Eternity A Ranma 1/2 Highlander Sailor Moon and others Xover. Disclaimer: I'm going to make it simple: Ranma 1/2 = Rumiko Takahashi Sailor Moon = Naoko takeushi Highlander = David, Panzer and Rysher entertainment Ah! My godddess= Kosuke Fujishima Not Mine! Not mine! Not mine! I wish... Sigh... C&C welcome! E-mail: valheru_2002@yahoo.es This fic can be found at: *Tannim's place: Tannim.anifics.com *Hawk's placce: www.geocities.com/tenma83 *Zaxxon's place: zaxxon.freeshell.org/FanFic *Lady's Cosmos page: www.crosswinds.net/~ladycosmos ------------------------------------------------- Prologue. Interested parties. ------------------------------------------------- Japan, Tokyo 4.00 AM Shadows moved as two men faced each other, running soundlessly, blades drawn. In a heartbeat they stopped and, as they had been doing for the last half-hour, attacked each other, their ancient swords clashing against the other. Sometimes lightning bolts would surge from the contact between the blades, briefly iluminating the surroundning darkness as they destroyed what connected with the powerful energy. For some moments they seemed evently matched in skills and power but slowly one of them started to show signs of tiredness, forcing an evil smile on his advrsary that attacked with more strenght and speed, his blows and moves becoming more vicious, forcing the other man back to the defensive. But soon his defense was overwhelmed, the evil smile growing more, as if he was already savouring the power that soon would be his, along with the pleasure to see the panic appear on the face of the other man. Then with a last blow the defense was broken, coming a second to late in blocking the other´s sword, the steel sinking on his stomack, the pain making him to lose his sword. He dropped to his knees panting. The other man kneeled, still holding his sword that was deeply buried on the other man´s body. His free hand reached the defeated man and took a handfull of the man´s long blond hair. "A pity that after all this time you aren´t able to avenge your family. How long ago was it? Six, seven thousand years ago? All this time gone and look at yourself now: defeated. Such a pity." The kneeling man looked him. "You will never win. This I tell you. You will never be the One." Blood expeled violently his mouth as the man twisted the sword. "Always the foolish optimist Messlan. You´ll see it from hell." He pulled his sword free, Messlan groan holdiong backa shout of pain that he will never give in. Thw wounds already started to heal but Messlan knew that it wass too late. He looked up as his foe put his sword high above, preparing the killing blow. "I will await you there, Kuroyasha." For a moment silence was the ruler as Kuroyasha looked down to Messlan, looking for any hint of defeat, in the crystal blue eyes of his enemy. There was none. Then the silence was broken by a single phrase, repeated countless times across eternity, a phrase that had been said in lenguages since long lost, a phrase that defined something so old that its origin had been lost since before time was time. "There can be only one." The sword cut the air as it behaded Messlan, the body droping as life flew from it and blood started to flow. The smile never left Kuroyasha´s lips, even growing as _it_ started. Slowly the beheaded body started to glow, blue light surrounding the corpse. Then it levitated as the air arround it became saturated with power as the blue aura grew in size, soon the body was lost in the growing spere of energy as it expanded to swallow three blocks on every direction. Then it exloded in countless lightnings that impacted on Kuroyasha. The whole area seemed to explode as the rage of thousand upon thousand souls was released on the Quickening. Windows exploded and the ground was scorshed as if hell had been unleashed upon the world tearing it apart with fire, lightnings, and winds, the sound of destruction covering Kuroyasha´s shouts as the power filled him. Kuroyasha shouted as the Quickening was absorbed, almost tearing him appart as pain and pleasure battled, making all of his muscles to tense beyond their capacity as the previous destruccion grew tenfold. For what seemed an eternity, but had been instead minutes, Kuroyasha stood there roaring along with the unleashed power that cursed trough all Immortals making him to beat with the earth's flows of power in an experience that was like no other. But as quickly as it started the Quickening stoped. He dropped to his knees, panting as the last of the Quickening faded away, leaving for some time more small bolts of energy that crossed his body´s frame. "Soooo long..." He wispered, ecstasy in his voice. Then shabbily he rose and recover his sword that lay in the burned ground near him. The same evil smile was again upon