Oh My Ranma ½!
The Improbable Goddess
Stared: 15Jul05
Finished: 05Aug05
By Ozzallos

Chapter SEVEN

Ranma found her friends staring at her as if they had seen a ghost. Or maybe not a ghost, she amended, since they probably saw those all the time. "Well that was fun."

Belldandy nodded. "Um, Ranma… We need to talk."

"Of course." She replied amiably. "What's on your mind?"

"The question really is," Urd interjected, "What's on your mind."

Ranma thought about it for a moment. "Hmm… I think I'm just going nuts."

"You're so calm about it," Skuld observed dryly.

Ranma patted the teen on the head with a smile. "That's exactly how I know!"

"How long have you been holding this back?" Belldandy asked, touching Ranma lightly.

Another pause. "Since the day I realized I couldn't change back." Ranma clutched her head as if she had a headache. "And I'm trying to keep control. FIGHTING TO KEEP CONTROL." Her voice raised from a calm feminine demeanor to aggravation.

Belldandy pulled her close. "It's not something to be controlled, Ran-chan. It just is."

"But I'm losing me…" Ranma gritted her teeth. "I'm a guy up here but a girl down there… And I can feel the girl… SNEAKING IN…"

"How so?" Urd tentatively asked, hoping to get a clearer picture of the problem.

A strained grin crept across the tortured redhead's face. "You're right, for example… He is cute." Urd shot a sidelong glance to the defeated Amazon boy now being carried off. Ranma's hand clutched her head again. "That's just NOT the right thing to think!"

Urd took Ranma from her sister to face her. "Ranma? Listen to me." Slowly Ranma stopped clutching her head. The strain was still evident in her face, however. "Do you trust me?" Ranma nodded ever so slightly. "Because right now, I absolutely need you to trust me. Can you do that?" A single tear rolled down Ranma's cheek. Another nod.

"Good. Let me tell you a story... It's about a little girl named Urd. Little Urd wanted to be a goddess very badly, but she had a dark side. A demonic side, in fact." The woman she was holding stilled. "Both sides fought in her mind. Lashed out. Raged from one extreme to another. Much like you. It was a constant tug of war, and like you, it began to take its toll. Two people can't live in the same body, Ranma, and that's what we were doing. I did it then and you're doing it now. We put so much pressure on one end of the scale that the other becomes unbalanced and goes berserk. Soon it becomes unbearable and comes back down again even harder than before. The cycle repeats until we crack. Does that make sense?"

Ranma nodded, sorrow and tears still in her eyes, but she held eye contact. "Only by opening myself to both sides was I able to still the madness. Only by not forcing one side or the other was I able to achieve some measure of peace. Both had to give ground, but neither was extinguished. Instead, they became whole. Complete. Are you willing to give that a try, Ran-chan?"

"Y-Yes." She sniffled. "I think so…"

"The male in you is going to have to give ground to find peace." Urd warned. "Can you do that?" A silent nod. "Likewise, the female you are won't have total reign either. You must become one person. It won't happen over night. You will have urges, but you can't suppress them. Control them, yes. Shape them, yes. Recognize and acknowledge their existence, yes. But you cannot under any circumstances shut them out."

"It… It will take some getting used to." Ranma admitted shakily. "I'm still scared I'll be washed away."

Belldandy stroked her hair gently. "That can never happen Ran-chan. That is your very being. Your Soul. It can never be washed away,"

Ranma stood up a little straighter with her words. "R-Really?"

"Promise."

Ranma took both their hands with a weak smile. "Thank you… Onee-chans."

---

Nabiki peeked into the dojo silently, looking for a certain redhead who had yet to come for breakfast. Sure enough, Skuld and Akane were right; Their sensei had dismissed them from practice, with a promise to join them at the table later. The middle sister was once again in information gathering mode. The goddesses had not gotten home until late last night, and when they did, they seemed to be sheltering a very fragile looking Ranma. Now she sat in the middle of the dojo mat, eyes glued to the ground in front of her. Nabiki focused on the same spot …It was a ten yen piece. What was she…

"Spying again?" Ranma's voice broke her attention from the coin to the redhead's neutral stare.

"Well, you came home late last night and you never miss breakfast…" Nabiki ventured, stepping into the dojo. She didn't add exactly what she saw. "What gives?"

Ranma's eyes returned to the coin in front of her. "Just have a lot on my mind."

"I can imagine…" The sister replied softly, then realized in surprise that she was actually sympathizing with Ranma. It was getting harder not to, she thought, especially after seeing her condition last night.

Ranma looked up at Nabiki. She knew. Probably not about her breakdown last night, but she knew a whole lot more than she should. "You going to sell that information too?"

Nabiki winced. "Um…." Ranma snorted her gaze returned to the coin. A change of subject was in order. "What's with the coin?" Ranma remained silent, fixated on the disk. Nabiki laughed softly, breaking her concentration. "Honestly, I don't know how much information I can continue to sell on you. It's all getting just too weird."

She stared at the Tendo's smile. Was that her way of declaring a truce? Or a trap? Ranma decided to step a bit out on faith. She picked up the thin coin and flipped it into the air. "Heads." She stated before it landed in her waiting palm. Nabiki took a few steps closer and sure enough, it was. Ranma flipped the coin again. "Heads." Nabiki smiled. Right again. Lucky. Ranma knew what she was thinking, and flipped the coin again. "Tails." The sister blinked. It was. Again.

She eyed the sitting girl warily. "A martial arts trick." Ranma smiled, shaking her head and then tossed the coin to her. Nabiki flipped it this time.

"Heads." She flipped it again. "Tails." And again. "Tails." Flip. "Heads." Flip. "Tails." Flip. "Tails." She stared at Ranma who simple smiled back. An evil grin crept across Nabiki's face and she threw the coin across the dojo where it bounced off the wall and skittered around on the floor. Ranma was looking at her the entire time with that smile. "Heads." The coin came to a rest several feet away and the sister walked over to collect it. She stopped just as her fingers were about ready to pluck it from the ground. Heads.

Her head whipped around to Ranma, whose smile had already spread wider. "All right, Saotome what gives?"

The redhead held out her hand her smile instantly dissolving into seriousness. "2000 yen." Nabiki was seriously considering the offer when the smile reappeared. She obviously had no intension of enforcing it. Nabiki sat by Ranma as she explained, "I don't know how to explain it, but I can see what it's going to be. No matter how much it tumbles and bounces, I know how it's going to land the moment it leaves your fingers."

"And how long has this been…"

"I started to notice it yesterday, but really didn't know what I was seeing until practice this morning." Ranma elaborated. "I found myself predicting random events, such as how Skuld's hammer would rebound and how the pieces of Akane's broken cinder blocks would fall." Nabiki nodded. It was tough to believe, but what she said next was even more unbelievable. "I think I can even influence those outcomes." Ranma added quietly.

It had always been a given that Nabiki's mind worked like a steel trap, and the moment of disbelief she experienced upon hearing that last sentence quickly dissolved into absolute clarity as several pieces of information clicked. "Of course you can predict my coin tosses," She said with confidence, now that all of those facts had pointed to one inescapable conclusion. "You're the Goddess of Luck after all, right? I'll bet predicting coins is child's play compared to what you can really do. I can't say I'm surprised you didn't realize it sooner considering all you've been going through and especially after last nig--" She stopped herself with Ranma's frown. She had just touched an open wound. "Um, look. I'm sorry. It's just…"

"Who else have you told?" Ranma asked, a hint of sorrow in her voice.

"Only Akane." She replied softly.

"Does she know anything about last night?" Ranma probed.

"N-No. I haven't told her." Nabiki didn't add that she had planned to.

"Please don't."

Nabiki regarded her silently. "Alright." Ranma's foreboding mood showed signs of lifting. "But on one condition. I get to train you."

Ranma's surprise was total. Nabiki? Train me? "I, uh, um, Why?"

The sister smiled coolly. "Because you're the Goddess of Luck. Statistics. Probabilities. Chance. Numbers play no small part in Luck, and while you may be a genius in Martial Arts, I'm the genius with numbers. The logical conclusion is that I train YOU in this area of your studies." Unasked questions were practically radiating from Ranma. "That, and I have my own reasons. You have your secrets, I have mine. Fair enough?" Ranma nodded. "Then I'll see you after school for your first lesson."

And with that, the two walked out together in an unlikely alliance.

---

CRACK!

The entire family jumped as a flash of light filled the dining room. Granted, such occurrences were becoming more and more commonplace, but lightning bolts in the back yard on a clear blue day weren't exactly everyday occurrences. Everybody rushed out to gather around the smoking crater, only to find out it wasn't a crater after all, but a tablet with strange writing on it.

Genma pointed at the smoldering block. "Eh, what's that?"

Belldandy knelt down. "A message from Kami-sama!" The entire family took a step back. As if the goddesses weren't enough, their courtyard had just been turned into sacred ground. "Oh my. Urd, Skuld, you'd better have a look at this…"

Urd looked down on it and took a step back as well. "A recall notice?"

