Astral Minds

Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and all related characters do not belong to me. None of the X-Men belong to me either.

* *: Thoughts

Capital letters: Shouting or loud noises

{ }: Author's own thoughts

_ _: Stressed words

[ ]: Chinese Language

< >: Psychic Projections

Chapter 4

Secrets and Engagements

A figure sat in the dark holding a telephone, although you could hardly tell it was a person at all. It looked more like a troll, or a living prune, or a mummy. ["I see."] Said the troll in a hoarse raspy voice. ["So the girl knows the chestnut fist."] the dark prune like figure sat back and the light shone on, um, her face. Cologne was not happy an outsider had somehow learned an ancient amazon technique.

["What should I do great grandmother?"] asked a young voice on the other end of the phone. Cologne continued, a plan coming to her mind.

["You know what you must do Shampoo! You must _kill_ the girl! I will come to Juuban and help should the task become dangerous. Wait for me to arrive before you take any actions. Do you understand?"] Shampoo nodded. You might wonder how an ancient amazon who lives in a village, that looks like it was made in the sixth century, would have a phone. Well they have their _contacts_.

Shampoo agreed to Colognes order, (not that she had a choice), and hung up the phone that she was using at the run down hotel. She turned around to see a couple of thugs behind her. "What you want?" She asked giving the small group of three men an impatient glare.

The man heading the little pack spoke. He was a large burly man with a receding hair line and too, too much body hair. He wore a white muscle shirt that was covered with sweat stains. His rough, dirty, ripped to shreds black jeans where a mess, He was currently smoking a cigar. "Hey _girly_. Me and my friends was thinkin maybe you and us could get together for a little _fun_." Shampoo attempted to ignore him and walk past the man and his goons, but he grabbed her by the arm stopping her. "We're not really giving you a choice." He said with a little menace.

Shampoo turned and glared at him for a second before flipping him into a wall. "Leave alone!" She yelled as he impacted with the wall. This was, to the other two goons, impossible. The girl was to small to hurl him like that.

"NOBU!" The one more concerned gang member yelled out. He was short and thin he wore a leather jacket that was pretty old and worn out, his hair was black and curly, he wore tight jeans, he was obviously the pretty boy of the group. The other guy who was tall with short cropped blonde hair stepped towards Shampoo with a switch blade that he had just released.

"Big mistake little girl!" He said as he swung the blade at Shampoo who swung back and kicked him in the chin sending him towards the other side of the room. The tall blonde man impacted with a table breaking it in two. Shampoo looked at the small pretty boy who had just gotten out of his shock and was now attacking with his bare fists. He swung several times but the purple haired amazon dodged every one with ease. She ducked under one of his punches and came back up with a clawed hand slicing four large gashes across his face.

He fell back on to the ground holding his face in pain. "AAAAAAAAHHHH MY FACE!!" He screamed. As he stumbled around the large room holding his face with his hands. Nobu who had just woken up from his location on the ground looked up at the girl who now sported two sets of nasty claws, that extended out of each finger. She looked at him with inhuman eyes that were yellow and seemed to glow with a feline amusement.

"Y-Y-Your a _MUTANT_!!" Nobu screamed at the girl. Shampoo looked confused.

"Not know what you talk about! Am warrior! Tribe respect power." Nobu got up off of the floor and ran away, leaving his two partners behind.

"I'm _OUTA_ here!" He yelled as he rushed out the door. *Ain't messin with no mutie!* He thought as he ran down the street towards anywhere but here. Shampoo shrugged as she watched the burly man run. She collected her self and headed out the same door taking to the rooftops to find Ranma Saotome.

She took no notice of the damage that she had left behind, or the frightened clerk behind the dirty counter muttering to himself. "M-my hotel...M-mutants."

