My BAKA Gaidin

                      Wheel of Time Series

                           Ranma 1/2

 

Keys

*(thoughts)*

 

Chapter 8

 

             Saotome Ranma was great martial artist. A person honed to focus in mind, body and soul he was always able to deal with any situation.  Even on the receiving end of many women, most of whom gave him many troubles, had at least been able to seek safety and comfort within the compounds of his own mind.  Being who he is, with the life of fiancees, and mayhem, the comforts of being alone in his own mind had been bliss. Sometimes he would just look to the stars and crawl into the safety of his mind. Staring into those pools of deep blue eyes, he knew--no felt, his that bliss has ended.

 

             Ranma felt it; a link of sorts, like a consciousness in that back of his mind, emotions flowing out that was not his own, though it mirrored them slightly. It came from her, that woman who nagged his memory so often lately and malleted his head as skillfully as another person whom he knew very well. She was perhaps a few years beyond him. Her face was beautiful, but the most enticing of all those deep pool of blue eyes.

 

             Siuan Sanche was a woman he only met a day ago, but he felt it has been longer, hauntingly longer. If Ranma had been a better analyst of his own mind, he would find that he had a need to be with her, to protect her, to keep her safe of mind, body, and soul. Ranma being who he was, just ogled at everything he was exposed too and thus stared mindlessly at her.

 

             In another corner of his mind there was another presence besides Siuan's link; he was only dimly aware of her, it was rather small compared to the person he was staring at, but she laid right besides him, unconscious by his attack. He hadn't even founded a name for her yet, but all this information went over his already over exposed mind.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan Sanche had more information than our unlucky hero, Ranma. She knew what she was feeling if not completely startled by it. It was a bond, one between an Aes Sedai and her warder. A protector to some, a companion to others, the range of reasons for having a warder varied, but the bond she felt was enough of a reason, the boy in front of her was her warder. Somehow she felt contempt at that.

 

             So many odd occurrences had happened since the Dragon had been reborn, but it was still startling to her. Somehow she had taken another warder, without her own knowledge. After so much turmoil, her mind and her body needed a break. So through the process of self-healing her legs buckled as she felt the damp surface of the ground. Not surprisingly the pain on her rear hadn't even registered in the process.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan falling down snapped Ranma back to the present. He spoke out immediately before he knew it, "Oi, you alright?"

 

             She wouldn't answer; instead, Siuan carefully stood up and put on a mask of calmness. He knew it was a mask, the bond told him that. Inside she was frantic, uncertainty strong among many other emotions.

 

             Walking up to him, she took a long calculating look, and turned her attention to the person next to him; the other woman who had tried to kill him. A sorcerer or something close to it he guessed. She had thrown fireballs, and other magical stuff all with the most destructive intent towards him. The woman had haunted his dreams, but now she looked so peaceful and serene sleeping on the ground. She was beautiful, but unlike Siuan, it was an ageless beauty. Ranma somehow kept changing his estimation of her age. She would look young at a casual glance, but on closer observation felt as if she should be much older. His nagging memory told him that they had met, but not even a name was able to surface.

 

             "Is she dead?"

 

             Ranma had to look at her and blink. *Dead?* "Err, no, she's sleeping." He had a sinking suspicion she wanted a different answer.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             Siuan studied the sleeping woman, whom she knew as Moiraine Damodred, a long time friend and accomplice. Reliable sources deemed her dead battling the DarkOne's minion, a forsaken named Lanfear. Something had been wrong from the first moment she spotted her. She had been embracing enough one power that easily equaled three full sisters linked. Moiraine had been powerful, but never that much so. Perhaps she had an angreal to boast her power. Moiraine had a lesser powerful one in her possession, but that only explained a small fraction of all the unknowns she was given. Moiraine had also just tried to kill her, and that alone was enough to scare her.

 

             *What to do with her?* This Moiraine was dangerous, much too dangerous. The best course of action was to take her into questioning, and enough sisters to shield her. That was if she was able to get her shielded before she woke up. *First things, first* Lowering down she began to search the body, extending both her senses and her hands to find anything related to the one power. *If she has such a powerful angreal, I must find it now, before she wakes up*

 

             Searching all around, she was amazed by the fabric of the clothing. The first thing was the spotlessness of it, even lying on the ground, there was not a speck of dust on the cloak or clothing. Another surprise was the smoothness it felt. *It must have been made with the one power…*

 

             "Umm, what'ca doing?"

 

             She frowned, but quickly returned to her mask of serenity. For some unknown reason, just hearing the voice of that boy was enough to annoy her. *Nothing, not a trace of anything related to the one power* She tried again later. *Perhaps my senses are dulled after such an exhausting battle* Failing to find anything, Siuan knew she needed to get the body back before Moiraine woke up.

 

             Turning towards the boy, she commanded in her decades-tempered Aes Sedai voice, "Carry her and follow me, quickly. We must have her shielded before she wakes up"

 

             To her annoyance, He had the gall to give her a long look before slowly picking Moiraine up.  She had to clench her teeth to keep her features in check. *I will deal with this boy later, but first things first. Fish Guts! Why is it never simple…*

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Ranma easily was able to keep up with Siuan's trot, she was in one of those moods. What that meant he couldn't specify, but he just knew better than to talk to her in one of those moods. It was startling to know these things about a girl whom he met a day ago.

 

             Switching his attention to the woman he was holding, he still had little idea except for the dream. She used magic, yet she knew martial arts too. It was a strange battle; the woman never changed her expression. She never once spoke, never once smiled or frowned, or became angry, just that serene, calm look. *Maybe it was a technique* She was an excellent martial artist, not as good as he was of course, but had great potential.

 

             Giving the battle a bit more thought he found her abilities a little odd. While she was not able match him, it was almost haunting that she seemed to get so close to breaking his defense. It was as if the woman knew his every move and found every single hole in his defense to attack. Ranma was not using his full potential, but he knew he was not that sloppy. The fact that she landed a couple of solid blows on him was already discouraging enough. *If she had been faster and stronger, I would have been hard pressed* The idea of a girl beating him was very discouraging indeed.