"An investigation into the promotion of a mortal to First Class, Category One unlimited?" Skuld read the tablet in confusion. "B-But, I thought they were fine with it!"

Her older sister scowled. "Fine with the result but not how it occurred, I'll bet." She sighed. "Looks like we're leaving today. Sis, can you look after Ranma for me?" She left out the reasons she needed looking after due to the present company.

Belldandy smiled. "Of course."

"I'm not coming?" Ranma asked as Urd turned to leave. " I am, after all, the result of this mix-up."

Urd winked. "Sorry, kid, Invitation only. I'll be back before you know it."

Skuld gave Ranma a hug and jumped into the koi pond, vanishing. With one last look, Urd walked inside and vanished into the TV.

Ranma looked after them in concern, then to Belldandy. "What will they do in this investigation?"

Belldandy looked at Ranma. She really didn't want to tell her, because… "They will examine the case and determine if Urd and Skuld acted in a proper manner concerning your file."

"And if they decide they acted improperly?" Ranma pressed.

The goddess really didn't like where this was going. She knew Ranma and Urd shared a strong bond and that both would probably go to the ends of the Earth for the other. "They could easily find that their actions were correct, Ranma."

Nabiki, who had been listening to the entire exchange, walked to Ranma's side. "You're avoiding the question." Her support didn't go unnoticed by either Kasumi or Akane.

Belldandy sighed. "In the event that they do find wrong-doing, they would be… Punished." Something changed in Ranma's eyes. It was that something she was hoping to avoid.

"What sort of punishment?"

Belldandy looked down. "Anything from a simple reprimand to…" She hesitated. The look in Ranma's eyes… "To reduction of rank or even being barred from surface contact."

"But if they reverse me back to mortal…" Ranma stood, plainly stunned.

"Then you would never see her again."

Silence. A look of determination spread across her face. "Can I use the TV like Urd?"

"No, your transport medium is water, just like-" Belldandy realized she had just said too much. "Ranma, what are you planning to do?" As if she need to ask, Ranma heading toward the pond herself. "You really aren't ready to try that Ranma, you need to-"

Shloosh!

She was gone.

---

Even as her feet touched the water, Ranma realized she had no idea how to control this particular ability. Her legs dissolved into the water, then her waist. Maybe if she just thought of the place. Heaven. She wanted an absolute firm fix in her mind. What else was in Heaven? Angels. And as her head sank below the surface, Ranma repeated those two words in her mind over and over so there could be no mistake in where she was going. She closed her eyes and the twisting came. She felt it inside and out, but she continued to repeat the word in her mind.

The twisting stopped. She opened her eyes and found herself in the center of a small lake, lightly touching its glass surface. Around her was a beautiful forest with the tallest trees she had ever seen, stretching up for miles and miles until disappearing into the misty clouds. The occasional bird flitted overhead whistling a song. Total peace. She was sure she had arrived in heaven, but where? It had to be a huge place! Ranma saw a woman near the shore, tending to some plants. Maybe she could help. The redhead noted she was now in her goddess attire as she took her first tentative steps across the crystal lake surface. The robe was different now, somewhere in between the conservative first transformation and the provocative dress of her mental breakdown. She had the urge to change it, but remembering Urd's words on balance, let it go. At least her ponytail remained in place of the unbound waves or red hair.

Ranma stepped onto grassy land and the woman turned around, noticing she had company. Her beautiful frilly white dress complimented the waves of blonde locks that rested gently around her shoulders perfectly. Her green eyes blinked with curiosity and she smiled.

The blond goddess stood up, her height towering over Ranma by nearly two feet. "Good day to you! I don't believe we've met. My name is Charlotte."

She took the gentle hand the goddess had proffered. "Ranma. Nice to meet you." Charlotte's smile widened. "I seem to be a bit… Um, lost."

That fact did nothing to diminish Charlotte's smile. "You find yourself in the Garden of Angels, and you've come at a good time!"

"Well, I'm not exactly supposed to be here…" Ranma said nervously. "I'm loo-"

"Of course you are supposed to be here!" the Blonde goddess corrected cheerfully. "The only people who come are those who are supposed to be here." She took Ranma's hand and began leading her away from the lake towards a patch blooming with flowers. Charlotte turned back toward Ranma and gave her a silent "Shhhhhh…"

Ranma looked at the patch of flowering beauty unsure of what she was looking for. Most of the flower had bloomed into a wide variety of colors while some had yet to. Charlotte squeezed her hand lightly and pointed to one of the unopened flower heads. "That one!" she whispered with delight.

Ranma took a step, then hesitated. "Are you sure abo-"

The goddess nudged her forward, giggling. "Of course I'm sure! That one is SO you!"

Ranma took the remaining to the unopened bud, peering at it curiously. Ok, so it's a flower. What do I-- Even as she watched, the bud opened before her very eyes and at the center of the light blue flower was-- An egg! It was a tiny egg to be sure, but definitely an egg. She looked back at Charlotte.

"Pick it up!" Charlotte urged with excitement. Ranma plucked the tiny egg tentatively from the new blossom and examined it. What was in such a tiny egg, Ranma wondered. Would it hatch a hummingbird or something? A tiny rabbit? Maybe a-"

"Swallow it!"

"WHAT?" Ranma spun around, looking at Charlotte like she had just grown a second head. Which she might as well have done, Ranma figured since she had just instructed her to swallow the egg as if it were a piece of candy. She was about to ask if the blonde was serious, but one look at her cheery face forestalled that question before it even came out. Oh why the heck not? I mean, how much stranger could it possibly get at this point? Ranma thought. Promoted to Goddess, locked in her girl-type, attacked by demons, sneaking into heaven… Swallowing a tiny egg like Alice in Wonderland was par for the course, right? With on last look at the tall goddess, Ranma popped it into her mouth like a pill.

At first she didn't feel a thing. Then the pressure began. She felt warm and the pressure grew. Ranma put her hands to her heart, every beat feeling like it would explode. But she wasn't scared. Each beat outward pulsed peace and contentment. Then, her heart burst. The whirlwind exploded forth around her and Ranma squinted on reflex until the motion faded. Finally, she opened her eyes to an incredible sight… A petite girl with waving red hair and pale skin floating in front of her, a wondrous smile on her face.

She heard a name in her heart. "F-Feather Light?"

The little girl nodded happily and stretched her silken wings. They were nearly pure white, except for the soft brownish red spots at the tips. The girl gave Ranma a little kiss on the head and flitted skyward in a whirlwind to test her new wings. The Goddess of Luck could only stare in amazement.

"What just…" Ranma stumbled for words.

"She's your angel, silly!" Charlotte beamed with pride. "You're lucky you came along when you did. She's a beauty!"

Ranma watched the angel drift through the forest sky with ease. "What... what do I do with it? What does it eat?"

Charlotte considered Ranma for a bit with a light smile, then shrugged. "She is a part of you, a helper in anything and everything. She is the light of your heart manifest and as long as that is full, she will never worry for anything. What did you say her name was?"

"Feather Light." She couldn't even forget the name if she tried, she realized. The sound of her name brought the angel back down to Ranma, who simply stared. "She's beautiful…" Feather Light bounced in the air happily at the compliment then glided over to Charlotte with a curious expression on her face.

"Why hello there Feather Light!" She greeted the angel, whose smile reappeared instantly. "My you are a beautiful one! Please take very good care of Ranma, Ok?" Again the angel nodded with enthusiasm. Charlotte turned back to Ranma. "I expect you have to go now…"

Ranma's gaze snapped from Feather Light to Charlotte. "You're right! Uh, how do I get out of here?"

Charlotte pointed. "Follow the main path through the trees until you get to the big gates."

Ranma turned for the path and paused, She walked over to the smiling Charlotte and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you."

The goddess returned the hug warmly. "Feel free to drop by when you're not so busy!" Ranma matched her smile and nodded, then was off down off the path. The angel remained behind for a second and gave her a peck on the head, then she too was gone.

"Such a wonderful heart she has."

---

The gates, as it turned out were as huge as any earthbound skyscraper. They were ivory and gold, and beyond them Heaven teemed with activity. It was a major metropolis as far as the eye could see, disappearing and reappearing into the rolling white clouds. Ranma looked at Feather Light, who was in awe as well. "I think I'm in WAY over my head here…" It was going to take several eternities to find the two people she was looking for. Granted, she was a goddess and effectively immortal, but… Then she remembered Charlotte's words; A helper in anything and everything. "Feather Light, I know it's our first time here, but can you help me find Urd and Skuld?" The angel considered this for a second then nodded, and flew into the glorious sky that framed eternity.

Urd had almost fallen asleep in her chair when Skuld nudged her violently, waking her up with a start. Dang, where were again? Oh yeah. The Goddess Review Board.

"…Violation of section 345a of the Yggradsil operating procedures. Unauthorized tampering of the Yggradsil file network without sufficient authorization…"

Bah, they were still going over all the rules they had broken restoring Ranma's file. Urd was just about to drift back to sleep when a rush of air snapped her awake. What was…? In the middle of the room floated an angel, having gained access to the Reviewing room through an open window. Waving red hair. Blue eyes. Bespeckled wings. And a clearly amused look on its face. Then angel floated over to one of the three reviewers desks, peering intently at the person behind it.