*************

Ranma walked through the streets of Juuban heading towards home it was a fairly hot day out so she had stopped to get an ice cream. She found her girl form to be quite useful in getting free eats. She had only paid ten yen and gotten one of the largest sundaes there was at the small ice cream parlor. She patted her belly with a smile on her face. Of course she frowned as soon as she realized something. *Damn! I should have gotten some hot water while I was there!*

The petite red head girl continued on down the street towards her home. It was within her sight now. Food was the first thing to come across her mind and she speeded up her pace, being that it was supper time by now. Ranma leapt up onto a concrete wall and bounded for the Saotome household.

She landed down in the court yard and headed towards the open front door. She found Marina sitting cross legged at the table sipping some tea. He could hear Nodoka cleaning up in the kitchen and she took her place at the table. "Hey Rina." She said cheerfully to the mutant girl beside her. "Dinner ready yet?" Marina smiled.

"No Ranma, dinner is not ready. It will be soon though. Your father has invited some guests over for dinner." She said. Thinking on how nice it would be to have more friends, but also fearing that they may reject her.

Ranma was shocked out of his pleasant chat with her friend at her words. *Oh No! _Pop_ invited guests!? I better get some hot water he's probably got something stupid planned!* "Scuse me." Ranma said as she stood up and headed to the kitchen.

She saw Nodoka there working with pots and pans and many other dishes, trying to get supper ready on time for the guests. "Hey Mom?" Ranma began. She didn't however get to continue as she was cut off by Nodoka who spun around and gave the girl a quick hug.

"Welcome home Ranma." She said. She let go of her, grabbed a kettle that was sitting on a burner and handed it to the girl. "Here, change to normal and get dressed up. Your a mess. I don't want any arguments tonight. Soun is an old friend of Genma's and I want you on your best behavior." Ranma looked a little flabbergasted but nodded and headed to her room to get changed, in more ways than one.

Ranma closed the door to her room and got out a fresh pair of clothes from her drawer. She didn't have too many clothes and she made a note to herself to get some later on. She threw the clothes on the bed and then poured the contents of the kettle over her head. The change was instantaneous and she was now once again male. Ranma did a quick check on his powers and then his jaw dropped as he picked up the giddy thoughts of Genma Saotome his Father. *Oh Geeze! He _wouldn't_!*

************

The door bell rang. Genma who was in the living room jumped at the sound and rushed to greet the visitors. Genma didn't have to open the door being that it was left open to keep the house cool. He grabbed the thin middle aged man with the long black hair and the mustache in a firm hug. "Tendo!" He cried with tears streaming down his face.

"Saotome!" The other man cried much the same tears pouring from his eyes in buckets, threatening to dehydrate himself. The three young teenage girls who had accompanied the dark haired man, Akane who was one of them, looked on with disgust.

*Uuugh! Two grown men!* Akane thought as she looked on at the scene with a scowl. Kasumi the eldest of the three Tendo sisters stood behind the other girl smiling pleasantly. She wasn't fazed at all by the scene. Nodoka came up behind her husband and smiled to the three girls at the door.

"Please come this way girls dinner is ready." She said in a pleasant motherly voice. The three girls followed the woman into the home. Ranma sat at the table scowling at his lap, thinking about the stupid plans his father had. Nabiki, the middle Tendo sister, looked at the boy and gave him a smirk that promised torment.

*Hmm.* She thought. *He's a looker. I could profit well off a man like that.* Ranma looked up at the middle Tendo girl with a little bit of a smirk of his own. Nabiki pulled back her thoughts and looked away from the boy. *Creepy.* She thought. *It's like he was reading my mind.* She was right on the dot and Ranma had to keep from laughing. The thoughts he had read from his father had made sure of that though.

Marina was sitting beside the Jusenkyo cursed boy, half hidden by Ranma. Akane caught site of the girl however and stopped in her tracks, just staring. Marina looked away from the youngest Tendo girl and cringed. She had seen that look way to many times before. "MUTANT!" Akane screamed as she pointed at the snake-like girl and backed away.

Marina was about to get up and leave but Ranma stopped her with a firm hand placed on her shoulder. "Stay." He said to the girl, "They can deal with it." Ranma frowned as he glared at his father. Intents of mind spiking the fat martial artist ran through his mind and he nearly smiled at it.