 

             Sighing, he focused back on Siuan. He had to get answers to why he had this strange connection to both her and to the woman he was carrying. *But how to do it…* He couldn't tell her he could feel what she was feeling, he had a strong feeling it was a very bad idea. He had enough bad experience with violent women who could weld mallets.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan looked back at the boy. He was lean and muscular, healthy and well trained it seems in fighting. He moved with such an unnatural grace, it would not be surprising if he was a warder. From what little she saw during the encounter he was well able to fight. *Not the worse choice for a warder I guess* Another thing finally struck her, he had jumped in front of a ball of fire when he tried to save her, but the boy looked unhurt, not a scratch on his body besides the slight mud stains. *How is that possible?*

 

             She couldn't come up with a reasonable answer so she went onto the next question. She reminded herself it would be wise to be subtle when things deemed it. "Your name is Ranma, correct?" She was somehow sure it was, but it would have been contradicting from the facts presented.

 

             "Umm…well, yea…"

 

             "There is a young girl in our camped also named Ranma. Do you know of her?"

 

             "Umm hehe, really? Gee, isn't that odd. Nope, don't know her, wonder why she has my name, heh." Siuan blinked, it was such an unexpected answer she briefly lost her train of thought. *Either the boy was the worse liar in Andor or it was a masterful display of acting* She was unsure of how to proceed. A nagging thought told her not dwell on it.

 

             The boy, Ranma, seemed to use her pause to ask his own question, "What are we going to do with her?"

 

             Siuan tighten her lips as the change in the line of questioning was made. She realized that despite the youth, Ranma had skillfully avoided her attempt to get the information she wanted. *I have to be careful, the boy can't be taken lightly* She mentally repeated an old saying, 'even if the waters are calm, jagged rock lay underneath'.

 

             "We are taking her back to the camp, for questioning."

 

             She cursed her luck as she had finished her answer. They had already reached camp before she could further question the boy, but she was also happy Moiraine hasn't woke up yet. *What to do…* It would be best to take her to the Amyrlin, it would be too much risk to reveal this to everyone. With a few selected sisters, they could shield her and safely conduct a questioning.

 

             "Hide her face with the cloak. Follow me quickly, and don't talk to anyone." He seemed to frown, but she could care less what he felt right now, she had to race against time.

 

             Weaving through people and wagons, she analyzed that there was still a safe amount of time before today's march, enough to do what needed to be done. Finding the intended tent, she quickly dashed in and chasing out the servant.

 

              Egwene looked up from her meal, "Siuan, what's wrong? You look frantic."

 

             Siuan hadn't notice she had dropped her features. "Mother there is something urgent you must see."

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Egwene looked up at Siuan and then at the boy behind her. He was fairly handsome in a blue woolen-buttoned shirt and loose black pants. He looked just short of being called a man and would be better described as cute than handsome. He looked at her with uncertainty and said "hi".

 

             "What about him, Siuan?" she was confused at what was so wrong that Siuan would loose her calmness.

 

             To Egwene's surprise, Siuan shot him a glare and pulled back the hood of what the boy was holding. Her breath caught, *It can't be!* Dashing up to the boy she too a long closer look. It was Moiraine. The same Moiraine Sedai who had saved her and everyone else by pushing both herself and Lanfear into the arch ter'angreal.

 

             She remembered that event clearly. Rand stood kneeling before Lanfear, crying. Lanfear glowing with the one power standing in front of him and right behind that arch. Then at that moment, Moiraine came running forward and dove into Lanfear, pushing her into in to the arch, the arch lead into the unknown while latching onto the forsaken. The Arch had melted afterward with both Lanfear and Moiraine dead. *Or assumed dead…* Ewgene mentally rephrased her line of thought.

 

             Suddenly Moiraine moved and shifted. Egwene jumped back with a fright. "She's alive!"

 

             "Hurry, shield her, quickly!" Siuan screamed out. Siuan had already embraced the source and was weaving a shield as powerful as she could manage.

 

             "Huh?" commented the boy looking genuinely puzzled.

 

             "Why Siuan?"

 

             "Please! Do it, she tried to kill me!"

 

             Shocked, Egwene embraced the power and wove her own shield joining Siuan's. *Kill Siuan?*

 

             Moiraine opened her eyes and looked at her.

 

             "Moiraine, your alive!"

 

             "Egwene…" Moiraine spoke out in that calm musical Cairhien accent. Slowly she looked up to the boy holding her, taking a long look at him. Then again she looked at Siuan. "Siuan… is that you?"

 

             "Moiraine, what happened to you?" spoke an enthusiastic Egwene. It had been a long time since she seen her. In reality she had never thought to see her again.

 

             But on top of her, Siuan said, "Who are you?" Egwene looked at her in surprise.

 

             Moiraine looked back at the boy again.

 

             The boy looked back obviously alarmed and nervous, "Err… hi…"

 

             "Can you put me down?" the boy did as he was told as Moiraine rose unsteadily to her feet.

 

             Finally being able to take a good look at her, Moiraine's attire looked nothing like what she'd remember. It was a mostly a pristine white array of clothing. A silk shirt laced with blue trimmings, Egwene guessed, with partially transparent sleeves. The bottom half was composed of a long thin blue cloth tied around her waist, matching white loose pants constricted at the ankles and blue delicate looking slippers. A brooch with a large purplish looking gem was clasped above her breast and a white cloak with red triangle patterns embroidered along the edges enfolded her body. She had never seen such sight and it seems neither had Moiraine as she was observing her clothing along with Egwene.

 

             "What has happened? Where am I?"  Moiraine was focused on her, that searching look that she had been accustomed too since they met that winter's night. *So much has changed since then…*

 

             "Who are you?" Siuan asked again, her voice far from pleasant.