"What is the meaning of this! We are trying to conduct official business here," the reviewer snapped at the angel, who pulled back slightly with a frown. "Does anybody know who this angel belongs to!"

The angel pulled back completely and scanned the room for the people she was looking for. Urd watched as it made eye contact with her, and the angels bright smile returned. It flitted over to her desk and radiated triumph, then floated over to Skuld with the same look of satisfaction. And before they could say anything, it flew back out the window from whence it came.

Skuld looked over to her older sister. "Did that look like…?"

"No, it couldn't be. She's stuck on Earth with Bell-chan." At least Urd was fairly sure she was stuck on Earth. Because if Ranma wasn't, and that angel… nah. Couldn't be.

---

Ranma had followed Feather Light into legal district of heaven and found the reviewing office Urd and Skuld were being interrogated in. Well, that probably wasn't true, but she was determined to help represent her friends.

She walked up the steps and was about to enter the main hall when the doorman stopped her. "I'm sorry, but you must dismiss her before entering." Ranma stared at the man for a moment, before realizing he meant Feather Light. The Doorman looked apologetic. "Not my rule, just they cause too much of a distraction during proceedings. I'm sure you understand."

"Uh, yeah… 'dismiss her'." Ranma had no idea how to 'dismiss' Feather Light. She leaned over to the floating angel beside her and whispered, "Any idea what he means?" Feather Light nodded, lifted into the sky and arced into Ranma, absorbing into her person with a soft glow. She could even feel her inside now, glowing. Content.

The Doorman nodded as if he saw that sort of thing everyday and stepped aside. Ranma smiled as if she did that everyday and walk through the door he was holding open. A few minutes later and guided by Feather Light's tugs at her heart, Ranma found it: Room 103.

---

Urd and Skuld now stood in front to the three Reviewers. "We hope you understand the nature of your activities. The Yggradsil isn't simply a toy to be tinkered with, ladies." The first reviewer began. She was a kind but stern old bitty with brown hair. The second reviewer, a middle-aged man with gray hair piped up. "Indeed. We will give you one minute to make a closing statement before we finalize judgment."

Skuld had no idea what to say. This had been the first time she had ever been to a Goddess Review Board and she was already starting off on the wrong foot with them. Her entire future-Urd stepped forward, interrupting her thoughts in surprise.

"I would like to make a statement." The first reviewer nodded for her to continue. "I would like to state for the record that this is all my doing. Any actions Skuld took were taken because I ordered them so using my rank as Goddess second class. She even objected to some of them." Like to Ranma being Goddess of Sex, but they didn't need to know that. "My actions should not be counted against her record as she had no choice but to comply. That is all."

Skuld looked at her sister in awe. She was going to deliberately take everything upon her shoulders. She wanted to protest-- Urd shot her a look to keep quiet.

The third reviewer spoke up this time. "We appreciate your honesty in this matter Goddess Urd. We will consider reducing her punishment in light of this information, but yours of course, stands. We have decided that a reduction of rank is in order to that of--"

"Objection, your Honor."

Urd and Skuld's eyes widened simultaneously. It was absolutely impossible. They spun around to find Ranma in the doorway. Urd's eyes were now screaming "what are you doing here?" while Skuld's shown pure delight.

"You object?" The third director choked incredulously. "You can't object! These are closed proceedings! You're not even supposed to be here!"

"Yes, please leave at once, young lady." The first director ordered.

Instead, Ranma smiled arrogantly and walked up the aisle to join her friends, whose mouths still hung open.

The second director sighed. "Bailiff, please remove our guest."

With that, a slim dishwater blonde male with wings moved to intercept the redhead and Urd snapped out of her trance. Oh crap, Ranma didn't come all this way to be kicked out…

The bailiff stood in front of Ranma and put his hand lightly on her arm and smiled. "I'm sorry, Miss-"

Ranma smiled back and flipped the arm he had just touched around, breaking contact and establishing her own grip in one easy motion. Even as his eyes registered shock, she reversed the joint and took the arm behind its owners' back, locking it in place. Two well placed kicks behind the knees sent the struggling bailiff to the floor and onto his chest. Ranma leaned down closer to his face. "Struggling will only make it hurt more." He struggled and she brought the arm back further, hyper-extending the joint. The bailiff grunted in pain. "Trust me when I say this is hurting me more than you." She frowned, and then chopped the back of his neck, knocking him out cold. Ranma stood back up with a cheerful smile on her face and joined the sisters in front of the bench.

Urd turned to her best friend in annoyance. "Why do you always have to inflict bodily harm on the cute ones?

"Because they ask for it!" Ranma protested, face growing red.

"You're into the pain thing, huh?" Urd continued ruthlessly.

Ranma gasped, now complete embarrassed, "Don't make me regret coming here!"

"Whips and chains and other kinky-"

"AHEM." The first Reviewer cleared her throat forcefully, gaining the goddesses' undivided attention. "Since you're intent on staying and disrupting these proceedings, Miss, please tell us your name and why you are here."

"Yes, so when the Valkyries show up to detain you," The third reviewer continued, "they'll have something for the official arrest report."

Having had enough time to recover from terminal embarrassment, Ranma stepped forward. "I am Ranma, Goddess of Luck First Class, Category one, unlimited." It was the first time she had ever used her official title, but if there was any day to throw it around, it was today. "I am here in defense of Goddess Urd and Goddess Skuld."

Understanding dawned on the Second Reviewer. "So you're the result of their mishandling of this entire situation. Your clearly violent tendencies are the first and most obvious reason this should have never--"

"EXCUSE ME," It was Ranma's turn to forcefully interject. "Exactly why am I still a Goddess then?"

"That has absolutely no releva--"

"I beg to differ," Ranma interrupted once more. "Much to my personal annoyance, my Revocation was denied five to one. Why do you suppose that is?"

"You're Revoca--"

"Are you familiar with the name Saffron?" She continued unabated and the question hung in an air of silence.

A thin smile crept across Urds face. Of course they are. This very board would have been in charge of his discipline… If he had ever been caught. Being killed and reborn solved their problems quite nicely. She watched the reviewers closely and noticed their arrogance evaporate. Whether it was because of the case itself or because they were only now realizing that they sat in the presence of the person who killed him, Urd wasn't sure, but the effect of the name had been noticeable.

Ranma heard a shuffle behind her, and turned to find the bailiff had gotten back to his feet. She winked at him. "Want to go again?"

The man waved her off with a grin. "No thanks, I'll wait for backup."

"Suit yourself."

"Yes. We are familiar with that person." The first reviewer admitted slowly. "We are also aware that you are the person who… Eliminated him."

Ranma nodded, "But that's not the important part. How did you even find out that your fugitive had been eliminated?"

The board sat in silence. There was only one answer to that question. Urd and Skuld's report. In effect, they had solved the case that would have otherwise been on the books for years, if not centuries.

"These are the people who not only saved my life, but solved your case for you." Ranma pressed them. "You should be giving them praise for doing your jobs for you. And for that, I will NOT," She took a step forward, mood darkening with it. "Allow their punishment to proceed."

"Excuse me, Miss?" The polite bailiff asked and Ranma turned to find him backed by three more nicely dressed Valkyrie women waiting in the doorway, these looking more combat ready than the bailiff himself. "It's time to arrest you now."

With her mood sufficiently dark and her cause sufficiently righteous, Ranma noted that they should have brought more backup as her power levels primed. "Feather Light," she whispered, and the Angel sprang forth, bubbly smile noticeably absent. In its place was an annoyed look as it swirled protectively around Skuld and Urd. Her weapon to call was reflexively summoned from the ether and Phoenix Wind settled into Ranma's hands, singing glorious battle through her soul.

Urd and Skuld stared at the redhead in wonder. Urd's gaze snapped from the newly acquired angel to the staff she now bore in hand. Not even she suspected that Ranma was such a fertile ground for power and could acquire so much in so little amount of time, but she should have. She turned to the Review Board, who sat in shock. Urd touched Ranma's shoulder and the Goddess relaxed slightly.

"I see we've all forgotten that a Goddess First Class Unlimited is a direct extension of our Lord's divine will." Urd stated evenly to the board. "Her opinion isn't to be taken lightly."

"B-But… She's only been a Goddess for three days…!" The Third Director protested. "And mistakenly at that!"

Urd loosed a hearty laugh, cutting through the tension. "You think Kami-Sama doesn't know that? He could have her busted down right here and now on His divine word alone, yet here she is, having made her way to heaven, acquiring an Angel and Category One weapon all by herself… And in only three days. Those facts alone should tip you off to a very important clue." And I was silly for not seeing it sooner myself, Urd chided herself silently.

