another being you
have to protect... You do not belong here, you are one with the
water."

"Another?"

"Her name is Tendo... no, Hibiki Akane."

"Who is she?"

"My daughter."

Morning Dew turned and looked out the window. Another to protect...
Then, she thought her sister's clear voice say, Protect her... She
opened her eyes.

"Show her to me."

That was the last time she cried.

~*~

Soun brought Morning Dew to a small cave. As he beckoned toward a
pond, the waters rippled and an image surfaced. Morning Dew watched in
fascination as she looked into the image. It was a face of smiling
little girl. She was wildly spinning around a grass meadow, her short
blue-black hair fluttering in the breeze. A boy was next to her
stroking a wolf's fur. Morning Dew, sat back, slightly disappointed,
although she didn't realize why. Until she glanced into the girl's
warm golden eyes. The beautiful soul of those eyes... it reminded her
of Sea Angel. The tenderness and the fire combining together...
Morning Dew reached out a hand and touched the girl's face. The water
rippled under her fingers.

"It's her..."

Soun glanced down at the stunned water nymph. He smiled. He knew she
will become Akane's Destined Guardian.

~*~

For months, Morning Dew practiced her skills with the triton. She
focused her energies in the bubbles that could protect or kill. She
mastered her skills of communicating with any object, inanimate or
animate. The water became a part of her and she became a part of the
water. Slowly she began to heal, yet the image of her sister's face
followed her everywhere she went. And Akane's image also took a place
in her heart. She now had a purpose... and a person to love. She'll
never be lonely. And she awaited the fateful day when Tendo-sensei
will tell her, "It is time..." Tendo-sensei and she established a
comfortable relationship. Tendo-sensei never got too close to anybody,
so Morning Dew wasn't offended, but he seemed to welcome her spirit
and laughter in the empty, dark cave.

"Tendo-sensei, did you call me?"

"Hai, little one."

"What is it?"

"Soon, little one, you shall leave this place and protect her."

"Is it time?"

"Yes."

Morning Dew's face broke out into a smile.

"Morning Dew?"

"Hai."

"Your sister...will be proud of you."

"I know..."

With a sad smile, she left the room. Soun whispered tenderly and
sorrowfully after her,

"I'm so sorry, little one."

Morning Dew leaned against the closed door and closed her eyes.

"I forgive you... There was nothing you could do."

And she left behind a delicate blue blossom.

~*~

Morning Dew broke out of her memories and glanced at Akane. She had
sworn to her sister to protect her mistress and she will protect Akane
with her life if necessary.

"Angel..."

"Yes, Morning Dew?"

"AKANE!!!"

The two girls turned around to face a furious Ryouga.

"Nani, onii-chan?"

"There are four villagers who claim that they know you! What are they
doing here?"

Akane frowned slightly.

"Who can they be? Are they injured?"

"No."

"Well, let's get going then."

Morning Dew smiled at Akane and started to race toward the village,
staying near Akane's side.

I'm not lonely anymore, little sis. Wait for me...

She glanced at Akane through the corner of her eye. A small smile
formed on her lips.

I belong here for now.

~*~

Soun watched the three figures go, his eyes on the water nymph. He
fingered the blue blossom he carried around.

"Thank you for forgiving me, little one."

And he vanished back into the shadows, awaiting the doom that was
coming closer everyday.

~*~

Meanwhile...

"Lord Ranma."

"Nabiki. Did you find something?"

"I got very high energy and chi readings in a small mountain village.
It is highly unusual, sir."

"Oh?"

"Yes, sir. And the strange thing is that I could feel the spirits of
the immortal."

"Spirits?"

"There are more than one, sir."

"Hmmm... this is turning out to be fairly interesting."

"Yes, sir."

"Prepare the people. I shall be paying a little visit to this mountain
village."

"Yes, sir."

"Nabiki. Go see your family before this excursion. I have a feeling
it's going to last a while. Isn't it time you pay a visit to your
father and sister?"

Nabiki stiffened visibly.

"If you don't mind, sir. I prefer not to visit my family."

Ranma raised his eyebrows.

"Still haven't forgiven him? Nabiki, I would have thought you would
have forgotten by now... Am I that horrible?"

"I will never forget, sir."

Ranma smirked mockingly.

"Just like you, Nabiki. Now, leave. Don't disturb me."

Nabiki bowed and left the room, her face surrounded by an emotionless
mask, and shadowed by the darkness of the cave. She will never forgive
the one who shackled her into this bondage. She will never forgive the
one who gave her to the darkness as the Guardian. She will never
forgive Tendo Soun, her father. Never.

~*~

Narrowing her eyes at the moon, the old, wise oracle read the stars.
The four minor players were coming to play. She reached out to try and
touch two of the stars. These two were re-entering the game... She
closed her eyes.

"My poor, poor..."

She turned and left the night sky behind. In a strange, hollow voice,
she whispered.

"And there is nothing but the night..."

~*~

There, now you guys know why Morning Dew seems to be very clingy
toward Akane. I kind of wanted to let you guys see a different side to
Morning Dew. She's not the loud, hot-headed, tomboy you see. There's a
more serious side toward her. Next chapter: you discover who the four
villagers are... and Ranma comes to the peaceful mountain village. The
last line of this fanfiction is actually from a stanza from Housman. I
like this line, so I decided to use it. Read and Review, onegai~