 

             "Siuan what are you talking about, this is Moiraine."

 

             "Only a fool would sail a boat into the strait at night without prior knowledge, no matter how calm the water looks. She tried to kill me before, remember that."

 

             She had to frown at another one of Siuan's fisherman sayings. She seems to have one of them for every situation. *But she's right, I've been hoping so much it was Moiraine, I embraced her immediately...*

 

             Before she could answer, Moiraine looked back at Siuan and smiled slightly. "Only Siuan would spout one of those fish sayings. You have changed much my friend, much must have happened. I still remember the time you put those mice on Elaida's bed."

 

             Siuan kept her frown at that statement. *Mice in Elaida's bed?* Egwene would of never imagine Siuan doing such a thing, but then she did have that temper of hers.

 

             "I remember a certain accepted gleefully along side of me doing something very similar."

 

             "True, but it was your plan Siuan." Egwene knew Siuan and Moiraine were friends when they were in the tower, but such an act she would of never imagined.

 

             Siuan sighed, "Only Moiraine would know about that last part, but it still does not explain why you would tried to kill me."

 

             "And me too." That came from the boy but no one paid attention to him.

 

             "I have no knowledge of ever doing such a thing. The last moment I remember was at the pier and knew what must be done," turning back towards her, she continued, "After I went through the arch with Lanfear, I opened my eyes now in this boy's arms..."

 

             Moiraine seems to narrow her eyes at the boy. Ewgene only knew of very few situations when that happened.

 

             "Hey! I'm not a boy!"

            

             That sparked Egwene's thought process, the whole time, he was here where he shouldn't have been. *How could I have been so blind to not take notice?* "Who are you?"

 

             Give an arrogant smirk he answered, "Ranma Saotome, Heir to the Anything Goes Martial Arts." She frowned, the title made little sense at most.

 

             She had to be sure the boy's mouth with not speak of what he shouldn't. Things were more complicated then he ever hoped to imagine. "Ranma, what has happened must not be spoken to anyone but us, this is a direct order by Amyrlin," Glancing at Siuan, "Siuan make sure he is properly cared for."

 

             Giving a sigh very much unlike Siuan, "He is my warder, mother, he will not speak what he is not suppose to." Everyone turned their attention towards Siuan *Warder?*

 

             "Warder, what’s that?"

 

             Egwene was shocked yet again by the revaluation, she wanted to know what in the light has happened, but time was running short. She was supposed to meet the sitters and prepare for march very soon now. If things went on longer, someone would notice. "We don't have time right now, it is almost time to break camp. We must continue this later. Moiraine, people must not know you are here."

 

             Moiraine raised one eyebrow slightly, "By your leave Mother." Moiraine had spoke with the most formal tone and a curtsy proper enough for the Amyrlin.

 

             Quickly the group went out the tent flap, pushed in the case of the boy, Ranma. It was odd, she was certain the girl they had found was named Ranma Saotome. *It is possible to have the same name, but both given and family name? Too many questions* She rubbed her temples in resignation, *Everything is giving me a headache*

 

             Another thought came to her, *For some reason I though Moiraine looked a little different from the last time I've seen her and I could of sworn she was taller than before too.* Shrugging it off she blamed it on her memory and the headache she had.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Outside, Moiraine pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. The Cloak was not the perfect design to conceal, but in such cold weather, it was not surprising for an Aes Sedai to put up her hood. If anyone looked it would be an Aes Sedai, preferably white, sheltering herself from the cold.

 

             Siuan doubted if anyone would remember what the now famous Moiraine Sedai would look like and even if anyone could recognize her, they would doubt their memory on seeing a hero come out from her grave.

 

             "What's that about me being this warder? What's is a warder anyway?"

 

             Siuan took a long gaze at the boy, Ranma. The person who had skillfully deflected her questioning before. *How can he not know about a warder? Is he acting, or ignorant?* Frowning, "A warder is one who is bonded to an Aes Sedai."

 

             "Bonded? You mean all those things I sense from you? Get it off me, I don't need that in my head."

 

             Siuan made her hands into a fist to avoid loosing her calm appearance. Somehow the boy made her so frustrated she could hit him. "Yes, that is the bond we share. As for breaking a bond, it is not easily done. It can be broken if one of us dies, that is why you are my Gaidin, my protector as you see it." *Yes that sounded reasonably suitable, why am I still so angry?*

 

             "Death!? You're kidding, aren't ya? Oh man, Akane's going to kill me when she hears this. There's got to be another way. I don't need two more latching onto me."

 

             Her lips tightened when she realized what her warder said, "Two?"

 

             "Yea, I can sense this bond from you and her, it's freaky I tell ya."

 

             Siuan turned her full attention to Moiraine.  With a slow nod, "It seems so, I can also sense a bond with young Ranma here."

 

             *This isn't happening…*

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Ranma walked, sulking, through the outer corners of the Aes Sedai camp. He was tired, but not because of walking, but because of all the information shoved down his throat. It wasn't so much information as half of it were probably threats by his Aes Sedai. He had no idea why he was still around.  The scary thing is he had felt he heard it all before. He should have left long ago. He had the sinking feeling he wasn't in his own world from the start. The clothes were different, and everything else he had learned just got worse. So far he has guessed it had to be pop, Happosai or the old crones fault. What ever happened had to of been magic. He also knew that some of his memory was missing. He can sense there was a gap in his memory that could explain what had happened to him.

 

             On another topic, he cursed the kami's that his life was a never ending trouble by the opposite sex. Fiancees were one thing, but it was worse right now. There were two presences in his mind. It was always there, and only distance seems to have any effect on it, but it was still always there. Siuan was the worse of the two. What was worse was that she reminded him of Akane, violent and more then once had hit him over the head by some invisible force. He guessed it was magic, The whole camp was full of women magic users who called themselves Aes Sedai. *Women…* He gave a groan again, just thinking about it make him want to stick his head inside a hole.