The director was about to say something, when the red phone on his desk rang. "Yes? Uh, yes Sir! Of course Sir! Right away! Yes? Thank you!" He set the phone down gently. "All charges are dropped concerning Goddess Urd and Goddess Skuld. Ranma is free to go as well," he said to the Valkyries, who nodded in acknowledgement. Ranma relaxed with a sigh and Feather Light twiddled with glee around her.

"Oh, and you have an appointment with Kami-sama tommorow."

---

Belldandy watched from the bench outside as her sisters and Ranma made their way down the Goddess Investigative Office steps with smiles on their face. She had prayed to Kami-sama on those very steps that things would turn out ok, and by the looks-- A shadow consumed her and she looked up suddenly to find an angel with flowing red hair look down her with a wide smile and bright eyes. Sunlight filtered through it's speckled wings and Belldandy smiled back and asked, "Whose angel are you?" The angel winked and fluttered off to the trio now clearing the last of the office steps. Belldandy blinked with surprise. She knew both Skuld's and Urd's angels, and this particular one wasn't either. That would only leave… Ranma? As the angel circled the trio, Feather Light pulled her attention from the conversation to the woman sitting on the bench.

"Bell-chan!" Ranma exclaimed and the group converged on the sisters. Ranma's smile faded to a sheepish look of guilt. "I'm sorry I left you behind… I just couldn't… It's just…."

Belldandy pulled Ranma into an unexpected hug. "Thank you for looking after my sisters, how ever unorthodox you intervention may have been." Then she peered up at the smiling angel. "I see you've been busy."

"Uh, yeah…" Sheepish shame turned into a grin. "Belldandy, meet Feather Light!"

"Hahahah!" Skuld exclaimed, "You should have seen their faces when the Board saw her first the first time. They were SO upset!"

Belldandy listened with amusement, then turned to Urd. "Ranma is progressing very quickly, is she not?"

Urd sensed the underlying point of her observation easily since she had already come to the same conclusion. "Already got it covered. Her studies start tonight."

"Studies?" Ranma blinked. Goddesses had to study?

"Yep, and I'm your tutor!" Urd grinned, but it quickly faded. "What I said to the Review Board is no exaggeration, though. I know it's a lot to take in at once, but a Goddess First Class, Category One Unlimited is the direct extension of our Lord's will manifest." She let those words sink into Ranma, whose carefree attitude was all but gone. Urd could speak from a position of authority because she had passed that very exam, but had chosen not to take the post because she knew her heart. She knew that she could only hold the compassion required for only her closest friends and family. Ranma, however…

"Don't worry about it kid. For now, lets celebrate our victory!"

---

Chapter EIGHT

Celebrate they did, but Ranma had an appointment to keep earth side with a certain sister Tendo. Of course, that appointment reminded him of the BIG appoint scheduled for tomorrow afternoon: Ranma Saotome, meet the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. She was still trying to decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Ranma popped out of the koi pound, her ride substantially smoother now that she knew how the technique worked and shifted to her Chinese clothing before entering the dojo. She found Nabiki sitting in the living room watching TV with Akane.

"I thought you'd forgotton." Nabiki said with a neutral expression.

"We just got a little hung up is all," Ranma explained.

"In heaven."

"Uh, yeah." Ranma scratched her head in embarrassment, realizing how absolutely unbelievable it sounded. "But I made a promise, so here I am."

Akane looked at the two. Was this a real conversation going on here? Ranma? Giving her word to Nabiki? About what? She shot a questioning glare to her sister, who returned it with a mischevious smile.

"We're going out for a bit, A-chan." She said, leading Ranma out. "Be back in a few hours."

Kasumi AND Nabiki? Akane thought. Now she was sure her life was turning upside down.

Ranma recognized the part of Nerima Nabiki was leading her into. Though she had seldom visited herself, she knew it was the suburb's gaming district. If it could be fed money, you'd most likely find it here, whether it be video games or gambling. Or both. "Why are we down here again?"

Nabiki looked back at her new protégée. "You're training of course. And here we are."

Ranma looked left to find themselves standing in front of a building labeled "SUPER-SUPER PACHINCO!" Ranma did an instant face plant. "You've got to be kidding me! How is this place going to help me with my abilities!"

Nabiki tisk'd her student, pulling her inside. In front of them stood endless stands of pachinko machines, the steady racket of bouncing balls filtering though the establishment as people gambled their money away. "Predicting a coin toss doesn't even come close to tapping your potential, Ranma. What do you see?"

Ranma stared one of the gamblers and her machine, steel balls bouncing wildly across a horizontal board of pegs and lights. The redhead was about to protest again when realization hit her with a sudden "Ooooh!"

Nabiki nodded with satisfaction. "Exactly. Each ball is triggered to depart the chute and hit the pegs, thereby creating numerous and unpredictable outcomes. Of course, the speed at which the ball is sent out the chute by the player is a factor in this equation, but it is not a decisive one," She explained to her student, who drank it in. "I do occasionally gamble, but not in games like these. Can you guess why?"

Ranma's mind closed around the concept easily. "Because of the totally random element involved. Since there is no real predictable pattern, there is no predictable way to win."

Nabiki smiled. Maybe she had made a mistake underestimating Saotome years ago when they first met. With the right amount of influence she could have- Nabiki cut that line of thought off. Now isn't the time for wistful fantasies. "Exactly," she continued. "Games like this always favor the house because of that random element and the losers will always outweigh the winners… Which is where your lesson comes in." Ranma followed Nabiki to the counter, who promptly held out her hand. "2000 yen."

Ranma twitched. "I thought you were going to train me!"

Nabiki shook her head in mock sympathy. "Nobody ever said training was going to be free. 2000 yen." The annoyed Ranma dug money out of her pocket and slapped it into her hand, who in turn slide it to the waiting attendant. The attendant smiled and slid a basket of steel balls in return. The sister led Ranma back to an empty machine and fed the balls into the hungry receptacle. The pachinko machine happily chirped to life, flashing and beeping.

"Now, we're going to do this one ball at a time for now," Nabiki explained to her charge. "Your job is to predict exactly where the ball will land." Ranma nodded her head and Nabiki thumbed the lever once, sending a ball rocketing up the chute.

The Goddess of Luck concentrated on the ball as it continued on the ballistic arc. The ball had it's own aura which suddenly exploded as it hit the first peg. Chained lightning seemed to arc from one peg to another too fast too see or understand. In seconds, it was over and the ball was resting at the bottom of the machine.

Nabiki had been watching Ranma closely and saw her face register shock and incomprehension. "What did you see Ranma?"

"The… The ball had an aura. It exploded as soon as it hit the first peg and lightening chained all over the board," Ranma tried to rationalize what she had just seen to Nabiki. "It was nothing like the penny toss."

The middle sister thought on this a bit. While she really had no idea what Ranma was experiencing and could only go by her descriptions, she had the mental process of a machine. In another life, she could have easily been and engineer or scientist, but in this one, she was tutor to the Goddess of Luck. "The lightening didn't start until it hit the peg?" Ranma nodded. "I'm assuming that that aura of lighting represented potential outcomes. Watch it again. Look for details this time."

She thumbed the lever again and the next ball shot out. Ranma watched closely as the same event occurred, not quite as shocked as before. "I assume the lightening was there?" Ranma nodded. "Now was the lightening spread across the entire board or confined to one area?"

"Confined to an area." Ranma confirmed. "In fact, it seemed to follow a cone to the bottom."

Makes sense, Nabiki thought to herself. If she is seeing outcomes, those outcomes would narrow to one certainty as it approached the bottom. "Interesting. Now, did any of the lightening paths seem stronger than the others?"

"Um, I think. Maybe." Ranma answered uncertainly. Nabiki flipped the lever again and Ranma concentrated. Sure enough some of the paths were stronger than others, and the ball followed the paths down.

Nabiki watched Ranma's eyes light up. She saw something. Nabiki flipped it again, and Ranma tracked the ball down. Again. Ranma tracked it silently. Again. The ball plunked to the bottom. Again. This time, Ranma's finger shot out and pressed against the glass before the ball had made it half way down the maze of pegs. Sure enough, the ball landed on target. Nabiki smiled and waited for Ranma.

"You're right. They're outcomes," Ranma confirmed, staring at Nabiki. "The stronger the lightening path, the higher the chance the ball will fall in that direction.

"Very good." She complimented. "Now for phase two." Ranma was just wondering what phase two was when Nabiki slapped the lever five times in rapid succession, sending the balls out of the chute at high speed. Ranma locked in on the balls as they fell, pointing to their impact points. She was disappointed when one fell to the side and off impact. "Four out of Five. Not bad. What happened to the Fifth?"

"The outcome seemed equally likely in either direction. I picked the wrong one." Ranma admitted.

Nabiki shrugged. "Statistically, it's bound to happen. Most events are weighted toward certain outcomes while a few can break either way. Lets try again." The next ten minutes saw the pair shoot their remaining supply of ammunition off into the machine. Nabiki was impressed. Even at high rates of fire, Saotome was averaging ninety-eight percent by the time their reserves ran dry.

The machine clicked and Ranma looked down. Empty. "Now what?"