his lips as he looked to the body of Messlan. "The Gathering is near." That said he depareted, the darkness of the night claiming him. ------------------------------------------------- The events of that night and of others to come, even if in the mortal world wouldn´t be explained, weren´t without repercussions upon several beings. In a temple, three goddesses were awaken by the backlash of the Quickening, but only two of them knew it for what it was, and for one of those two it was something more. In Juuban two women, that were known to the people in Japan as Sailor Mercury and Sailor Pluto, were both awakened by the display of power but their reaction was totally opposed. Ami awoke in a jump as her Mercury Computer exploded in a frenzy of light. She usualy let it connected at night in case of any strange event. Even if Setsuna had said that after Galaxia there will be no more battles all of the Sailor Scouts knew that some youma could still be lurking untill it had gathered enough power to show and create destruction. It was someting that none of them wanted but they were strong enough to deal with any rampaging youma. More it was their duty to defend the innocents from possible leftover of the Negaverse. Thus the reason why her computer was on, ready to record any strange manifestation, but until that night there was none. That´s why when her computer flared to life Ami nearly fell to the ground. She menaged to avoid such unfitting landing for a warrior of love and justice like her but she couldn' help but trowing a venomous glare to her computer, that for several minutes was buzzing with activity. Ami´s eyes widened when she saw smoke rising from it. Quickly she shut down its energy, efectively preventing the overload. Carefully she examinated her computer and after a close cheking activated it. It seemed to be working well. But her attention was to the datas that the computer had been taking. What she read prevented her in sleeping the rest of the night. For Setsuna it was different. She had already felt that kind of energies in the past; all along her life she had felt that sensation that was unique to the Quickenings. For the Quickening to be of that strenght it meant only that only one of the old ones had dired, another sign that the Gathering was near. The Gathering. It was something upon she could do only one thing, one thing that she had already done, that she had still to do, and that had closed her own destiny for all time. She hated it but being the Guardian of the Time Gate meant that she had to answer to other powers, other entities than even her death Queen would obey. And the order from that entity couldn´t be denied. How would you say no to God? How could she when she knew perfectly well what it would mean? How could she condemn humanity to eternal darkness? How could she destroy hope? Setsuna wep, tears of sadness, remorse and joy flew from her crimson eyes as she considered what she had done. What she had to do. Needless to say she wasn't able to close her eyes for the rest of the night. In another part of Tokyo three other people felt it. Two of them were old, older than what normaly was allowed to the human race. And in that long life both had crossed path with many incredible things. As did Setsuna they knew what had happened and both knew better than to enter in Immortal battles. Even if both were foolish in their own ways they would never mess with something that no mortal had business with. And if in their long lifes they had learnt something it was that no one could enter in the core of the wars between the powers that ruled the cosmos. Because that's what the Gathering, the duels and the Quickening were about: a war between powers that defied imagining. A war were the supremacy in the universe was disputed. No they would not interfer, but unknowing they had already done so. The last one was seventeen years old young man. >From his bed in his room at his mother's house, Ranma's eyes burst >open when he felt something. His senses atuned to feel ki were >screaming at him, feeding him with unknown sensations. It was as when he fired his ki blast or his aura. The same sense of power but it was more intense and raw. The sensations lasted only some minutes but the power generated by whatever it was seemed to make every particle in his body to tingle. Then it disappeared. For some minutes more Ranma remained unmoving, his breathing normal, but ready. Ready? For what? After some moments more he droped on his bed, looking at the ceiling, thinking on his problems. Maybe tommorow would be a beter day than the one that had just ended. Maybe... No. Tommorow, as yesterday, wouldn't be a good day. Ranma was many things but not delusional. Right now his future looked as bad as his past. Maybe if had a true