Genma came in with Soun and led the girls over to the table. They all sat down Akane sat on the opposite side across from Marina, glaring at the girl. Soun was to giddy to Notice Marina and so was Genma. Nodoka went to the kitchen and got the feast she had prepared. She set it on the table sat down and they all gave thanks.

The meal proceeded normally, however Genma and Soun had kept on looking at each other and smiling. After the majority of the meal was eaten Genma stood up. With a glass of wine. He tapped the wine glass with his knife to get everyone's attention. *Here we go.* Ranma thought as he rolled his eyes.

"Everyone." Genma said. "As you all probably know, me and Soun have been friends for a long time, well before you all were born. He and I had made a pact long ago as well to unite the Tendo and Saotome schools of anything goes martial arts. I have been training my son Ranma here in the art so that he may one day take over." Soun stood up and continued not able to hold in his excitement anymore.

"So one of you girls will be marrying Ranma." He said. Silence fell over all present.

"WHAT!" yelled Nabiki and Akane simultaneously. Akane continued. "I won't marry him!" She yelled as she stood up and slammed her hands on the table. "He's just another pervert _BOY_!"

"There's no need to yell." Said Nodoka trying to calm the girls temper. She looked over at Genma. "Is this not a bit sudden husband?" She asked. Genma shrugged. Ranma stood up. All eyes were now on him.

"That's _it_!" He said as he glared at Genma. "I'm not putting up with your _crap_ anymore! I'm tired of you trying to sell me off to everyone. Now your making me marry some stranger just so you could have an early retirement! What the _HELL_ is wrong with you!?!" He yelled. Genma looked shocked.

"How did you..." He began.

"I can read your mind!" Ranma continued. "I've been able to read your mind since I was six years old! Do you know why I can do this?" He asked. Genma started to shake his head. Ranma continued on without hesitation. "It's because I'm a MUTANT!!" Genma couldn't take it anymore and fainted.

"I will accept the engagement." everyone looked over at the speaker stunned. Akane and Nabiki looked at Kasumi in total confusion. Akane got angry.

"KASUMI! You _can't_ be engaged to him! He's a m-m-MUTANT!" Kasumi did not retaliate she just sat there smiling. Ranma too was confused. For some reason he could not read her mind to figure out her reasons.

*She must be blocking my powers somehow.* He thought. *How could an ordinary...* The answer hit him like a ton of bricks. *Mutant* Akane was still voicing her reluctance to accept the engagement.

"Kasumi mutants are evil! You can't marry him he's a...FREAK!" Kasumi ignored the younger girl. "Being a boy is bad enough but he's also a _Mutant_!" Kasumi finally acknowledged Akane.

"Akane," She began, "Please stop stating the obvious." Kasumi took a sip of the tea that was in front of her. "After all I am one too." Akane was too stunned to process the information that her sister had just given her.

Soun was crying. But he didn't seem to hear all of the revelations that had been revealed after Kasumi accepted the engagement. "The schools will finally be joined! WAAAAAAAHHH!" Nodoka looked on at the scene of chaos in front of her. First her son reveals his powers, Kasumi turns out to be a mutant, Genma fainted, and the Akane girl seemed to be disgusted by both males and mutants.

"What a mess." She muttered to herself. She noticed that the only person who didn't seem to affected by any of this was Nabiki. Who just sat there watching everyone. "I think it's time you took your family and went home Soun." She said out loud. Soun Tendo turned the rainstorm down to just a light shower.

The Tendo patriarch led the girls out the door. "Come on girls. We need to get some sleep." Kasumi walked behind her father totally unfazed by the events, Nabiki followed only she had her trademark ice queen smirk on her face. Akane followed like a zombie of some sort. She stared off into nowhere in particular.

*************

(Three hours later)

Genma's eyes fluttered open as he regained consciousness. "Ohhhh. I had the most horrible dream." He exclaimed. He got up and stalked over to the kitchen where Ranma, Nodoka, and Marina were currently talking. Genma's curiosity got the better of him and he decided to creep up and see what it was they were chatting about. He peered around the corner to see.