Nabiki folded her arms and considered Ranma. "Well, you have two choices. We can call it a day or," a naughty twinkled in her eye, "We can move on to phase three."

The redhead was like a woman dying of thirst in the Sahara when it came to understanding her newfound powers and she eagerly accepted phase three. Nabiki simply pointed over to the desk and Ranma, for the first time in her life, eagerly spent money at Nabiki's direction. A minute later, Ranma plopped back down beside her with the basket of steel balls.

"Phase three," Nabiki began, "Involves something you mentioned earlier back at the dojo. You said you thought you could influence outcomes, correct?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but maybe." Ranma stated uncertainly.

"Well, that's what we're here to find out." Nabiki thumbed the lever as before, and this time, Ranma wasn't looking for an impact point. She was looking for something imperceptible. She knew it was out there, just beyond her reach. With a thunk, the ball reached the bottom. "Anything?"

Ranma shook her head. "I could see the outcomes, but I still can't get a grasp on the influence part."

To that, Nabiki simply flipped the lever again. And again. And again. It took only five minutes to deplete their current basket this time. She looked at her sister's maybe fiancée. "Stay or go home?"

Ranma checked her packets and pulled out 500 yen. "I got nothing left. I guess we--" Nabiki stopped her and dug into her purse. Ranma about had a heart attack when she gave him 5000 yen, staring at the sister in total disbelief.

She couldn't stand the stare any longer. "Ranma, I've underestimated you, I've doubted you and I've taken advantage of you," Nabiki explained. "But if there is one thing I do know about you, it's that you never give up until you succeed. I've been reevaluating everything I know about you lately, so don't let me down on the one thing I'm certain of."

Ranma blinked, brain function suspended in disbelief. Nabiki… Is actually betting… On me? The redhead nodded slowly in understanding and retrieved a bucket of pachinko balls. This time Ranma was on the lever, her total focus on the balls richocheting wildly on the down the board while Nabiki watched. They had been getting some hits and they were paying out a tiny supply of balls, but not enough to make up for their losses and nothing Ranma was indicating as her own success. Nabiki watched as one by one the pool of shiny steel depleted. While she was by no means poor, she didn't exactly have wads of cash on her either. Once this was gone…

Ranma was concentrating hard now. Almost there, she thought as that special something continued to elude her. The lightening… If she could just reach out and… the machine clicked empty and the last ball powered out of the chute. It bounced around avoiding all the major pockets that would score them a bonus. Now it fell deeper into the maze and Ranma could see the major path angling away from even the minor bonus zones. A feeling of disappointment was just creeping in when she saw it; A tiny little branch. Nothing more than a soft glow, but it would bring the ball back into play. If she could just reach out… Reach out! Time ground down to molasses as Ranma concentrated on that single point. Everything slowed and the ball fell, millimeters away from hitting that crucial peg. CONCENTRATE. Ranma's entire being floated in that single space of time.

Tick!

The ball hit and its trajectory was altered from the main line and onto the new path, but still had a ways to go. Ranma, however, knew exactly what to look for now. She traced the new line down, looking for the improbabilities in the path and found one that would bring it closer to the single remaining pocket. She focused on one fracture, time slowing for her as she did. As soon as it hit, she jumped to the next. One more alteration and the arc became solid, feeding down into that final pocket as if that were its destiny all along.

Nabiki had been wringing her hands in nervous anticipation when the ball finally clicked home and the machine sighed with a happy 'ding!' Ten more balls fed into their previously empty container. She looked at Ranma, whose face had been practically pressed against the glass, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. Slowly, the redhead looked over, and her face transformed from one of intense concentration to a confident grin.

"It's payback time."

---

Ranma and Nabiki weren't home yet, Akane realized as the clock ticked six PM. She rocked off her bed and stared out into the sunset sky wondering exactly how derailed her life had become. Pressured by her parents to marry a gender shifting martial artist, fighting for his attentions versus two other eligible fiancées, enduring the countless numbers villains and antagonist that he attracted, dying and being reborn by his hand and finally this-- Ranma turned Goddess. Now she wasn't even certain if she wasn't competing with her own sisters for his attention. It was getting outright... Akane's self loathing paused for a second as she watched a figure with a can of spray paint mark an 'X' in the corner of the yard. What was Skuld doing…?

The diminutive teen Goddess was typing away at a rather large PDA like device with wires and such jutting out of it when she heard Akane walk up. The Goddess looked up, gave her a smile then went back to the largish PDA.

Akane stood on the spray painted 'X' and looked at it curiously. "Um, why are you painting-"

Skuld suddenly noticed her immediate location and pulled her off the 'X' with a concerned look. She looked at Akane once more and noticed the questions in her eyes at her forced change in location. "After Mara's attack yesterday, I realized our demon problems might follow us home sooner or later, so I'm implementing a defense for your dojo!"

Akane blinked. A defense for our Dojo? "What sort of defense?"

"Well," Skuld explained, "It wasn't easy, but I took the basic template from the shrine where we live. Since I couldn't exactly teleport the generators here, I'm boosting them into low Earth orbit to transport them. In fact, they should be arriving in about…" She glanced at the PDA, "Ten seconds."

Low earth orbit? Akane wondered looking at Skuld. What, did she think this was Japanese Space Command or something? Skuld looked into the dusk sky. Apparently she did. Akane looked up as well and saw a tiny point of light. Kind of early for stars to be shining and it was getting bigger. Akane looked back to Skuld. She couldn't be serious. She began to hear a sharp whine and looked up to find a four fireballs streaking to Earth. It was too late to scream and they hit, four giant clouds of dust erupting within the four corners of the Tendo property. The ground shook madly and Akane was sent to the ground as dust whirled around her. With coughing fits, she got back to her feet and found Skuld smiling in satisfaction when the dust finally cleared. There in front of her stood a twenty-foot tall back square monolith imbedded in the buckled earth. The monolith itself was divided into four sections by a deep groove that was at least a foot wide and two feet deep.

Skuld looked at the awe struck human. "Ready?" She didn't wait for a reply and stabbed a button on her PDA. "Power ON!" The air trembled around the device and it hummed contently. A glow formed within the grooves and a solid wall of greenish light flowed forth, connecting with its sister devices from the remaining three corners of the yard. The result was a translucent green field that surrounded the dojo property on all four sides while extending into the air for thousands of feet like a spotlight. Even as Akane stared in amazement, the field faded from visible viewing.

"Is..Is it still on?"

"Of course!" Skuld replied confidently, "That was just the initial power flux."

Akane continued to look at the Goddess incredulously. "But.. What IS it?"

"My very own Sub Dimensional Demonic Interdiction Energy Barrier!" Skuld announced with pride. "It has a total power output of 1.21 gigawatts across five planes of existence with a switchable operating frequency…" Skuld continued to rattle off the specs to Akane, whom she had lost after the word 'Sub Dimensional'

"What a haul, WHAT A HAUL!" A small bouncing figure hollered in delight, bouncing up the sidewalk to the dojo entrance. The old Master Happosai was back after a successful nights' raid of various women's undergarments, as evidenced by the bloated sack slung over his back.

Skuld noted the tiny old man, and turned to Akane. "Don't worry, it only affects demons. He should be Ok."

BZZZzzzZZZAP!

Happosai had just cleared the wall before running into a solid barrier of pain, light streaking off him, frying his person and the pretty linens he carried.

Skuld looked horrified. Akane nodded in satisfaction. "Works great."

The laughter of two chittering girls outside the dojo stopped abruptly as they noticed one fried old pervert smoldering at the gates. Ranma didn't know what happened to him, but he probably deserved it. Both entered the dojo to find Akane and Skuld standing beside a large black monolith.

Nabiki asked first. "Do I even want to know?"

Skuld piped up happily. "It's a Sub Dimentional--"

"Demon zapper." Akane cut her off with the simpler explanation. Nabiki nodded. The youngest sister's eyes narrowed on her sibling. "So, how was your night out with Ranma?"

The answer she got wasn't the one she was expecting. "Absolutely fabulous. In fact, if was so much fun that's we're going out again tomorrow night." Nabiki replied with an easy smile and Ranma nodded happily. Of course, there was the fact that she had come out over 40,000 yen richer than when they'd started Ranma's training, but there was also the fact that both were getting to know one another quite well for the first time since their introduction. Nabiki was beginning to see her as more than a cash cow while Ranma was letting down enough defenses to get to know her as a person, something few people had even bothered doing for either of them. And they were making tons of money in the process. The ironic fact was that she actually had to pull Ranma away from the machines once she had that aspect of her powers firmly in hand. While the redhead didn't necessarily care about money for it's own sake, the fact that it was a practical application of her ability had started her on a winning streak so obvious that the parlor owners couldn't possibly ignore it. Nabiki had to literally pull Ranma out of the place before they were blackballed.

Akane looked at Ranma with surprise and confusion, still trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Ranma and her sister were getting along well. Not just well, but incredibly well. How could her sister possibly do this to her? She knew Nabiki to be a mercenary, but she usually limited her acts of subversion to outsiders not-

"Yeah, tomorrow we start on cards!" Ranma ginned from ear to ear and Akane fell over. What did cards have to do with dating!