 

             The other one, Moiraine was quiet most of the time. She had been in his dreams. She had tried to kill him, but she claimed to know nothing of it. She had tried to kill Siuan too, but now they were all friendly. She hadn't said much towards him, with Siuan doing most of the explanation. One thing she had said though, that two Aes Sedai bonded to one person was never heard of. *Figures that would happen to me…* He guessed Moiraine would be the better one of the two, she had at least saved him a couple of times from getting hit on the head.

 

             He kept thinking of leaving but just as fast dissmissed it. Something made him want to stay with them. It could have been another effect of the bond. Still the idea of going crazy if one of them died wasn't all that good either. The only good thing that came out of this was the mention of extra strength and heightened senses. He hadn’t notice it before, but he had felt sharper with all his senses. *I have to test how much better I am one of these days*

 

             Looking around he groan at the sigh of snow. It hadn't mattered as much when he was leaving, but now he was stuck here. He didn't like the idea of everyone knowing about his curse, and worse yet, they might do some of their crazy magic experiments on him. He shuddered at that thought, he would have to be extra careful.

 

             Almost at that moment a stream of water came hurling at him. Ranma leaped up just in time to save his sex from changing. He hadn't bothered to yell back, his mood was beyond that. He also knew it never helped, the old water out of nowhere thing was almost a daily occurrence. Looking around more carefully, he fail to miss the patch of recently formed ice in his path.

 

             The obvious happened as Ranma fail to keep his balance and felt face first into a barrel of cold freezing water. "Gah! That's cold!"

Looking around he was glad that no one was around except for horses. *Time to find a kettle*

 

             "You!"

 

             Whirling around, he mouthed a wordless, 'Oh no' as he saw her, Faolain. Cursing her luck she dashed away, she had a sinking feeling that if she caught her, it would be very bad. *I hate my life*

 

             A chase began as Ranma quickly took the most confusing route around wagons and supplies, while Faolain tried to follow. Then the accursed ice patch came into play again. Cursing she quickly got up and ducked around a wagon. But by that time Faolain had cut her lead a lot and was a few moments behind her. Then Faolain hit into something firm and it caught her.

 

             Looking up Faolain saw straight into those blue eyes and felt those hard muscles with a firm grip on her. Her heart skilled a beat.

 

             "Err…hi," said the now male Ranma.

 

             Slowly steadying herself, Faolain blurted, "A girl, a red head girl, she was here, where did she go?"

 

             Ranma made his best attempt to act innocent. "Umm I think she went that way," as he pointed into a random direction. She looked at him again, and ran off.

 

             He released a grateful sigh. There was a kettle there, just when he needed it most. He found that odd, it was almost never easy to find hot water when he needed it. Shrugging off the thought he went on his way. *No sense cursing my good luck*

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Moiraine sat inside a tent meant for Siuan. Much has changed since that night at the dock. But that was to be expected with the Dragon Reborn loose upon the world. Things had not bold well for the White Tower either. Too many things to count. Even Siuan had been caught up in it. It was a relief that she was not killed though. That was at least a good thing. Surprisingly somehow Nynaeve had discovered the impossible, to heal stilling. She knew the girl had a talent, but this was much more then expected.

 

             To herself also things have changed. She had the feeling that something was missing from her memory. A feeling of time passing, but not remembering what it was. It would also connect with her supposed attacking of Siuan.

 

             The boy, Ranma, was even more a mystery. *Two sisters bonded to one man is unheard of* Whatever had happened neither her, Siuan, nor Ranma knew how that had happen. She would have to deal with it, as will Siuan. Taming the boy would require effort. He was not easily malleable as he appears. Siuan's approach of a firm hand was only going to push him away more. Her experience with Rand showed her that much. Another way must be needed. He had the skill of a warder though. The way he walked proved that much.

 

             Things felt so trivial though. It was as if all her thoughts were rehashed from previous ideas. She frowned at that thought. A few nagging scenarios came to her mind.

 

             Looking down upon her attire, she frowned at what it was. It was definitely not silk or any other material she knew. It felt amazingly smooth, and spotless even with the abuse the mud had on it. Her slippers showed that much. Not a spot of mud was on it, not even the sole. That would mean it was made from the one power. Whoever dressed her was a mystery and she was afraid of what other things her mysterious patron had given her. She already knew she had an unidentified need to keep the clothing on. Time will give her this information, hopefully. There was little she could do as of now.

                 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             Night came and Moiraine dreamed an unnatural dream. She was staring into a full-length mirror and while the face was hers, her entire stance and expression wasn't. It somehow reminded that of a child.

 

             It winked at her, and waved. Moiraine tried to speak out but couldn't. It was as if own willpower was against her.

 

             "Do you know?"

 

             *know what?* Moiraine tried to say, but again was stopped.

 

             "Do you remember?"

 

             *Remember?* She felt as if she was going nowhere.

 

             A giggle suddenly echoed inside her mind. Focusing back onto the mirror, it looked like if the source of that had been from the mirror.

 

             She unconsciously spoke out, and this time she felt herself speak.

 

             "What in the ligh--"

 

             "Behind you..." The mirror image spoke, but it was not her voice. It was too high pitched and excitable.

 

             She turned around and it was another image of her, but this time it looked every bit like her, the serene face, and the proper posture.

 

             "Do you remember?" This new image spoke. It was in her voice this time.

 

             Confused she replied, "No..."

 

             "Do not ask yourself questions and you will."

 

             Moiraine couldn't understand what was suggested.

 

             "She means don't think so much and it will come back to you." This time it was behind her and in that high girlish voice again. Again Moiraine turned around.

 

             "We have been all splintered. It will come back with time, but you can speed up the process though, if you do not seek to wall yourself with conflicting thoughts." Besides the voice it did not feel like her speaking at all.

 

             "I don't understand. We? Splintered?" She asked...