Nodoka was currently glaring at Ranma. "Ranma, that was a very stupid thing telling your father that your a mutant. He wouldn..." Ranma cut her off putting his hands up to stop her verbal assault.

"Please keep it down Mom. Pops spying on us." Nodoka stopped and then walked over to Genma's location after Ranma pointed the fat martial artist out.

*My son is a mutant.* Genma thought in shock just before Nodoka grabbed his ear and led him into the kitchen. Ranma leaned against the kitchen counter with a tired look on his face.

Genma tried to get away but Nodoka insured that he stayed. "Yes Genma, Our son is a mutant. Just like Marina, he is a mutant." She said sternly just before letting go of his ear right in front of Ranma. Genma looked away not wanting to look his son in the eye.

"Well _Boy_! I guess this is why you have that soft spot for those freaks." He said with disgust. "Reading minds! How does that make you a Mutant!" He said. "For all you know those powers are just pure coincidence." Ranma walked away headed for his room. Seeing in Genma's mind that no matter what he said the man was convinced that Ranma was not a Mutant.

"Your in denial! _Genma_!" Ranma said as he ran up to his room. Marina could see that Nodoka wanted to have a _talk_ with Genma. She hastily ran after Ranma.

***********

Marina was about to knock on Ranma's door but the doorknob turned on it's own and the door swung open. "Come in." Came Ranma's voice from inside the room. Marina entered cautiously and she spotted Ranma lying on his bed looking up at the ceiling. "What do you want Marina?" He asked without emotion.

Marina walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Ranma smirked. "Why do I even need to ask? I can read your mind." He said with humor and sadness in his voice all at once. Marina put her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him, feeling that words weren't needed at all. Ranma put his hand over hers and smiled back slightly.

"Thanks." He said. "I really need it." Marina nodded in understanding.

"I know. My parents were afraid of me when I began to mutate." She said, her voice cracking a bit at the memory. "They threw me out and I've been on the run from humanity ever since. This is the first real home I've had in nearly two years." She paused bringing up the pictures and emotions from two years ago to the forefront of her mind, knowing that Ranma would see and feel all that she did. She wanted him to know that she knew how he was feeling.

Ranma smiled and sat up. "Do you think he can change without my making him?" He asked her. Marina didn't know how to answer that. She had seen how Genma reacted when he saw her, now he's found out that his only son is a mutant as well. She shook her head.

"I don't know." She said truthfully. "But...If we try maybe we can get him to have a little bit of a change of heart, with time." Ranma nodded. Marina continued. "And who knows if we could change him, maybe, just maybe we can change the world." Ranma smiled wide and sat up beside Marina.

"Your right." He said a new spark of hope entering his eyes. "From now on I'm gonna devote my time to helping mutants. I could teach them how to defend themselves. I could create a team like Charles Xavier and we could use all our powers to help mutants and normal humans alike." He said.

Marina just smiled wide. "It's good to hear you say that." She said, "I want to help also." Ranma nodded. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. She blushed and held a hand over her mouth to hide the smile that had formed on her lips.

"Thanks Rina." Ranma said. "Listen I gotta get to school tomorrow and I need to sleep. So I guess I'll see you in the morning?" Ranma said. Marina nodded.

"Yes I'll get to sleep too." She said as she stood up and headed for the door. "I will see you in the morning." She then rushed out the door and rushed to her room. She shut the door and changed into the Pajamas that Nodoka had given her the other night. She rolled into the guest bed, turned off the lamp on the night stand, and closed her eyes. She fell asleep very soon and found herself dreaming about the kiss Ranma had given her. Her dreams of course altered the kiss into something a little more deep.

Over in the other Room Ranma blushed. *I think I over did it just a little bit.* He thought just before falling asleep himself.