friend... A friend. ------------------------------------------------- Juuban, next morning. House of Haruka Ten'ou, Michiru Kaiou and Setsuna Meiou. "Setsuna is what? Asked Haruka, incredulity in her voice. "Preparing breakfast, Haruka-papa." Said Hotaru as she smiled. "Tell me she's jocking." Said Haruka as she looked to her lover that was practicing with her violin. "She's not. I awake and found Setsuna already cooking. I don't understand it either." "Maybe she's bored?" Asked Hotaru. "Maybe." said Michiru And if it was so she wasn't the only one. Since the last battle with Galaxia and Chaos things had become boring. No youma, no danger that the Sailor Senshi could face. If what Setsuna had said was right then until the Great Ice thing would be dull, even boring, for the Sailors Scouts. But Setsuna making breakfast? That was weird if not downright frightening. It seemed so unlike Setsuna to be doing something so... so normal! Scary! "Interrupting our normal programation a special flash news from downtown Tokyo." All the eyes moved towards the ty set, where a beautifull TV reproter from the Japanese national TV was speaking. **"This morning another behaded body had been found. With this one the number of behaded corpses had increased to five in the last three weeks. The body is still to be identificated but it shows all the same marks that were found in the previous murders. Another troubling detail, that is common with the other behadings, is the state of the sourrounding area that it shows uncommon destruction, even if in ths case the ravages are much more critical than in the other crime scenary. The specialists of the police department had come to determine that the damages to the surrounding structures could be linked to the destruction a lightning storm can produce. But as to find how that kind of natural disaster can be reproduced within the urban limits of Tokyo is still a mystery. Is this the work of a lone killer or of some unknown crime group? Even so the causes of the damages is still to be resolved. Is this something natural or is it that behind the trail of behaded bodies is something more hidden? >From downtown Tokyo; Miki Fujisawa."** "Breakfast is ready," called Setsuna from the dinner room were all the food had been placed. Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru moved towards the table and sat as the music palyer filled the room with classical music. But even as they ate the surprisingly good breakfast Haruka couldn't help but think on the murders. "Hey Setsuna you heard about those killings?" Setsuna remained looking to her plate as she ate. "Yes I did." "And what do you think?" Asked the Sky Senshi. Setsuna continued eating without looking at Haruka. She, Michiru and Hotaru exchanged a look. Was the shared though. "Shouldn't we do something about it? It's our duty as Senshi to do prevent any innocent death." Setsuna slowly possed her coverts on her plate and looked to the other three Senshi. "Listen me well. In any case are you to disturb with those behadings." "WHAT? But people are diying Setsuna!" Exclaimed Haruka, Michiru and Hotaru nodding. Setsuna's eyes flashed. "There are things that are not within our sphere of influence. If you step in what is happening you risk to oppose forces that had been present since time is time and even before. Powers that have been looking to our work and had decided to not interfer the possibility of Crystal Tokyo to come to be a reality even if they had the power to prevent it. This is NOT a Senshi business and if you interfer you can end dead." "Dead?" "There are other powers loose in the universe that could care less of our battles. What could have been done is already done." That said she exited the room without looking back as three pair of eyes followed her. Though Haruka. If in that moment she had followed the green haired woman she could have seen her flushed, with tears falling from her crimson eyes as she hide in a shadowy corner. But she did not follow her fellow senshi as the phone started to dring, calling her attention. Michiru was already taking it and answering. After some moments she hung it and look to Haruka and Hotaru. "Ami want to see us this afternoon at the shrine. She says that something happend. Something big." "Perfect..." muttered Haruka, the feeling that peace had ended running trough her body. ------------------------------------------------- Paris. In a loft near the Seine a young man, completly naked, went trough a set of motions, his muscles slowly conecting with each other as his body tensed and relaxed as the it passed from stance to stance, forming an ancient kata that few in the world knew existed. The strikes were precise, slow yet strong, but all lethal as the man moved trough the empty space of his home. It was almost