"Well, I've got some studying to do." Nabiki excused herself. "Same time tommorow?" Ranma nodded and the sister was gone.

Ranma decided that was a good time to make her exit as well. "I promised Urd to study under her. Gotta go Akane!" And with that, she was left alone with her thoughts.

---

Ranma found Urd in the living room angrily beating on the TV. "Why won't this stupid thing--! Oh, hi Ranma!" The redhead raised a questioning eyebrow. "Your TV broke."

"Maybe Skuld can fix it right?" Ranma didn't notice the look on Urd's face indicating that was a very BAD idea. "Heck, she just built a demon zapper thingy outside."

Urd looked at Ranma, then back to the TV. "That would probably explain why the TV isn't working." Urd turned loose a sigh. "Oh well. Get dressed, we're going out tonight!"

Ranma looked at her current clothing wondering what was wrong with it. "I thought we were studying?"

"What I have to teach isn't for general consumption." She stated, then looked Ranma over. "That, and I also need to teach you a good lesson in fashion."

Ranma looked over Urd's sense of fashion, consisting of a high cut vinyl skirt, black leather halter top and a petite crimson jacket with enough baubles on her person to open her own jewelry store. Fashion Ninja, indeed, she snorted mentally. I had better dress myself before she tries to do it for me.

Maybe it had something to do with Ranma growing up half her life in China, Urd observed from the ensemble the redhead had willed into existence. It was a traditional red and black Chinese one-piece dress with a leg slit running high up the length, and over it, a petite crimson coat to match the one Urd wore. The overall effect was one of modest sensuality, while Urd herself normally aimed for outright sexuality. And somehow, the matching coats brought them into convergence. Whoo-hoo! Urd thought. What a pair we'll make tonight!

Urd began to lead the younger goddess out and Ranma asked, "Isn't Bell-chan coming too?"

The Goddess of the Past shook her head and smiled. "Date night. Bell and Keiichi are probably racing down some highway even as we speak."

Even as her best friend pulled her along, Ranma thought about Urd's statement. Belldandy? Race? Who would have thought? Maybe she could give Kasumi a few pointers on cutting loose every once in a while.

A half hour later the two had found a small festival, walking around and taking in the sights. Of course, the pair made quite a stir wherever they went, much to Urd's delight. The sexy white and bronze goddess and her sensual redheaded counterpart could do no wrong as they strolled through the attractions, finding that they themselves were one. Ranma wasn't quite as at ease with all the attention as Urd was, but she wasn't blushing outright with embarrassment either. She couldn't count the number of times she had used her girl type to gain favor with guys, and in reality, something deep within her thrilled at the prospect of being eye candy now. Ranma wanted to move to squash that feeling outright, but there was her balance and sanity to consider. It was something she had managed to maintain so far, except under periods of stress where she still found herself sliding complete off to one side or the other. Still, the extremes were becoming less frequent, so she let the feelings she now had go for now.

Urd looked at her friend, who seemed to be lost in thought at the moment. So many changes she's going through… And so much she'll have to become. But that's what friends are for. To help them through those times. "What is the first rule of a Martial artist?" She asked, breaking her partner's train of thought.

Ranma cast a sidelong glance at Urd. "Is that a trick question?"

"Not at all." Urd stated. "In fact, it's probably the only reason you're still a Goddess at all. Think about it. What do you bring to the table as a three day old goddess?"

Ranma thought about it and shrugged. "Not much to be honest. I'm a great martial artist, but I'm sure heaven has an ample supply of those. I don't know the job, don't know the power and don't know anything about Heaven, Hell or whatever. Heck, I barely even know what a Goddess is." Ranma herself began to wonder why she was still a Goddess.

"Exactly." Urd replied. "You don't know anything about anything but you're still a Goddess. Which means you know something. Something vital."

Ranma thought about it for a moment. She only knew one thing. "A Martial Artist's first duty is to help defend those who can't defend themselves?"

Urd nodded. "That concept is the bedrock of your present rank; Goddess First Class, Category One Unlimited. But it isn't limited to simply defense of the defenseless. It's to help those in need under any circumstance, whether it be personal safety, love, sorrow, whatever. It stretches to every aspect of human life." The goddess watched Ranma as she absorbed the information with serious intent. "At its core, your martial arts code is that of a servant." She held up a hand to forestall Ranma's objection. "I'm not talking about the servant that washes clothes and makes food. I'm talking about the service of real human need, not fluff."

"So I'm a servant?" Ranma asked with confusion.

"Yes," Urd confirmed. "Even as a martial artist, you serve mankind. Your code of servitude provides for the defense of the helpless. While that code of service to others maybe scoffed at here on Earth, it is held in high regard up there." Urd finished, pointing into the starry sky.

Ranma knew she was right. The general attitude of half the people she knew was to hang somebody out to dry and let them handle their own problems, which directly conflicted with her code as a martial artist. If the need were genuine, she would stand, fight and die by that code, and had already proven that more than once.

Urd watched as understanding dawned in her friend's face. Good. "A Goddess has nearly an identical code, and the higher the rank, the more all encompassing that code becomes and the more vital its practice is at all times. As a Goddess First Class, you are a servant of true need, regardless of the area it falls under." Urd continued. "If that need falls under the defense of the innocent, that is where you will stand. If that need falls under matters of the heart, that is what you will mend."

"But isn't that what you already do?" Ranma asked Urd, who simply smiled.

"Yes, but only to a limited extent," She explained. "There is definitely some overlap between the rank of Goddess first and Goddess second, but Bell and my ranks focus more on want than need, plus one other significant difference." She let the statement hang for a moment, unsure of how to explain it. "…That difference being that the person I'm talking to at this very moment is a direct extension of God's will manifest."

Ranma's eyes widened. "But aren't you…?"

"We are all agents of Kami-sama." She smiled gently, "But you are one of His hands. There's a world of difference."

Ranma sat back in shock, only now realizing the enormity of what she had been dropped into. Urd had said some of this earlier, but The Hand of God? Me? I can barely lead a life free of chaos and fiancées, let alone be 'the direct extension of God's will manifest!

"Oh, I think I'm going to pass out..." Urd simply chuckled and Ranma stared at her. "I'm nowhere a good enough person to take on this sort of responsibility! Shouldn't there be a saint somewhere that needs promoting or something!"

"Maybe," Urd started. "But you have the job and Kami-sama hasn't busted you down yet, which means he must approve of something you're doing, and that's no small compliment." Ranma began to protest. "No, you're selling yourself way too short. Besides, it's not as if you come without references. How many super-natural evils have you fought within the last five years? I haven't seen you're complete file, but I know it's pretty dang impressive for a mortal." She looked at Urd with skepticism. "HR already has several different departments banging down their door to get you transferred, even Special Duty."

"Special Duty?"

"Heaven's Special Forces." Urd clarified. "If it needs to be infiltrated or destroyed yesterday, Special Duty goes in on the first wave. As Special Duty, you'd be less the hand of God and more his angry fist. Even with your martial arts training though, I just don't see you as an angry fist, but we're getting ahead of ourselves."

Ranma looked out over the river they had been sitting by, focusing on the reflections of light and on-going festivities in the water. "I'm getting tired of it anyway." She said with a weary voice.

Urd looked at Ranma curiously. Tired of it? "Tired of what?"

"Training. Fighting. All of it." Urd's eyes widened slightly at the soft proclamation, and she was sure Ranma's family would have widened even more, if not just passed out right then in there with the news. She wouldn't have admitted it to another living soul except possibly Kasumi, but the constant life and death struggles, daily combat and the always having to look over her shoulder every single day was wearing thin. Very thin. And Ranma was sure it was contributing to her instability as of late.

"It's not that I don't love the art," She explained slowly to Urd, "It's just that every single day I have to watch my back for the next dagger. Always have to learn the new technique that will keep me alive a little bit longer. And that's all my life is; A grind from one fight to the next. That's not what my code is about. That's not why I learn new techniques. That's not why I practice everyday …But that's all there is."

Urd knew her sister well enough to see the problem instantly. "And being forced to marry within the system you are so desperately trying to survive in…" Her voice trailed off and Ranma simply nodded, looking at the ground. Urd smiled brightly and slapped her partner on the back, producing an 'ugh!'

"Then it looks like we came along just in time!" She stated brightly. "Come on, let's go get some sake and make the guys oogle!"

---

Akane watched Skuld with facination. She had originally been waiting up for Ranma and Urd to come home, but had somehow gotten caught up trying to figure out what Skuld was doing to their TV. The teen had gutted and rebuilt it from the ground up, the only familiar part being left on it was the big tube itself.

"The problem is that the SDDIEB field outside is blocking all outside emissions to and from the house," Skuld explained to an awed Akane as she screwed in an ominous looking bottle with a radiation symbol on it. "To get a TV signal, I had to had to drop the receiver into a subspace tunnel across five planular domains to tune the necessary harmonic frequency that would bypass the shield and receive outside communications."

