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 2

Homecoming

Ranma and Genma were walking down the streets of Japan. They were both currently in their cursed forms being that it was raining outside. Ranma had a smile plastered on her face as she walked thinking about her mother and how happy she'd be to see him. Genma however was frowning. He did not want to face her wife with Ranma when he was cursed to turn into a girl at the splash of cold water. She was shure to consider that unmanly.

Genma turned down a road on his way to Tendo's house hoping Ranma would just follow. Since he hadn't seen his mother in ten years he couldn't possibly know the directions there. However as she turned down the road Ranma continued walking forward in her original direction. "Ranma!" He called. "Aren't you coming?"

The _boy_ in question turned to look at his idiotic father. "Dad Moms house is this way." *If that guy thinks of trying to marry me off to any other strangers I am going to mind spike him so painfully...*

"I just have a little errand to run Ranma it will only be a few minutes." Genma said trying to persuade his son to go along with him. Ranma shook her head though.

"No way old man I promised Mom that she'd be the first person who we'd stop by to see." Ranma said as she shrugged and began walking towards her mothers house.

Genma ran up to his son turned daughter and grabbed her by the shoulder. "Are you mad Boy? Look at our current forms we cant go to see your mother like this! She'd, uhm, _kill_ us!"

Ranma laughed. "HA, HA, HA!! You think mom would be mad that we accidentally fell into a spring that turned us both into girls? It's not even permanent so what's the big deal? Besides we can change before we get there." Ranma said and then she turned and headed off into the district of Juuban.

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

Onna-Ranma and Onna-Genma walked up the stone path that led up to the house that was Nodoka Saotome's. Ranma had to control herself not to run up and just rush in to see her mother. It had been so long. If he hadn't located her with his powers he probably would have thought that she was dead. Having not seen her for so long.

As The two travelling Martial Artists walked under the awning that was just over the front door, Ranma pulled out two thermoses handed one to Genma and kept one to himself. He poured the contents of the thermos over top of her head turning her male again. "Aaah good to be back!" Ranma said.

Genma repeated the actions that Ranma had and turned himself back into a male. "I don't know Ranma I feel pretty good in my other form." Ranma scanned his mind noticing that he was serious. Ranma decided to play along as if he didn't know.

"You're kidding Right Pop?!" Ranma paused looking thoughtful. "Well gee Mister Saotome that doesn't sound very manly now does it?" Ranma said in mock humour.

Genma sweated. "Um. Well you know I lose a lot of weight when I'm in girl form, so I just, Uh, feel a lot more healthy. Almost like a kid again. Yeah that's it." Ranma smirked and sent a mental message to Nodoka who he could sense was in the house. Soon after he had sent it. Nodoka herself burst out the front door. With a smile plastered across her face like a kid at Christmas.

"Ranma!!" She nearly screamed as she threw herself at her only son. Crushing him in a warm hug. "Oh Ranma I was getting so worried I hadn't heard from you in _weeks_! What happened?" Ranma smiled and motioned towards the house.

"I think that we should discuss that inside." Ranma said. Nodoka nodded and was about to walk in when she noticed a man standing beside her son. At first she didn't recognise him but it finally dawned on her who it was once she got a good look.

"G-Genma!?!"

Genma smiled at his wife sheepishly and gave a little wave. "H-Hullo No-chan." Nodoka jumped on Genma holding him in a crushing embrace that a certain Amazon would have been green with envy upon observing.

"Oh Genma! I couldn't even recognize you with hair. Where did you get that gorgeous hair?" She asked while stroking the newfound hair of her husbands, which was tied back in a rough ponytail. Genma sweated. Nervous of giving the answer in fear for his life and also having not been this close to his wife in so long. Genma blushed.

"There will be time enough to tell of our tales later No-chan. It's a little more difficult than you think." Nodoka blushed herself and stepped back out of the way of the door motioning for the two travel weary martial artists in.