************

(Back in the kitchen)

"Nodoka. How could our only son be a mutant?!" Genma asked. "I've been raising the boy on my own since he was six years old! How will the schools be joined now?!" Genma began to ramble. "Maybe he's not, it's just a coincidence. I've never seen him use any powers before. He's messing with my head. But what if he is? We'll have to disown him."

Nodoka glared at her husband with anger. "Genma _STOP IT!_ I will not disown my only son just because he's different! I haven't seen him in ten years!" Genma glared back.

"But he's a _Mutant_!" He said.

"I don't care if he's a chimpanzee! He's my son! Now Genma you will learn to deal with Ranma's differences! Do you understand me?!" Nodoka said.

"But the pledge..." Genma started.

"If you do not, I will go through with the consequences of unmanliness that I had you pledge when you took Ranma on that trip!" Genma gulped at his harsh words. She would most definitely gain custody of the boy and he was not ready to live alone, of course Tendo might give him a room...

Nodoka's icy glare broke through the fat man's idiotic reverie and he nodded hesitantly. "Good!" Nodoka said. "Now about this pledge of yours and Soun's. I think Ranma is too young to be getting engaged to some girl."

Genma's jaw dropped. "NO! The boy is a great man he is definitely ready to marry one of the Tendo girls! It's for the sake of the anything goes schools!" Nodoka smiled and turned away.

"Well one of those Tendo girls is a mutant too you know." She said. Genma's jaw dropped once again.

"WAAAAHHH?" He intelligently implored. Nodoka nodded.

"That's right dear one of the girls had revealed it at dinner when you passed out. She also accepted the engagement." If Genma's jaw dropped any more it would have put a large pot hole in the tiled kitchen floor.

"You mean...?" Genma's idiotic mind began too plot. *Hmmm? If the boy is a mutant and his wife is a mutant with super powers I'll have my early retirement and then...theeen.* Genma got an evil looking smirk on his face. *And if I can find some cure for their mutation then there'll be no more trouble!*

Nodoka didn't like the look her husband was getting on his face. *Uh Oh! That's how he and Soun used to look whenever they where planning something stupid.* She frowned at Genma. *I hope it's not too dangerous.*

Genma composed himself and looked Nodoka in the eye seriously. "Yes my wife I will apologize too Ranma and I will respect his differences."

Nodoka put her hands on her hips. "Not just Ranma." She said sternly.

Genma sighed. "Okay. I'll respect Ranma's, and all other mutants, differences." Nodoka nodded. And folder her arms across her chest.

"That's better!" *I hope.*Nodoka knew she'd have to keep an extra carful eye out on Genma he was sneaky and dumb and would probably get Ranma into a lot of trouble.

***************

The next day Ranma awoke to the smells of breakfast. *Ahhh. Marina's cooking.* He thought as he scanned the kitchen to see what was being made. *Eggs, toast, noodles. Breakfast of champions.*

Ranma got out of bed and got dressed quickly he then rushed down the stairs as fast as he could hoping to get as much food in his belly as he possibly could before he and Marina had to head for school. "Good morning Ranma." Nodoka said as she met him at the bottom of the stairs.

"Mornin mom." Ranma cheerfully replied. He headed for the table awaiting to be served. He wasn't disappointed and his snake skinned friend soon exited the kitchen and set the food on the table.

"Here you go Ranma." Marina said as she set a plate heaping with food in front of Ranma.

"Thanks." He replied as he started shoveling all the food down his throat. He decided that now would be an opportune time to try out his new telekinetic idea that had come to him last night. Genma had his face buried in the morning paper. Ranma wiped his mouth and looked over to Marina who was daintily picking at her reasonably smaller portion of food. "Hey Rina. Looking forward to school today?"

Marina nearly choked on her food at Ranma's casual question. "_S-s-School_!?" she asked surprised. "But I'm hideous I'd be singled out and everyone would hate me!" She said with a saddened expression. Ranma shook his head.

"I don't see why." Ranma started "You look perfectly normal."

Marina blushed. "Your just saying that."