empty, few things filling it, some personal but most not as if he needed little even in his everyday life. A futon, a desk and a closet were the only things he disposed for his needs. >From his younger age he had been forced to live with the minimum >possible as he never had for a home more than the wilderness of Japan >and the dark, star filled skies and for belongings a backpack with >few clothes and little more. With the centuries that habit didn't change even if he acumulated wealth and earthly possesions that were stored by his few mortal and Immortal friends. Apart from those three mundane things and his body-care items (that were even fewer) there was the handfull of personal possesion scatered in the loft. There was a little shrine with an unknown deity represented in a human like bronze statue. Eyes closed, the face of the staue was filled with serenity even if it was clad on war clothing. The small shrine was put upon a long dark oak table that was only half foot from the ground, its short legs hidden under a dark coloured veil. At each side of it, on the furthest spots of the table were two china cups filled with white sand, two incense sticks standing on the white substance, both burning as they fred its soft aroma. And before the shrine upon the table, between the two cups, a long object was covered by a dark green silk tisue. The man stoped and moved towards the shrine, his body covered in sweat glistering on the light given by a few candles disposed on the room giving it an eerie feeling. He dropped to his knees and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He remained like that for some minutes as beds of perspiration traveld trought his well defined body, comletly soaked even to his air and pig-tail. Then with some reverance he took the cloth of green silk from the object it was covering. His eyes rested on it on its perfect beauty. Under the silk was an ancient, dragon headed katana, the black scabbard also glistering by the candles light, the silver on it shining golden-orange as the candles danced. The eyes of the man moved upon its entire lenght marveling, as always, by the sheer beauty of the sword even if the blade was still on its scabbard. Yet, the gold design of the tsuba, along with the reality of the dragon always marveled him. All the intrincate details of the ivory handle conspired to make the dragon as real as life, almost as if it would come to life under his blue grey eyes. His right hand moved towards the ivory hilt, closing upon it, the coldness of it making him to relax taunt muscles even if only a little. Then, almost too fast to be seen, he moved, spinning upon himself as he got up, the blade came free from its scabbard that remained on the table unmoving. The sword cut the air in a flash of silver, almost creating a vacuum as it sang with a clear sound. He started moving becoming a blurr, passing by all the forms of swordsmanship that had been created trough mankind history, as he darted, feinted, jumped, blocked, attacked. All against hundered of imaginary enemies that came from the dimly iluminated loft and the shadows of his mind. Sweat purred even faster than before, but he paid it no heed as he ignored the burning fire on his muscles. It was with the sword that he felt the most complete. Some could say that the sword is nothing more than a weapon that could be taken away from you, becoming a hinderance. But those that know enough percive the deadly truth. In some specific cases the whole body is the weapon and the sword nothing more than an extension of the flesh, of the heart, of the soul. He danced like that four hours, fighting off the limits of his strenght, before ending the flow of his katas as dawn approached trough the dark skies upon Paris. He droped, controling his move, ending where he started, in front of the shrine, the statue and the empty scabbard. But his flow alowed him to introduce the sword, its blade, within the black scabbard with a single "klick" that left the sword as unmoving as it was before, only some moisture against the handle could be a hint of the dance that had been performed. The man remained looking at it tough, sitting in seiza, his eyes lost on other times as his mind recalled thousands of memories link to the dragon headed katana. Slowly he muttered some words. "Faith, heart and steel." He sighed putting back the green silk upon the sword. Then he moved towards the desk where a glass of water was awaiting him. He took it and drank desperately from it. That done he moved towards one of the windows, the one nearest to him where he could see the taletale hints of the sun's comming, looking to the still sleeping city. He had seen many things in his travels, in the centuries he had lived but yet that city held something magical to him even if