"Goodness where are my manners?" she said. "Please come in." Genma and Ranma did as they were told and entered the Saotome home. The first thing that came to Ranma's mind was.

*Home sweet Home!*

***********

Later at the dinner table Ranma sat with Nodoka and Genma who was looking nervous at every little movement that his wife made. Nodoka had prepared a feast for her long lost family even though it was nowhere near supper. Nodoka after swallowing a bit of the home cooked cuisine locked eyes with her son in a steady gaze.

"Now son." She said. "Why is it that I have not heard from you for the last couple of weeks?" Ranma finished slurping up some noodles from his bowl and looked at his mother already knowing what she was going to say before she even said it.

"Well mom," He began, "It started just before that when we were headed for out last training area..." Ranma explained to his mother about the training ground with Genma trying to shut him up the whole time, and he got up to the part where the head pains had made him lose his balance, when he heard a mental call for help in the distance. "Excuse me." He said as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve and got up heading out the front door and leaping to the roofs.

"Wait Ranma!" Nodoka called as the boy jumped out the door but it was too late he was gone. "Where is he going?" She asked Genma who was at her side staring after his son. The fat man just shrugged his shoulders. Nodoka walked back to the table. "Now, why don't you finish off this story husband?" She asked as she began to lightly pick at her food.

Genma sweated. "Well I believe it would be best for Ranma to tell it after all it is his tale." Genma said trying to make his voice sound less shaky. He wasn't very good at it and Nodoka noticed the sweating.

*Oh no! He's probably gone and done something stupid again.* She thought. Dark images danced through her mind of Genma's punishment, had he hurt Ranma. None were pleasant.

**********

Ranma raced across the rooftops homing in on the screams in the distance. He could sense many other thoughts among the screams. Most were angry for no reason at all. He rushed to the scene in hopes that he wouldn't be to late to be of some help.

**********

Seven teenagers were in an alley. All of them sported leather clothing with various chains and spikes protruding from them. They all had weapons that were fairly crude like pipes and wooden boards. A girl stood in the alley a distance from them wearing a dark hood over her head covering her features from view. Her cloak was torn all over and was very dirty.

One of the gang members who sported a lead pipe bore down on the girl who took a step back in fear. "Yeah you better be afraid Mutie! Cause we're gonna beat you and all your other genetic trash friends with you." The boy rapped the pipe he held in his palm for emphasis.

The girl screamed and ran away further into the dark alley. "GET HER!" One of the thugs yelled as the gang gave chase.

Marina Kitata was the girls name. She was indeed a mutant. She had gained her mutant powers along with her different appearance at the age of 14. Since then she has been an outcast. Living on the streets of Tokyo, feeding on small vermin and garbage of others after being thrown out of her home for being different.

She was not having a good day today. Not that any day she had was actually good. She had been feared from all who saw her, what most considered, hideous features. She ran for her life. Though it was in vain as she came upon a dead end. She looked around for someplace to hide, someplace to get away. But there was nothing. Her hood fell down as she whipped her head around to see the gang almost upon her. She had a snake like appearance scales of different shades of green adorned her face and hands. Her face was slightly different than normal giving her a little more snake like appearance. Though if one bothered to actually look they would see her beauty.

"Well, well mutie. Looks like the end of the line for you now doesn't it?" The ring leader of the gang said in a menacing voice. The gang approached her and all she could think of was escape but there was no place to escape to. She screamed hoping someone would hear her. Hoping that somebody would care.

"Screaming ain't gonna do you a whole hell of a lot Mutie! No one cares about you and your kind!" The boy said. The snake like girl fell to her knees crying. Hoping they would show some amount of mercy. But it was all for naught as the gang rushed her and began to beat her with their weapons.

She could feel every single blow and each one hurt more than the last every time. The gang leaders lead pipe hit her in the head causing her to lose consciousness but they weren't looking to hurt they were looking to kill. They continued to strike at the broken and bloody girl on the ground. Just then they all stopped as three of the gang members dropped to the ground unconscious themselves.