Genma who had not been paying attention to the conversation Ranma was having looked up from the paper to see Ranma talking to a normal looking girl, the girl had a long brown ponytail running down her back. And her skin was a soft looking as silk. "Who are you?" He asked. *I didn't see anyone come in.*

Marina looked over at Genma in confusion. "Saotome-san how could you not recognize me?" She said pointing to herself in emphasis.

Genma shook his head. "I've never seen you before in my life girl." He said. "I would have remembered such a pretty face." Marina blushed furiously. Ranma smiled and directed a mental message to Marina.

<Marina. I made you look normal.> Ranma began. Marina spoke out loud.

"But how?"

<Please Marina just think the words I can read them directly from your mind.>

Marina nodded. *How did you make me look normal? Is it permanent?* Ranma mentally shook his head.

<No. It's a telekinetic projection.> Ranma began.

Marina was confused and it showed on her face. *What's that?* Ranma began to explain.

<Well I can use my telekinetic powers to create images and illusions just like I can with my psychic powers this way we can both go to school together and have a little bit of normality.> Marina smiled.

*So I can finally do all the things normal teenagers do now?* Marina began to think of all the things that she could now do instead of being cooped up in the house all the time.

Ranma cut off her thoughts. <Weeeeeeell... It's a little bit more complicated than that. You and I are the only ones who see you how you really are, others see you as a pretty average teenage girl with brown hair. However the illusion only works on the eyes. If you were to shake someone's hand they would be able to feel your scales and maybe even figure out that your a mutant.>

Marina's face turned into a saddened frown. *So I can't have any physical contact.* She thought.

Ranma looked apologetic. <Yeah pretty much, but Hey! You can still touch me I wouldn't even know the difference.> He thought trying to give her a little bit of confidence.

Marina smiled at the pigtailed psychic. *Yeah your right.*

Genma looked at Ranma and Marina as the two had their mental conversation with each other. Their expressions were changing again and again, yet no word had been spoken between them. *Strange kids.* Genma thought. *I'll never understand the youth of today.

Nodoka came out of the hall way and fixed Ranma with a glare. "RANMA!" Ranma jerked out of his seat and his mom picked up a bento off the counter and threw it at him. "Get out the _door_! You'll be late for school!" Ranma looked at the clock and saw that he only had about fifteen minutes to get all the way to Furinkan.

"Oh No!" He exclaimed as he got up and headed for the door. He remembered something at the last minute and rushed back to the table. He picked up a glass of water and splahed himself turning himself into a girl again. He looked over at Marina who still had the illusion placed on her. "Come On Rina!"

With that Ranma rushed over to Marina and picked her up, cradling her in her arms. "What are you..." She began but was cut off by her own screams as the boy turned girl leapt to the rooftops and headed for school.

************

Akane walked to school no emotion crossed her face as she thought back to the events of the previous night and the revelations that had been voiced at the dinner. *I can't believe Kasumi is a mutant.* She thought she then though back to the talk they had after the dinner once they got back home.

(Flashback)

The Tendo family entered the Tendo household each person having a different expression on their faces. Kasumi entered first and began folding the laundry. Akane approached and then.

"MUTANT!?!" The youngest Tendo daughter screamed startling Kasumi out of her wits. "You were joking back there right Kasumi? Your not a mutant you were just joking right?" Akane said hopefully. She had seen on the news several times about how dangerous mutants were. The news said that they were all evil and sought to take over the world and get rid of humanity.

Kasumi looked at Akane strangely. "What are you talking about Akane?" Akane sighed. She was relieved.

"Oh thank god you were just joking Kasumi!" She said nearly dropping to the floor in relief. "When you said you were a mutant I nearly had a heart attack. It's bad enough that you accepted that engagement I mean..."

"Of course I'm a mutant. Why would I lie to you about a thing like that?" Kasumi asked confused as to why her sister would think she would lie to her own family.

Akane once again froze in shock. "You mean you are a mu-mut..." Kasumi nodded. Akane stepped back. "G-Get a-away...f-f-from me you evil mutant!" Akane warned as she backed away from her older sister. Kasumi looked at Akane horrified.