 

             "Don't understand"

 

             And darkness again enfolded her. All her questions, thoughts, began to fade. The whole experience of what happened began to fade into the mist of nothingness like all dreams.

 

             Elsewhere during the night not far from the sleeping Ranma and a disturbed Moiraine, events took place. In the morning there would be no march. The wheel weaves as the wheels will, and Siuan would be extra grumpy in the morning.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Morning came peacefully for Ranma. For the first time since he woke that started this nightmare, he hadn't dreamt of her. This could have been for the obvious fact that she was currently sleeping right next to him on the cot. He was on the floor of course, he wasn't about to sleep on it with her there. She was still sleeping in those clothing he first saw Moiraine in, cloak and all. The warder guessed it wasn't so hard to believe because he slept in his clothes too. The weather was too cold otherwise. He found it odd that Siuan hadn't came back last night. He felt she was still some distance off. She had been sleeping somewhere else, he guessed. Ranma shrugged the thought off as there was only one cot in this tent anyway.

 

             Getting up Ranma went off to search for Siuan, it was the only way to get breakfast anyway.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan was in a sour mood, she had been dragged out in the middle of the night after sleeping on the floor by that blasted Gareth Bryne. After that it was all the more worse, as she had to run around in the bone freezing night, stepping on slippery ice along the way. *At least there would be no march today*

 

             Then suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Hi, Siuan, what's up?"

 

             Siuan gave a frantic yep as she turned around and almost fell on her rear. Ranma stood right behind her looking as if he didn't have a care in the world.

 

             "Don't do that! Fish guts! You scare me half to death you sorry excuse for a lummox!" Her heart raced, *How did he do that? Coming out of no where…*

 

             "Teh, not my fault you couldn't sense me. I bet you couldn't even sense a rampaging boar the way you were surprised," replied a smug Ranma.

 

             Giving a cold glare she replied, "What do you want Ranma, before I use your guts as fish bait?" *The nerve of that boy, and to think I'm bonded to him*

 

             "I was hoping you knew where I could get breakfast?"

 

             *For breakfast!?* "Get it yourself, I have no time for your whining."

 

             "Well, I would if I knew--" He stopping in mid speech as he turned his glazed behind him. Siuan peered at where her warder was looking and spotted another matter of annoyance. Gareth Bryne was walking up to her.

 

             "If you would spend more time washing my shirts and less time talking to boys, I can finally get a clean shirt Siuan."

 

             She frowned upon Bryne. *Men are infuriating!*

 

             "Eh? All high and mighty Siuan here, washes clothes, I never would of expected it." He still had the smirk plastered on his face. The two males whom she could not bear to stand have collaborated against her. *This is not happening*

 

             "And who are you boy to speak to Siuan Sedai?" Bryne turned his attention towards Ranma.

 

             "Ranma Saotome, her warder I guess. Don't suppose you know where I can get something to eat around here?"

 

             "Is this true Siuan? This boy here is your warder?" Bryne's grip on holding his face-guard seemed to tighten.

 

             Siuan gave a loud snort, "He is, at least when he can properly learn to be one." *It's funny how I can say that so casually...*

 

             "Then you can clean my shirt while I give your warder here a meal," Bryne threw her a bundle, "and tell her they know." That was all he had to say as the two left an angry Aes Sedai shooting death glares behind them.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Gareth Bryne took a long look at the boy who would be Siuan's warder. Young, just short of manhood, and from his attitude, arrogant and naive. But besides all of those qualities, the boy had skill. The way he walked easily showed that. The boy named Ranma radiated prowess of a warrior. Still that alone should not have been enough to become Siuan's Gaidin. He had little idea why she would pick this boy.

 

             Bryne threw Ranma a sword sheathed inside a scabbard.

 

             "What's this?"

 

             "Your sword, boy. If you are going to be a warder, you have to have a weapon to protect her with."

 

             "I don't need a weapon to protect that violent tomboy," refuted Ranma.

 

              Bryne narrowed his eyes, "You will need one if you want to protect this Aes Sedai, boy, she's a trouble kind, more then a child like you can handle." He meant every word of it. Siuan was a hard one to protect and with the way events were going she would need the best offered. This boy was not it. Deep inside he wanted her warder to be him, but he knew he was only fooling himself. He was who he was and she was an Aes Sedai, whatever he felt for the woman. Siuan was from the Blue Ajah, which meant she could only have one warder at a time. He had hoped deep down it would be him, but that fantasy was shattered. He could almost laugh at himself for doing something so foolish as falling for Siuan of all people. If there was one thing he could do, it was to teach this boy to protect her.

 

             Ranma sighed, "Would you stop calling me 'boy'. I am Ranma Saotome, heir to the Anything Goes martial Arts."

 

             *Anything Goes? Martial Arts? Art of war?* Bryne had never heard such a title in all his years as a General, or any time in his life for that matter. "I don't know what that means, or care, you are an arrogant boy who thinks being a warder is game," unsheathing a sword, he spoke slowly, "Come, boy, lets see what you know of facing an enemy."

 

             *Let us see who is the bigger fool. Me for chasing a fantasy or you for choosing to live it in my place...*

 

             "Fine, I guess that's a challenge," unsheathing his own sword, Ranma took too a couple of test swings as if it were a stick and came into a defensive stance Bryne thought was 'waves crashing over the mountain', but it looked more loose and agile than a solid stance.

 

             "Come and get me," he said in that arrogant tone, except this time it had an edge of expectation in it.

 

             He had never seen such a variation stance before, but he could tell it was not because of sloppiness, the boy knew what he was doing. Lowering his eyebrows he rushed towards him, it was time to find out how good the boy was.

 

             Gareth Bryne met an opponent like none he ever met before, the boy was like lightning one second and a mountain the next. His slash came crashing down only to be met by Ranma's own and the strikes after that, He was like a mountain never loosing ground to his advances, as he hands almost blurred parrying his every attack. Then suddenly he would change completely and float out of the strike as if he never needed a sword to defend in the first place.