"What the HELL!" The gang leader exclaimed as he looked around to see what was causing his men to fall. He didn't have to look very far. Behind the gang stood a pigtailed boy about the same age as them wearing a red silk Chinese shirt and black pants. "Who the HELL are _you_!?!" the gang leader asked. Clearly miffed at the interruption.

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

Ranma jumped down into the alley, not making a single sound. He saw the girl fall to the ground unconscious and the boys continued to beat on her. He sent out three mind spikes to three of the gang members. Sending them into unconsciousness themselves.

The rest of the gang turned around to meet the anything goes martial artist's fiery gaze. "Who the HELL are _you_!?!" asked the man who he had guessed was the leader of the gang. Ranma got into an offensive stance.

"The names Ranma Saotome of the anything goes school of martial arts." He said. "Step away from the girl." He said in a voice that brooked no argument. The gang leader looked confused.

"What are you talkin about?" The leader asked as he moved out of the way so that Ranma could see the girl. "This ain't no girl! This is a freakin _Mutant_!" Ranma didn't ease up on his stance at all. Instead he just repeated his earlier warning.

"I said step away from the girl. Or _else_!" The gang pulled their weapons up in a threatening manner.

"Yeah? Well who's gonna make us Mutie lover? You?" Said the gang leader.

Ranma just nodded. "I warned you!" He yelled as he jumped towards the gang. Ranma's foot connected with one of the gang members skulls and sent him flying towards one of the walls. He was rendered unconscious by the blow and the impact combined. Ranma back handed another one that tried to hit him with a wrench. Ranma sent all the other flying towards another wall using his telekinesis. They all impacted with the wall very hard and crumpled into a heap on the ground.

One of the boys got knocked unconscious by the collision and there were only two remaining standing. The leader of the gang held his head in pain and stared at Ranma in shock. "Y-Y-YOUR A FREAKIN MUTANT TOO!!" He yelled. Ranma shrugged his shoulders getting into a more casual yet just as guarded stance.

"Maybe. What's it to yah?" He asked with a cocky smirk. The leader didn't answer he just ran at the young martial artist with a primal battle cry. After pulling a switch blade from inside his pocket and flicking it open.

"RAAAAAAGGHH!" The leader slashed at the pig tailed boy but he dodged and elbowed the teenage gang leader in the back breaking a couple of ribs with the blow. He looked to the last standing gang member. And smiled.

"You want some?" He asked. The boy with humor and a little menace lacing his voice.

The thug seeing what all had been done to his friends ran out of the alleyway screaming. Ranma shrugged and bent over the mutant girl. He felt her scaly neck for a pulse and he found one. "Good." He said. He picked the snake like Marina up and draped her carefully across his shoulders. He then leapt onto the rooftop and began his trek home. Also sending a message home to Nodoka.

<"Mom? I'm bringing a guest home. She's hurt and I want you to treat her with the utmost respect."> Ranma sensed that His mother had received the message good. And he soon arrived home.

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

Nodoka's head popped up as she received a message from her son. Genma noticed this and asked her. "No-chan? What is it?"

Nodoka waved it off. "Oh it's nothing to concern yourself with husband. Ranma is just bringing home a guest." She said casually.

Genma looked at her odd. "How do you know he's bringing company over?" He asked. Nodoka blushed at her slip up.

"Oh, um nothing dear. I just had a feeling he was going to bring a friend over. That's all." She said. Genma nodded and lay down on the couch for a nap.

Soon Ranma burst through the door. Carrying a snake like girl clad in a ruined cloak. Her scales glistened like emeralds. In the sunlight. And Ranma set her down on the ground. "Mom? Could you get a futon for her?" He asked as he cradled her head. Nodoka nodded ignoring the odd looking Mutant girl to get a futon like her son had asked.

She came back and she unrolled it Ranma lay the girl down on it and set a pillow under her head. Genma awoke to the noise of Ranma coming home and stared at the creature on the futon. His eyes went wide with fright as he remembered a news report he had seen in a shop window once.