"Evil!?! Akane how could you say something like that!?" Kasumi said. "Ever since mother died I've taken care of all of you and now you say I'm evil just because I carry an extra couple of chromosomes that make me a little different?! I'm so ashamed of you Akane!" Nabiki walked up behind Kasumi with her trademark smirk on her face.

"Well I think it's cool." She said.

"Nabiki! How can you say that she's a mutant!" Akane almost screamed. Nabiki ignored her and continued on, while she examined Kasumi.

"So what do you do Oneechan?" Nabiki asked. "And how did you manage to keep it a secret from me of all people all these years?" Kasumi smiled glad to see at least one of her sister had a little bit of sense.

"Well I..."

"Mutant? What's this about a mutant?" Soun asked as he finally stopped his waterworks and came around the corner to see what was going on. Nabiki answered his question for him.

"Kasumi is a mutant and she's just revealing that now." She said, a little excitement hidden within her voice. Soun just shrugged his shoulders.

"Stranger things have happened to me and Genma on our old training trips." He said and then began to walk away. Akane was now getting angry.

"DAD! How could you just _Shrug_ this off!?! She's a mutant!" Soun just looked to his daughter in confusion.

"So?"

Akane stormed off to her room. "Your all INSANE!" She screamed and then she slammed her door and lay on her bed. *My sisters a freak* She thought before she fell asleep.

(PRESENT)

Akane humphed and turned her nose to the air as she thought of this. *Their all a bunch of mutant lovers!* She thought angrily. Her features softened a bit. *But she is my sister... No! She's a mutant and they're _Evil_!* She entered the gates not noticing the horde of male students rushing towards her yelling her name and proclamations of love. She just about walked right into the crowd of armed males but was suddenly stopped.

Ranma was soaring over the roof tops almost literally as she leapt thirty feet distances over the buildings. She held Marina in her arms who wore blue jeans and a blue sweater that came down just to her elbows. However the snake skinned girl looked like a normal brown haired teenage girl thanks to Ranma's mutant powers.

At first Marina had been scared out of her mind of the roof leaping that Ranma was partaking in but after about two minutes she became very confidant that she would not drop her. Now? She was just bored. She sighed. "Are we there yet Ranma?" She asked as she looked up into the redhead's large blue eyes.

Ranma nodded. "Yeah we're almost there." She replied. She took one last giant leap and landed on the outer wall that surrounded the school. She set Marina down. The snake skinned girl, with the full body illusion placed on her, put her hands on her hips.

She cleared her throat. "AHEM!" Ranma looked over to her with confusion.

"What?" Marina rolled her eyes.

"You could at least set me on solid ground." She said as she motioned to the grassy earth below the wall. "I'd probably break both my legs jumping down from this high." Ranma put her hand up and scratched the back of her head in a gesture that Marina found way too cute.

"Oh yeah, heh, sorry bout that Rina." She said. She picked her up and jumped down to the ground. Ranma immediately noticed the hundred or so boys in various sporting equipment running towards the gates of school and she decided to go and see what was going on. "Wait here." She told Marina as he jumped back onto the wall to get a better vantage point.

"Okay" Marina said as she watched the pigtailed Martial artist run off. She sighed. And sat on the ground to wait. Not knowing what else there was to do.

*************

Ranma was shocked apparently all of those boys were planning on beating up Akane. Who was spaced out and headed right for the crowd. It didn't take a psychic to know that. The pack was almost upon the girl and Ranma jumped down. She lifted the Tendo girl into her arms and leapt up to the schools surrounding wall. She set Akane down and jumped into the fray. "Wait here!" She told the dark haired girl. "I'll take care of this."

Akane wasn't even paying attention until the part where Ranma said she was going to take care of the fight. Her fight. *How _DARE_ she interfere in my fights!* Akane thought as she fumed over the days current event.