 

             And so they danced. A crowd started to form. First it was curious soldiers, then it was interested others...finally ageless faces started to appear in the mist.

 

             *He's playing with me!* He can clearly tell he was no match for the boy, he was just simply dancing around him. From the first moment he knew who was clearly the more experienced. Only his pride kept him from admitting defeat. Then the boy grinned. A block became an attack. He could barely keep up, as his concentration on offense became defense. Ranma's strikes like his parry flashed at lightning speed, he lost ground to the boy rapidly. Desperately he strived for a counterattack when the boy disappeared *No he jumped!*

 

             Looking up his sight focused just enough on a blur passing by his vision. Turning around to face him it was too late as he felt a painful sting on his hand. His sword flew away onto the ground. Gareth Bryne had been disarmed. The boy, Ranma had kicked the sword out of his hand.

 

             "I win," Ranma replied with a smirk.

 

             *He is a Blademaster… A boy blademaster…* He had never heard of such a thing, but the way he moved, the ease of which he attacked and blocked. He had to be a blademaster, Byrne had never seen anyone move that fast.

 

              "So you did Ranma Saotome, heir to the Anything Goes Martial Arts," Giving a chuckle he continued, "Perhaps you can be Siuan's warder, but it takes more then skills to protect a leopard like her, much more."

 

             "I can do it," throwing the sword down, "and I don't need a weapon to do it." With that he walked away.

 

             "Maybe you are right…" he muttered to himself, "or maybe not." He despised the boy, but not because he was more skilled than him or because he was an arrogant boy, but because he was her warder. He also despised himself for letting the chance slip away from him, for falling for that woman. *No I don't despise that…* He gave a low chuckle, he wished he never chased that girl with those deep blue eyes.

 

             Oblivious to Ranma, and Bryne was the crowd had gathered for their battle. Ranma probably thought it was regular to walk away with a crowd, after all he had people staring at him all the time from the battles he constant had. There were mutters of a blademaster, boy-child that was the warder to Siuan Sanche, former Amyrlin and many more. Some Greens voiced their jealously, other pondered at how Siuan got a hold of such a rare child. Still other ponder the title of 'Anything Goes Martial Arts' and Siuan would ponder, "Why me...?"

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Siuan trampled along still unknown to the happenings of Bryne and Ranma. *The nerve of that man! Washing his shirts!*

 

             "Siuan, what's this I heard about you getting a warder?" an almost teasing voice came out. It was Lelaine's voice, one of her secret accomplices and her ex-keeper.  *My warder?*

 

             Looking up at Lelaine she asked in a resigned voice, "What did the boy do?" She knew Ranma must have done something hair-brained to get attention.

 

             "Why he only fought with Gareth Bryne, and won surprising enough. How sly of you Siuan, not even telling me about this boy blademaster you somehow gotten a hold of."

 

             "He fought Gareth Bryne!?" She had to make her hands into a fist to keep from lashing out at the first person she saw. *Boy blademaster!? What was she talking about* Her anger quickly turned into surprise, it was a never ending emotion for Siuan it seems.

 

             "Blademaster, what in the light are you talking about Lelaine?"

 

             "What? You didn't know Siuan, he had moved so swiftly and powerfully he can only be a blademaster. This warder of yours is a rare sight."

 

             *This is not happening…* Siuan was about to get one of those headaches Egwene was talking about before.

 

             "I came to tell you the seeds are in place, and I should probably be going now, before other sisters get a hold of you. I really hope to meet your warder later though, I was unable to get a hold of him before."

 

             After saying that, Lelaine quickly dashed off.

 

              *This can not be happening…* She considered compelling Ranma, but quickly dismissed the idea, something inside told her it was more trouble then it was worth. Peering off on the corner of her sight she spotted two Green sisters actively talking to each other. She doubted they would pass her by. *I am going to have a long talk with my 'blademaster' warder*

            

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             Night came and the morning of another came up. Ranma Saotome, this time was almost dressed like a real warder. He was riding a horse besides Siuan in his new color-shifting cloak. He had seen the other warders wear one all the time. In fact every Aes Sedai riding had their own warder with them, he guessed that was why he had to come. He had been lucky he didn't have to wear the clothes she gave him, just the cloak. They had argued for a while before Moiraine convinced her that he didn't need it. He was very glad for that. He hated those constricting clothes with all those lacing and colors and junk. It made him look like an idiot. He liked his own chinese style blue wool shirt.

 

             Another thing he was glad for was that Siuan had stopped lecturing how he should act and stuff. He decided it was best if he just kept his mouth shut and follow her around, it would save him a lot of badgering later. He needed a rest, Siuan was worse than Akane, at least Akane just shouted at him and hit him, Siuan also badgered him.

 

             "Are we there yet?" He wasn't very good on the horse he admitted mentally, and it was starting to have its effects on him.

 

             "Almost" For once Siuan was not about to argue with him, she seemed to be just as bad with a horse.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             The meeting was a bit surprising to say the least for Ranma. It was rare for him to be in the middle of a couple of thousand armed men. He was afraid there was a war when the Aes Sedai took over a thousand men from the camp, but all the flashy clothes and Siuan convinced him otherwise. Siuan was beautiful, dressed up like that he idly thought.

 

             He just stood behind Siuan for most of the introductions, a feeling and Siuan's glare told him that he would be in a lot of trouble if he spoke during this. Though some things said gave him a feeling there was going to be a war, he wasn't interested in fighting in a war, but he had to protect Siuan, and Moiraine. He was quickly becoming accustomed to these thoughts.

 

             After the talking was over, everyone broke up to chat among others, Ranma just followed besides his Aes Sedai, like every other warder.

 

             "A young Aes Sedai and an even younger warder. Forgive me Aes Sedai, but I don't believe I've seen a pair such as you two before."

Ranma looked at the lady who commented.