he had seen its first construction when the city was called Lutece. But in the following centuries he had come to love that city and it had been always there for him even in those dark days of occupation of the french capital by the forces of the Third Reich or even before, in more dangerous times, with the Terror of Robespierre. He loved Paris. He wasn't the only one though as a handfull of friendly immortal lived there as well. He sighed. Several of them had been killed recently another hint of the begining of the end. His eyes moved towards the desk once again. It was almost empty but for a letter bearing Japanese stamps. The letter within was made by a handwritting that he knew too well, even if it was written in another of those forgotten lenguages that only beings as old as Methos or even older could remember, alone use. It was rather short and straight to the point. As she was. ""Come to japan, Tokyo. I will be waiting you in Narita."" And it was signed by to inicials M.S. Well at least it would be intresting and it would help him resolve some unfinished matters with her. Then his eyes again returned to the lightening skies. "The Gathering is near." Indeed. He could feel it, calling at him as it sung to his blood. The call was still bearable and it would be for sometime more. It would be so until the weakest of them had been eliminated. As their numbers decreased so did, in reverse, the call. But right now it compeled him to move, to move towards Japan. Maybe the land of the gods would be the land to see the last of them arise with the prize? He sighed before going to take a long, hot shower. Then he would start moving. ------------------------------------------------- Evening in Japan. A temple, near the Nekomi Institue of Technology. Home of Morisato Keiichi and the goddesses Beldandy, Urd and Skuld. "Come back here squirt!" Shouted one sexy angered voice. "In your dreams old hag!" Shouted another energetic one. "Grrrrrrr!" Was the noncominment answer from the first voice. And so started another night as it generaly did. By this time Keiichi was almost used to it. Almost. But, as pondered the young man looking to all the fighting, it was different. Generaly Belldandy stopped it but this time she wasn't putting an end to it. thought Keiichi Morisato maybe the luckiest man alive. Or the unluckiest depending on the day of the week and on how you see all the mess that was his life since one fatefull call to a take out service. Right now Keichi was concerned as he looked to his beloved Belldandy, that was looking down with a worried frown on her face. After all the time they knew each other Keiichi could feel when Bell was concerned. But it was rare that the young goddess showed her concern so clearly. Generally she would see the world and any problem with optimism and a smile. But right now... Right now Keiichi was concerned, because the one he loved looked almost fearfull. "Belldandy?" He softly called. Said goddess looked to her love but even so she wouldn't give him one of those incredible smiles that made Keiichi's world to look brighter. "Why are you so concerned?" Belldandy remained silent for a moment. Both Skuld and Urd had neared the couple both with concern in their eyes by Bell's behaviour, so uncharacteristic. Urd soke. "You're thinking on the Gathering, right sis?" Both Kei and Skuld looked to the eldest goddess, the seriousness in her voice also unusual. "Gathering? What gathering?" Repeated Keiichi Belldandy sighed and looked to the mortal that meant more than life to her and to her youngest sister. "Not a gathering. THE Gathering." She looked to her eldest sister, that put a concerned hand upon her shoulder. "Skuld can't know about it, she's too young and I wouldn't know about it if I wasn't the goddess of the present." She sighed. "There is a race of men that since the dawn of time had been living among the other humans." "And what's so important with them?" Asked Keiichi. "They are special because they are Immortals." Answered Urd "Immortals?" "Yes very much so, passing trough the centuries almost unchanged. They are maybe the only beigns in all creation apart gods and demons that could live for all time if it wasn't for a single thing." "What thing?" Asked Skuld. It was the first time that she had heard about what her sisters were talking about. She was familiar with the older races, such as the people of Oberon and Titania but Immortals among humans that was something new. Belldandy kept silent so Urd soke. "They can die only if they are behaded. Across centuries Immortals have faced each others in duel; swordfights in wich the looser looses his head and the winner, by an energy transfer known as Quickening, absorbs all the power and knowledge of his defeated opponent." "Yuck!" Grimaced Skuld. "But