All of which translated to Akane as Skuld having built a Demon Zapper AND a TV Killer. Amazing little girl, this one.

"There!" Skuld declared as she locked a final bolt into place. The girl looked at Akane, motioning her to try the remote. The Tendo sister shook her head violently no. Skuld sighed and flipped the TV on manually using a giant circuit breaker she had installed on the side, right next to the nuclear fusion bottles. With a 'thunk' of the switch, the household lights noticeably dimmed and the TV came to life. "Yes!" Skuld was just about to launch into a round of bragging when both girls noticed something odd. It looked like a regular newscast, save the anchorman wasn't speaking Japanese and had three eyes, a squat torso and was blue. The window in back of him showed a nice sunny day …On the planet of Altair Five. Alien language flashed across the screen as they advertised… Shiny gelatinous cubes? Well, Akane wasn't sure, but she had seen enough and thumbed the remote off. The TV died and the lights came back up.

"I think you have a few adjustments to go," Akane stated. Skuld simply nodded and began to disassemble the TV.

The front door clicked and Ranma walked into the living room, instantly noticing the parts and tools strewn about. She looked from Akane to Skuld to the TV monstrosity. "We get satellite channels now?"

Skuld grinned, a huge sweatdrop rolling down the side of her head. "In a manner of speaking… Say, where's Urd?"

"Went back to the Shrine to check on Bell." Skuld nodded.

Akane looked at Ranma, the Chinese dress and jacket. She was a looker by all rights. And she had been going out with that uninhibited one, Urd, who was no slouch for looks either. Akane was worried. Kasumi. Nabiki. Urd. Where did she stand in all of this?

Akane put on a bright smile. "So how was your evening, Ranma?"

Ranma smiled back. "Had a great time!" Then she added with a conspiratorial smile, "We made the guys oogle." Ranma hadn't even thought about it when the words escaped her lips, but the look on Akane's face said it all. Oops. Where's that come from? The fiancée's smile faltered, however briefly before she put it back into place.

"That's great…" She continued with force enthusiasm. "What else did you do?"

"Talked."

"About what?"

"Stuff."

Each reply took another notch out of that forced smile and now Akane was getting annoyed. "What sort of 'stuff'?"

Ranma hesitated. She could see where this was going as plain as day. "I can't exactly say…"

Anger flashed into the youngest Tendo's eyes, then softened to disappointment. "Is it something you can tell her?" She motioned to Skuld. "Or Kasumi? Or even Nabiki?" Tears began to form. "Why everybody else but me, Ranma, Why?"

Ranma took the seat beside her and looked at Skuld, who need no prompting to leave the room.

"What are we to each other anymore, Ranma?"

The redhead put her arm around the grieving fiancée and Urd's words came to mind. '…In matters of the heart, that is what you will mend.' Ranma pulled Akane close. "I know it's hard, Akane-chan. I've been going through so many changes that it's almost impossible for me to keep up, let alone those close to me," Akane's heart fluttered with that last part. "And the positions we're both expected to fulfill are shifting so rapidly they're almost no longer relevant. I mean, we were forced into this situation by parents who expect me, a male to take up the mantle of The Anything Goes School of Martial Arts while they expected you to marry that person." Akane looked at her fiancé as she sighed. "Now their heir apparent is stuck a female, has become a goddess and might very well not be able to carry the dojo herself anyway with recent developments."

Akane's head snapped up. It was the first time she had heard Ranma even mention the possibility of purposely not becoming the heir of their dojo. "W-Why not? It's been your life… Our life."

Ranma chuckled. "That's just it, Akane.. It hasn't been our life. It's been our parents, and who knows what they'll do when they find out their heir is no longer one at all, but quite the opposite and might remain that way. You know they're still hoping for a cure like last time. Your father will have to maintain the bloodline for his dojo somehow, and even though my father is your father's best friend, me maintaining that bloodline though you is… Impossible." Akane stared at her in morbid fascination. Ranma had really put thought into this… "That would leave nobody within your bloodline except your father and grandfather with any knowledge of the school and its art, which only leaves two real possibilities for the school's future." Akane stared. Her it comes… "Either train you so you can carry on and marry someone else, or train somebody for the express purpose of marrying you or the other sisters."

Akane leaned back in shock. Ranma was right. Oh, sure, father could wait for any one of the other sisters to marry and raise a boy, but she doubt that outright. It wasn't as if either father or grandfather were getting any younger, and by the time the heir came of age… They wouldn't take the chance of all that knowledge being lost and the school descending into obscurity.

Ranma watched as the full meaning of their predicament fell upon her. "And this is only a fraction of what I have to bear now. If this goddess thing comes fully to pass, I may very well not have time to spend managing the dojo, let alone perform the duties as an heir would. And that's even assuming you and I are ok, with eh… um…" Akane looked like she was about ready to throw up. "Exactly. It's not that I don't care for you… I'd have to be a fool not to for after so long…"

The Tendo finally realized the heart of Ranma Saotome. It wasn't that she was burning her bridges by choice, but because they were already lit and on fire around her. Ranma wasn't leaving her behind, but the situation was such that she couldn't move back and Akane couldn't move forward. That was unless she were willing to do… That. With Ranma. As a girl. Akane blanched inwardly. She was use to the girl type, but thought of it mostly as Ranma had… An inconvenience that was occasionally useful. She had never expected to have 'relations' with it, of all things. Heck, even Shampoo is more ready to deal with than I am, Akane thought to herself. She'd take Ranma male or female, day or night, but Ranma still puts her off. That sudden realization was a sobering thought in itself. The Amazon was attractive, compliant, ready, willing and able, yet here Ranma was. With her.

Akane reached around and hugged the redheaded Goddess of Luck, much to her surprise. "Thank you Ranma. No matter what happens, thank you."

---

Chapter NINE

Kasumi entered the kitchen as was her early morning custom to get things around for breakfast, but was greeted by a curious sight. The rice cooker had been… Modified. She peered at it curiously and saw numerous new gears, circuit boards and various other unidentifiable parts attached to the bowl itself. In fact, that was the only stock part on the device anymore. She had known about the TV, as Skuld had stayed up all night tinkering with it, but why the rice cooker?

"I, um, wouldn't touch that if I were you." Ranma advised the eldest Tendo sister as she walked into the kitchen, wearing her boxers and tank top as she was occasionally wont to do before the rest of the household woke up.

"I wasn't about to." Kasumi noted, still staring at the modified kitchen implement. She turned toward Ranma. "Why..?"

"Skuld got the TV working again, but found out that the TV was causing other household appliances not to work." The redhead explained as she pulled some juice from the refrigerator. "So she set about modifying the affected items to where they did work."

Kasumi looked at the alien device from another vantage point. "Then I take it this one doesn't work?"

"She fell asleep before she could work the bugs out, but lets just say it teleports stuff and leave it at that." Ranma answered and Kasumi stepped back.

"Oh my." She gave it one last moment of consideration, then turn back to Ranma, "Did you and Akane work things out?"

Ranma hesitated. "I think so. May not have anything else worked out in this crazy mess, but I think we've got that."

Kasumi smiled. "At least you got the most important thing." Ranma nodded, returning the smile. "By the way, I wouldn't run around in that too much anymore." The goddess looked at her in silent question. "As a guy you could get away with a tank top and briefs. As a girl…" Kasumi paused.

"Let's just say Urd would approve."

And that was all that needed to be said.

---

"Come on, Skuld! I know Pandas faster than you!" Ranma pressed the teen goddess with her own hammer, cracking at her guard. It was the best Genma Saotome impression she could muster and she could tell it had worked as Skuld's frustration level grew exponentially.

"I stayed up all night last night, Onee-chan!" Skuld complained as she hopped back from Ranma's next swipe, then reengaged the older goddess. "Cut me some slack!"

Ranma produced a feral grin as she swung in for her next attack. " A REAL Debugger must be ready day or night for whatever challenges await her, SLACKER!" Jeez, I'm having fun with the ol' Pops bit, Ranma thought. Granted, I'm only using a fraction of my ability, but she has to start somewhere.

"WHAT?" The teen protested and suddenly her hammer strikes became more aggressive. "Are you saying I'm not a REAL DEBUGGER?" Ranma sidestepped and the hammer blew past her. "That's it! You're finished!"

Skuld stepped up her attacks, fuelled by anger and Ranma secretly smiled. Now Skuld is running at a level of potential I can work with! Sometimes all it takes is the right motivation, the Sensei thought and assumed a purely defensive stance, allowing Skuld to get the feel of being on the offensive. She repeatedly hammered Ranma's staff, using her limited repertoire of attacks and stances with precision backed by vengeance. Her feral smile now matched Ranma's own as she ruthlessly beat the older goddess back to the edge of the dojo mat and--

ThwaaK!

The opposite end of Ranma's weapon came out of nowhere at high speed, and Skuld's own hammer flipped away, disarming her completely. The Goddess of Luck now held the end tip of her hammer at her throat, its block resting behind her wrist as if the weapon itself were a sword. Then, with a quick flip, she returned the hammer to her side.