 

             "It's all right child, but we are All Aes Sedai, do not forget child," Siuan answer in that calm serene voice. It was almost haunting how Siuan could act so different from what he was exposed to. Right now it was like trailing after Nabiki in one of her rounds. Ranma made a mental note to be extra careful about his curse towards Siuan if she was anything like Nabiki.

 

             There were a couple of more comments like it as they walked around. Ranma wondered about Siuan being young. He was aware that besides the leader, Siuan seemed the youngest of all the Aes Sedai he had seen. What was more was that he finally noticed that all of them had that ageless face, except for the two. Even Moiraine had it. He added that to his list of things to keep in mind.

 

             After a short time they were ready to leave. He was glad about that; all those people looking at him was getting freaky. Even when the other Aes Sedai was looking had given him the shudders. But that was not what was on his mind, Siuan had been scared behind that mask of calmness all throughout the ride and even now she was even more afraid. Something was going to happen, and he had a feeling he was going to play protector soon.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             Ranma walked slowly inside the camp, Siuan had pushed him off to talk with the leader, he could still feel something was wrong. Something was wrong and she would not let him beside her. This frustrated him. Whether he cared to protect her or not, the feeling of the bond was going to haunt him until she was safe. At this point he did not even to bother rationalizing his reasoning anymore.

 

             Then a mental alarm went through his mind.

 

             Turning around he went into a full dash, he felt something terribly wrong; he had to reach her. Veering off he turned to the outskirts of the camp, he knew she was there.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             Siuan walked slowly by herself after what was left of the final moments of planning had started. She hugged herself tightly, and not because of the cold night, but because of what was going to happen.

 

             Even after all these years, she couldn't stop shaking and thinking about all the dark possibilities that might come after this. She knew she was foolish to dwell on it. That was the reason she wanted to be alone.

 

             She dispised how weak she was right now. It was foolish to worry about something that was out of her hands. All that could be done had been done. She knew of the risks every step of the way, but even with all the prior knowledge she still couldn't shake the feelings off. This was probably one of her most vulnerable moments of her life.

 

             *Run*

 

             Siuan gasped. A voice just suddenly went through her mind. Franticly she scanned her surrounds. No one was around, just the snow-covered night of the camp.

 

             *It must be the wind...* Even trying to reassure herself, she still couldn't shake off the feeling of something happening. *Perhaps I better...*

 

             *Bear your inner most feelings to me*

 

             Siuan's eyes widen. It happened again, and this time it was a distinctively different tone then before. It felt dark and haunting. She was franticly searching around now, constantly turning to look everywhere at once.

 

             "Who's out there!? Show yourself!" Despite her better judgment she spoke out into the night. She had already unconsciously moved into a tight defensive pose. She felt like running, but her legs felt numb.

 

             Siuan went for the one power. It was safer to embrace the one power in this situation. She had expected to fill her body with every last bit of Saidar that she could handle, but nothing came. It wasn't as if she was blocked, she could not feel a spark of it.

 

             *Show me your emotions*

 

             Her breath caught. It was louder now, and more ominous than before. She tried to run, unable to even think of anything else. Her mind was over run with fear. But the best she managed to do was stumble back a little.

 

             *Flee. Run to Ranma. He can protect you. Hurry!*

 

             Siuan spun towards the origin of the voice. Her vision was blurry but she spotted a figure. It looked like a girl wearing an odd looking spring dress. Completely clashing with the weather. She seemed to be praying for her. She couldn't see the face clearly but it felt familiar.

 

             *Show me...*

 

             Suddenly she heard, no felt, the dark voice right behind her. It was almost breathing down her back now. Spinning recklessly she whirled a full half circle.

 

             It looked almost as if the moon and the shadows were playing tricks on her eyes, but she knew it was real. It towered over her somehow, though it was no taller than Siuan herself.  Her vision was still too blurry to see clearly, but she knew what she was seeing. She tried to scream, do anything, but nothing happened.

 

             A hand grasped on her left wrist, then her right wrist. She couldn't move. It moved even closer to her. Siuan felt her knees buckle; she was falling backwards and her assailant leaning towards her.

 

             There was nothing she could do, as she stared breathlessly at herself. A very twisted image of herself.

 

             *Bear your heart to me*

 

             Her last thought was... *Ranma... please help me...*

 

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             "Hello Ranma." He finally found Siuan standing in the center of a clearing. He felt a jumble of emotions from her; the warder could not make heads or tails of what that meant. She had a small smile on her lips, and she looked at him with an almost sultry look on her face. It was not like Siuan at all.

 

             "Siuan, are you all right? His senses we going off in an alarming rate, something was very wrong here.

 

             "I'm fine my Gaidin, come to me." This was not like Siuan at all.

 

             "Umm are you sure you're all right, Siuan, you're acting odd." Ranma had enough experience with magical potions and the like to sense when someone was acting very much not like themselves.

 

             Siuan frowned, "Why must you always fight me, Ranma? Why can't you ever do what I SAY!"

 

             Suddenly he couldn't move; some invisible force had wrapped around him tightly. He squirmed as she walked closer. *Crap...* Trying harder he raised his power level. He wasn't about to let her do whatever she wanted. The invisible force disappeared in an instant.

 

             "Why Ranma? WHY!?" Siuan screamed as she threw a huge fireball at him.

 

             "Youch!" he pivoted out of the path of that fireball. "Siuan, now--now, calm down and we can talk about this." He waved his hands to ward her away.

 

             Raising her hand a gigantic glowing mallet appeared in Siuan's hands. "Ack!" Ranma got out of the way of the blue menace as he frantic jumped out of way of the over grown glowing blue mallet. Siuan swung it again, and again. "Hey! Siuan! Don't--do--this. Woah! Watch where you're swinging that thing!"

 

             Ranma jumped, ducked, and dodged as the gigantic mallet made large holes on the ground as a crazed Aes Sedai went on a rampage to mallet Ranma. It had a familiar relation to his other malletings.