there is not the problem." Said Belldandy. "No?" Asked Keiichi "You see there is a limited number of Immortals, maybe several milions of them between billions of other normal humans. A great number it's true but its still a limited number. Trough the millenias, with the endless duels the number of Immortals alive is decreasing. One time will come, a time already fortold to the first Immotals that the last remaing will fight until only two remain alive, and from that last duel a winner will emerge. As they say there can be only one." She paused. "That time is called the Gathering when the last of them will fight in a chosen place until the last of that kind remains. And from what we know the Gathering is near, very near." "So?" Asked Skuld snorting "It's stupid. Why kill each other if there will only remain one? They are idiots or what?" Urd shook her head unbeliving while Bell looked at her younger sister reprovingly. "They are forced to do that. And absolute power is nothing to laugh at." "Absolute power?" Asked Keiichi unable to understand that. And from Skuld reaction she was feeling alike. Belldandy nodded seriously. "Yes. The last one will collect within him all the Quickenings, all the knowledge and power of all the Immortals that had ever existed. Power enough to rule this planet and much much more. All the power for the winner, a power that in each immortal, with each passing day, with each felt emotion and experience, grows. For the One. And that untill the end of time and beyond." "But from where do the Immortals come?" Asked Keiichi. Belldandy sighed "No one knows, not even Kami-sama Himself maybe. Immortals aren't created. They are perfectly human until the time of their first death. Then from that moment on immortality seize them, preventing them in dying, healing all wounds. No sickness can reach them and with time they start to become stronger than normal humans." "But how could that be?" Urd spoke. "There are ancient forces from beyond this reality, that are alien even to us. Powerfull forces that predates the creation of this universe." "How is it possible?" Asked Skuld. "We don't know. Kami-sama seldom speaks of Immortals but one thing is sure. Even if they have to obey to most of the regulations of Yggdrasil, specially when they fight the One will not be regulated by the World Tree Program." "But then the One..." started the youngest goddess. "He will be untouchable by us or by Hell's forces." "So if he was evil..." started Keichii Urd spoke as Belldandy looked down unable to answer to the young man. "Humanity will suffer an eternity of darkness, us unbale to interfer with the winner. Believe me I know about it. I met some of them without them knowing that I am a goddess. Some Immortals are so evil that I can't start to describe their acts while some of them, the good ones, represent what is the best in mankind. Others try to stay as human as they can even living with normal human wifes and spouses." She sighed and for a moment it seemd that she wanted to say something more. That wasn't lost by Skuld nor keichi. "Yes? Go on sis!" said the techno-goddess "I knew one... One of the good ones... But he was killed some years ago. During 2000 years and more he tried to help humanity forming disciples that would go on with a message of peace. He was called Darius and I loved him. I hope that the one that killed him rots in Hell!" Both Kei and Skulkd expected the call from Kami sama to reprimend Urd from sworing but nothig happend. Belldandy put an arm arround her older sister trying to comfort her. "I know neesan. He grieves as much as you do." Urd smiled. "How comes I never knew about all of this?" Asked Skuld almost shouting. She hated to be put aside. Belldandy looked at her, but it was Urd who spoke. "Because the death of Darius as well as of other Immortals is not registred as the one of a mortal. Another of the reasons is that Yggdrasil doesn't rule them. It register them and act upon their surroundings to allow him or her to have a normal life as far as the human, non immortal world or rules, applies. And the common knowledge of Immortals is closed to most gods until the day of the Gathering. Only us, Bell and I are allowed to feel the moves of the Immortals or their fights as they are part of the past and present. Not the future because Immortals are not part of the flow of time as are other mortals but ironically their acts are registred as the one of other mortals." Urd sighed. "It's more, much much more complicated. The only one that understands it totaly is Kami-sama but He will never tell us the totality of the scope in this case." "But that's not important," said Belldandy. "What is important is that the final gathering is getting nearer. The remaining Immortals are stronger, older and they are being