Skuld's heart pounded, anger all but evaporated. So fast! And she could have done that at any time! And I was doing so well too! She watched as Ranma's feral smile melted into a gentler one, and sat down. When Ranma sat down, it was teaching time, so Skuld sat as well.

"How did you feel when you were on the attack?" Ranma asked her student, whose breathing was finally calming.

"It was…" Skuld searched herself for a moment. "Exhilarating. Like I was in control. Powerful."

Ranma nodded. "The first thing to take away from that is that the person who controls the tempo of the engagement wins."

"But I thought I was! …Until you disarmed me."

"Exactly." Ranma continued. "But most battles are decided well in advance by what's up here." She finished, tapping her head. "Tell me what you were thinking."

"I was mad… Pissed." Skuld shook her head.

"If you can't control this," Ranma tapped her skull once more. "You can't control this." She let her hand rest on the hammer beside her. "I was in control and you were not. I won by default before your first blow landed."

Skulds eyes widened. "Just like building something! If you can't see it here first," She tapped her own head, "Then you'll have a much harder time building it!"

Ranma's smile widened, nodding at his pupil. "But building stuff takes heart too, right?"

"Oh yes, definitely."

"Just remember that heart can allow you to exceed your limits like you did back there," Ranma complimented, "You didn't like the thought of being a third rate debugger, and it drove you. But the head focuses all that energy and all that action, just as I imagine it does when you invent stuff. Focused motivation will win you victories believed to be impossible, got it?"

"Got it!"

"Go get breakfast then!" Ranma stood up and she was greeted by the traditional crushing hug before the teen ran off to breakfast. Akane stood up from her seat off to the side.

"That was very well done." She complimented, taking her place on the mat.

Ranma smiled modestly. "It's easy when you're pupil is that eager." She took her place on the mat opposite of Akane. "Ready for your lesson, A-chan?"

Akane grinned, "Always, Ran-chan!"

It was the first match she could remember truly enjoying since her mother passed away all those years ago. Two simple friends. Sparring. It was pure. The way it should have been all along.

---

Ranma could only gape at the sights around her as Belldandy led her through the city whose heart bore The Temple; the threshold of the Creator Himself. She had known a bit of history and the redhead could see a grand mix of it in every building she passed now that she wasn't storming heaven without a clue. It was an absolute perfect mix of structure and nature, allowing trees to grow inside and outside of buildings while waterfalls cascaded off the walls. Surreal didn't even begin to describe the scene as they moved from street to street.

The question had come up as to who should escort her to The One, and it was quickly decided that the ranking sister would perform the duty. Besides, Skuld was just dying to hit an electronics sale she had seen in the paper and had practically begged Urd to take her. In the end, it had fallen to Belldandy to guide the nervous Ranma Saotome up the temple steps and into the great domed hall. Ranma's labored pace ground to a halt upon seeing the giant solid gold doors, exquisitely etched with carvings of men, women, angels and beasts. They spanned the length and width of the double doors, which easily towered hundreds of feet into the air. Even a casual glance could see they told a story, and that story was more than one could possibly take in with a glance. The doors demanded attention. Study. And it was only Belldandy's light touch on her arm that brought Ranma back to the here and now.

Ranma looked at the goddess with curiosity and Belldandy smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time later."

They both stepped up to a small desk in the center of the chamber, and behind it, a small girl with jet black hair and a bright smile. "Ranma Saotome?" The goddess in question blinked and nodded with some hesitation. Nothing like being expected, she thought. The receptionist's smile widened. "Kami-sama will see you now."

With that proclamation, the double doors opened slowly with the barest of whispers, bathing the chamber and it's occupants in the soft glow of pure, untainted light. Ranma's eyes widened in wonder as Belldandy and the girl were forgotten. She had come a long way and now there was only one thing remaining…

…Walk toward the light.

---

Even as Ranma stepped into the purifying light, she had no way of knowing that there were places that light would never reach. It wasn't because the light couldn't penetrate them; it was because the light was rejected. Cast out. Evil worked in those places to expunge its existence-- its taint --with fire, torture and darkness. And in the center of the dying and screaming sat it's architect. While that person went by many names, the forces of Heaven knew her by one in particular.

Hild looked down upon her demoness with disappointment. "You have failed to bring back that which I sought, Mara."

Mara shivered, kneeling before her master. It wasn't so much the tone of her voice, but total lack of emotion. Or life. It was a void that promised to consume her with displeasure. She didn't dare look up into those eyes. "Yes, Master. I was in the process of turning the new one when-"

"Silence." Mara's words died with the command. "I know of the Norn's activities concerning the new Goddess and specifically that child of mine." Hild twisted the words at the mere mention of her daughter. "What should I do with you, Mara? More torture?" Mara twitched visibly. She had quite enough of that for one day once it was found out she had returned in failure. AGAIN. "No, while that would amuse me, I have other work for you. Something you can do to enter back into my favor."

Mara's eye's widened and she looked up at Hild for the first time. The ruler of Hell sat atop her thrown of skulls, flanked by muscular demon giants in red armor. The woman in front of her looked very much like her childhood friend, but colder. Crueler. She wore a leather halter-top and thigh high leather boots, both adorned with chains, spikes and studs. All backlit by the fires of Hell itself. "Yes, Hild-sama! Anything!"

The edge of Hild's mouth turned upward in an ever-so-slight smile, breaking the frozen mask. "Bring me Urd." The demoness' mouth dropped slightly before she managed to reclaim it. "I don't care how you do it, but I want her here by nightfall. She is having far too much influence on the new one as of late. My daughter needs to be taught the meaning of… Family."

---

The doors had closed and Ranma now walked through the light itself. Beyond, there was only clouds and light. She felt something wrap around her and turned around to find a nice old man wearing a traditional kimono, sitting in a plush chair. In front of him was a simple wooden table and a chair opposite him. The bald old man puffed on his pipe and proffered the seat. She knew who this was. It resonated in her very being. There was absolutely no doubt as she sat lightly in the chair. Kami-sama produced a smoke-ring that floated lazily into away from the pair.

"I imagine you have many questions." The old man stated with a soft smile. Ranma simply nodded, part of her mind suspended in disbelief that she was actually talk to God himself. "To be truthful, I can't answer them all …Or rather won't," He added with a wink. "But I imagine we can get the big ones out of the way."

The old man-God was right. She had tons of questions, but might as well start with the one tops on her list. "Um, why me?"

"Why not you?" Kami-sama's eyes glinted with humor.

That snapped Ranma out of her disbelief. Was God being… Funny? A smile began to spread across her own face. "You know what I mean. It was a total accident…"

God nodded. "Indeed. Why not some Preacher, Monk or Saint?" Ranma simply nodded, leaning forward on the edge of her chair for the answer. "First, don't believe everything you hear." She cocked her head in curiosity and He stared at her with a piercing gaze. "There are no accidents."

Ranma flinched. If He was saying that there were no accidents that would mean that the Yggradsil… Kami-sama simply shrugged. "I designed a system to run eternity so that I can concentrate on other projects. That system-- Creation itself --is maintained by the Angels under my care and those angels have been given the free will to exercise concerning some aspects of Creation."

"But if the computer crashed and you're saying that there are no accidents…" The redhead was now truly boggled, shaking her head in confusion.

"Think of it as a system of checks and balances," The old man waved a hand nonchalantly and took another puff of his pipe. "Creation is a dynamic thing, Miss Saotome, and because of that fact, occasionally requires divine intervention."

"Which is why there are Goddesses?" Ranma asked, catching onto Kami-sama's logic.

"Exactly," he confirmed. "But their freedom of choice also means the freedom to make mistakes."

"But how does that fit--"

"With you?" God supplied and Ranma nodded. "Well, somebody in HR dropped the ball when a Goddess promotion request was supposed to be processed. It got lost somewhere along the way and over time the Yggradsil noted Creation was short one Goddess. After the problem went unremedied for a length of time, it initiated its own protocols to call the system back into balance."

Ranma puzzled over this for a moment. "But that would mean all the errors were… Intentional?"

The bald old man leaned back in his chair and smiled once more. "Now you're getting it. By my figuring, the Yggradsil weighed the requirements of the Goddess nessisary to fill the position, created errors to get the right people's attention centered on the right canidate."

Another smoke ring drifted lazily over the Goddesses' head. "But like Urd said… Don't I need training or something?"

God chuckled. "Urd was right," Ranma arched an eyebrow. "You sell yourself far too short, Miss Saotome. Not all your training takes place in a classroom. Oh sure, you're rough around the edges, but nothing a few centuries around my daughters won't smooth out."

Now it was Ranma's turn to chuckle, but it quickly faded as some realities came to mind. She focused on the coffee table.

Kami-sama's smile diminished upon seeing her distress, sighing. "Yes, it has been a long road, hasn't it?" Ranma looked up with a slight frown. He would know, wouldn't He? God laid his pipe aside and stood up from the chair, walking aroun