The Furinkan Akane admirers almost stopped in their tracks as Onna-Ranma jumped down and began to beat the living CRAP outa them. Many looked confused, many ran away seeing that she was kicking their ass's. Others didn't even notice her and continued after Akane. Ranma ran through the morning mob like a hot knife through butter.

The pigtailed girl spin kicked one of the hockey clad boys and then followed through with a right hook to one of the tennis clubs boys. She did a back flip, catching the Sumo team captain by the neck in mid flip, and threw him into a group of various males flattening them totally. Akane jumped down from her perch and began attacking the boys as well.

Ranma noticed this and yelled out to her. "AKANE! I SAID I'D TAKE CARE OF THEM!" She said as she knocked another three boys out with a spin kick combo. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!" Akane just frowned at the redhead.

"THIS IS MY FIGHT! I DIDN'T ASK FOR _YOUR_ HELP!!!" She screamed back as she just plowed through about ten boys like a human sized bowling ball. Ranma rolled her eyes as she upper-cutted one boy onto the roof of the school and elbowed someone who had come up behind her.

"OH COME ON AKANE! IF I HADN'T GOTTEN HERE WHEN I HAD YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOUR ASS KICKED!!" Ranma screamed back. Akane just humphed and knocked out the last of the male students through a wall. Akane walked towards the entrance to school.

"I can take care of my _self_!" she said as she entered the building. Ranma just stared off after her in amazement. Marina walked up behind her and put her hand on her shoulder. Ranma motioned for the snake mutant to follow as he entered the building.

"Let's go." He said. "We still got to get you registered." Marina nodded and followed the Jusenkyo cursed boy into the building.

*************

Beyond the school walls in the bushes Shampoo and Cologne lay waiting for the right moment to strike. Shampoo marveled at the strength and skill of the girl and felt a little regretful that they had to get rid of such talent. "Great grandmother why must we kill girl?" She asked. Cologne bopped her on the head with her staff.

"Girl the secrets of our tribe must not be known by outsiders! If we allow this girl to live she may teach others and then the secrets of our tribe will be known to all! We _can't_ let that happen. It is your duty as champion to kill the girl." The gnarled old woman said in a crackly voice that held wisdom of the ages. "Now don't disappoint me! I want you to keep it quiet. she is powerful and may give you trouble."

Shampoo nodded and then turned her smooth hands into large, razor sharp, feline, claws. "Yes great grandmother." Shampoo leapt over the wall and into the courtyard. She crept along quietly, not making a sound at all. She extended her claws and latched onto the concrete wall of the school then began climbing up to the second floor where Ranma's period one class was.

She smiled. Her prey was standing at the front of the class talking to her teacher about something. Shampoo balled her hand into a fist, and punched a hole through the wall, leaping through the hole and towards the startled girl claws poised for a quick clean kill.

***************

{That's chapter four of Astral Minds. Tell me what you think of it and also of any idea's you may have for future chapters. I spent most of my time the other day writing this while listening to Sum 41, which is by the way a kick ass band, and Blink 182's new album. I really like punk rock music. It all started with Green Day. Anyway The next chapter is Ranma's showdown with Shampoo, What are Marina's powers? what are Kasumi's powers? What is Genma planning? Who's the new mutant? All this and more in ASTRAL MINDS Chapter 05. I'll be starting Dragon's bond as soon as I'm finished chap 05 then I'll be doing a bit more on Saotome blade. And for those of you who like Agasaki Ishano's X-Prov, chapter two of that will be out very soon. For those that like to laugh.

Adamantium Rage is on suspension. I'm going to be working on DB in place of it. Those of you that love Slayers are going to love this. Those of you that really liked AR will be a little disappointed but I have no idea how to write chapter 02. From now until the end of summer, beginning of school, I will be updating only once or twice every two weeks maybe. I know it sucks but life's a bitch. If anyone wants to write the second chapter to AR they can go ahead and do it, then they can send it to me and I'll go over it and fix it up a bit so that it fits in the way I want with the story. I do have big plans for AR it's just writers block or something.

That's all my ramblings see yah next time.

Morden Night}