pushed to imcrease the fights even if so slowly." "And it will take place here in Japan." Sentenced Urd. "And there is nothing that could be done?" Asked Skuld. Urd looked to her youngest sister. "No. Nothing." "Belldandy?" Asked Keiichi. She looked at him, her wonderful crystal blue eyes holding him, with their love but now another set of emotion was there and chief among them was fear. "What would happen if an evil Immortal win the last fight? What would hapen to you? To us?" Belldandy took his hand and Keiichi could feel the gentle warmth coming from hers. "All contracs, all wishes would be cancelled as all the gods and demons would be expulsed from the Mortal Realm. No soul would be allowed to trascend it towards Heaven or Hell. Forever traped as vagrant spirits looking the darkness shwallow the world. Hope would die." A tear crossed her cheek. Keiichi wanted so much to confort her. "There is nothing we could do? Nothing at all?" He had to held to hope he had to. He couldn't imagine life or death without Belldandy with him. He just couldn't. She looked longly at him and nodded once. "The only thing that could have been done had already been done. But its price may be too much." "Why?" He saked. "Because it required the sacrifice of an innocent." Silence reigned on the temple as a single star crossed the dark skies. ------------------------------------------------- Narita Internation Airport. Some days later. He simply nodded when he reclaimed his special case with his sword from the authorites of the Japanese airport. He had already recovered his few equipages from the rolling band and then went to recover his sword from the control. It was expensive as hell but it was better to be in order if he had to remain a long time in Japan. He was returnig home. He knew it and accepted it. But he also accepted that he could perfectly die here. It was his destiny, for what he had been born but even so there was nothing that could tell if he would survive the comming apocalypse. But it left him with the possibility to put things right. He had awaited centuries to be able to do it but he knew that it wouldn't be easy, more with the other things that he had to resolve. But that doesn't mattered now. He could feel her. He exited from the airport's massive gathes and looked arround him. She had to be there. He knew it. Again that feeling. She was there. And so she was, her long dark green air flowing with the wind, the same wind that was carresing his skin. She was as beautifull as he remembered, even more maybe. Her crimson eyes still held that mysterious glimmer that seemed to swallow him. Gods he could sank on those crimson eyes and be glad that he was drowning in them. He droped his bag and let the case of his precious sword to crash against the ground but he paid no heed to it, all his attention on the woman in front of him. He moved towards her. ------------------------------------------------- Setsuna saw him move, his movements smooth, controled and so ever graceful. She always marveled looking him move... How human muscles could be at the same time so graceful and so powerful. But the emotions that he arroused in her let her always shivering. He dropped his bags and the case that held his sword. Then he davanced towards her and with each step her heartbeat increased. She looked at him, examinating him in the futil hope of slowing her heart before it burst from her chest. He was wearing faded blue jeans and dark short boots along a black t-shirt that showed his defined body and each powerful muscles of his chest. He was also wearing two black wirstband made of leather. Finally dark glasses that reflected the sun's light. He stopped in front of her, unmoving. She didn't dared to move. Then his left hand slowly reached the glasses and removed them, showing the blue grey orbs that were his eyes, eyes that seemed to be drinking her image and she wanted so much to loose herself in its depths. She looked down. After what she did to him how could he forgive her? Tears gathered on her crimson eyes. She closed them as the tears flowed from her eyes. Fingers caressed her cheeks as he chased her tears. Soft, strong fingers under her chin forced her, gently, to meet his eyes again. There she found no hate, no anger. Only forgiveness and love. "Ranma..." She wispered. Then he kissed her, his warm soft lips covering hers. A shock crossed Setsuna's body like an electrical discharge. Almost instinctively her hands moved towards his hips, moving him closer. His hands closed upon her body as he pressed her against his chest as she answered his kiss, both giving themselves in it, the kiss turning deeper, the passion growing between them. And for the first time in the last ten thousand years Setsuna Meiou, Senshi of Time, felt complete and at peace.