 

             "WHY--DON'T--YOU--LOVE--ME!? WHY!?" screamed Siuan while swinging another attack.

 

             "What!?" the helpless Ranma blurted out. "What are you talking about!?" Flipping back from another attack, he figured Siuan WAS crazy. *I have to stop her before she makes okonomiyaki out of me*

 

             Jumping out of another swing he lunged forward and grabbed onto Siuan's wrist, "Stop this Siuan!"

 

             She only smiled as she went and did something totally unexpected to Ranma; she hugged him, fiercely. *Wha…* Then he felt it. He winced as he felt his power draining rapidly, "What…are you doing…to me…" He felt his knees failing, he couldn't move, she was draining the life out of him.

 

             "Yes Ranma... you are mine now, all mine…"

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

             Moiraine jerked her head up as she felt a spike, a spike from the bond. Something had happened to Ranma, something terrible. She immediately stood up and raced out the tent to find him.

 

             Through the bond she could sense he was near, dashing through another wagon she turned when she slammed into something. Slightly dazed she found out it was Egwene.

 

             "Moiraine, what are you doing?"

 

             "Something terrible has happened to Ranma."

 

             "If Ranma is in danger, than Siuan…" Egwene finished off.

 

             The two of them dash off towards Ranma.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

            

              Moiraine had just reached the outskirts of the camp when they found themselves in a clearing. In the middle they saw Siuan hugging Ranma. Siuan was glowing with a tremendous amount of power. *What in the light…*

 

             "What's going on here!?" yelled out Egwene.

 

             "Why won't people ever leave us ALONE!?"

 

             A wave of air suddenly slammed into both Moiraine and Egwene. It was enough to knock both of them a couple of feet. Moiraine felt Egwene embraces the source as she also was doing the same; then suddenly power filled into her, much more power then she could safely hold.  It swelled inside her, she felt more alive and with more one power than she ever had before. It was just in time as another wave of air came. Quickly she wove her own barrier to defect it, but Egwene was not so fortunate as it broke through her barrier and she went flying back.

 

             Another wave came and this time she sliced the weave before it formed. "What are you doing Siuan!?" Moiraine manage to say while slicing another weave.

 

             *She will not listen...* Moiraine blinked. That did not feel like one of her thoughts.

 

             "Leave us ALONE!"

 

             She figured she had to do something, Siuan was out of control. *This is not like Siuan at all* Franticly she sliced another weave. Even with the unexplained boast of saidar she held, it still paled compared to Siuan's. Suddenly the answer came to her, she hadn't known how she knew but it felt right, and she was left with little choice.

 

             Slowly she stumbled towards them, towards Siuan and Ranma, while slicing threw weave after weave. Slowly and with great effort she reached out and grabbed onto Ranma. A torrent rushed into her, she felt more power then even before the moment she latched onto Ranma's arm.

 

             "He's mine!" Siuan pulled back in response and her power weakened. She knew what must be done now. With all her might Moiraine pulled back, harder. The vast amount of one power came back to her. It was tug of war; who ever had more of Ranma had more power. Moiraine pulled with all her strength, and Siuan pulled with all of her's.

 

             The war went on, neither giving up, the power went back and forth. Moiraine felt like she would throw up with each tide turning of power. *I must keep up…*

 

             *No. Let go.*

 

             Her eyes widened, a voice came out of nowhere. Before she knew it, she had let go of Ranma's arm.

 

             Siuan fell back in surprised and Ranma along with her. Their lips met. Siuan eyes widen. It almost felt as if it had been in slow motion. Almost immediately push him off of her.  She Scrambled to her feet and edged back franticly, eyes wide with fear.

 

             Moiraine dazedly felt a weave forming behind Siuan. Suddenly vertical glowing line appeared and widens into a hole. *A gateway…*

 

             Siuan jumped through it and the gateway closed immediately. Moiraine could only stare at her leavetakings.

 

             *What...just happened...?*

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

             Somewhere in the snow cover woods a black piglet with a yellow and black stripped bandanna pulled a big heavy backpack with his teeth. It was an amazing feat.

 

             Ryouga was not in a happy mood, he was in his curse form in a snow covered forest unable to even able to build a fire to change back. The last thing he remembered just before waking up was the attack by those beasts and that guy that moved so unnaturally. He was just about to attack when a light came from nowhere and burned the guy to a crisp. When he looked it was a woman that had done it.

 

             She had given him a black sphere thing and said to deliver it to someone. Before he could ask more his vision blurred and fainted. He wasn't sure what had happen after that, but he had a feeling it was all Ranma's fault. It always was.

 

                                    < OH MY! >

 

A SD figure clasped in a cloak of pure white, with some red decorations along the edges walks out. SD for once is humming cheerfully.

 

             "Hello there, finally able to negotiate a new contract, I am now here to explain about things from the Wheel of Time."

 

             "Lanfear, meaning Daughter of the Night in the old tongue has this thing for the Dragon. She is very devious and probably psychotic too. One thing though is that she is very beautiful and men will fall dead just from that fact. But for our hero Rand, she is just one of his many girl troubles. Every hero must have those."

 

             "Compel and compulsion. I've been asked to explain these more clearly. Though I threw a book at the person suggesting it, I will do it anyway. Compel is what Aes Sedai do to their warder. Don't ask, it's probably kinky. Compulsion is a weave that can make people do what ever you want. Don't ask, that's probably kinky too."

 

             "The Aes Sedai camp. It seems they didn't agree which color to choose so they split up to two sides, with Blues on one side and Reds on the other and every other color stuck in between. Now the Blues want the tower back and they have a big, paint spray--I mean army to do it."

 

 

             "A little tidbit, Aes Sedai can draw on the strength of their warders to aid them. How very mean, and how very clever, tee-hee."

 

             "Okay, this is all because I deemed it so. It's so nice to have a new contract."

 

             The author in the background starts rambling some gibberish and was muffled by a loud crash. Apparently from a huge mallet.

 

             "Author no baka"