The fat martial artist jumped to his feet and rushed to his families side pushing Nodoka and Ranma away and then stepping back him self. "RANMA! What do you think your doing bringing that thing home!?!" He yelled. Ranma pulled him self to his feet and Glared at his dad.

"POP!? What are you talking about?! Can't you see she's hurt?!" He yelled back nearly as loud as his father had. "She's hurt so I brought her home so she could rest up!" Genma looked at his son with horror and anger.

"BOY! Don't you see that's a _MUTANT_!?! Those things are _dangerous_!"He counter yelled. Ranma was about to retaliate again but his mother stopped their squabble before he could do so.

"BOTH OF YOU STOP IT!!" She yelled. Genma crossed his arms and stepped back glaring at his son. Ranma stood there in his place ready to mind spike the man if he decided to continue his bitching.

"Now Genma I don't want to hear anymore complaints from you. This girl is a Mutant yes but she is hurt and needs rest. This is my house and Ranma did a good thing in offering her hospitality. It was a very manly thing to do."

Ranma looked at his mother in confusion. *there she goes with the manliness thing again.*

Nodoka continued. "Now Genma. You will put up with our guests no matter how different they are. Whether they be white, black, red, purple, or even Mutant I will not have that discriminating attitude in my house. Now you apologize to Ranma!" She said with daggers in her eyes.

Genma lowered his head but complied with his wife. "I-I'm sorry Ranma. I'll be nice to your _Mutant_ friend." Ranma frowned sensing the hidden meaning in his fathers voice. He couldn't believe that Genma was a mutant hater. The young martial artist felt like continuing and telling the fat man that he was a mutant too but decided against it.

"Apology _accepted_." He said in a very sarcastic tone. Ranma then went to the kitchen to get some ice to place on the snake skinned girls head.

***********

Marina woke up to find herself in a nice room. There was a boy sitting beside her holding something cold to her head. The boy smiled at her. She wasn't sure what to think or do. She was not used to having people smile at her. Yet here was a boy that was sitting there taking care of her. She held one scaley hand to her head as the boy lifted what looked to be ice off.

"W-Where am I?" She asked the boy sitting there. Ranma put a finger to her lips to shush her.

"SSHHH." He said. "You have to rest. Your not fully healed yet. And as for your earlier question your at my mothers house." The girl tried to get up but as she did pain shot through her body like lightning.

Marina fell to the ground she noticed that she had a pillow beneath her head. "Thank you." she said. Ranma waved it off.

"Aaaah it was nothing. I always like to help those that can't help themselves." Behind Ranma Genma grumbled on the couch. Looking over the scene with disgust. He couldn't stand to see his son fondling over that genetic piece of trash. Ranma frowned at his fathers thoughts as he treated one of Marina's cuts.

Ranma smiled back down at the girl. "How did I get here?" She asked the pig tailed boy who by her point of view was very attractive. Ranma frowned as he thought back at the event in the alley.

"Some thugs were trying to kill you in that alley I found you in. I beat the hell out of them and carried you home so I could take care of you." Ranma said in a soft pleasant voice even though it was lined with hate for the ones who had caused her harm. "I tell you the things some humans do to each other, just cause they're a little different."

Marina was surprised here was a boy who looked 100% human and he considered her his equal. He said she was no different than other people. *Only a little different?* Marina thought. "Am I not grotesque to you?" She asked. "I am far more than a little different from ordinary people." she continued with a sad look. Her eyes downcast on the floor.

Ranma lifted her chin so she looked straight t him. "Hey." he said. "You look just fine the way you are. Your not near grotesque. In fact your kinda cute. You'd probably be even more so if you smiled more." The girl smiled a tear running down her face which Ranma wiped up with his hand.

Genma couldn't take anymore. His son was getting way to friendly with the Mutant. He decided to go and watch T.V. in the Den or get a beer at a local bar or something as long as he didn't stay around to see this crap. He stormed out of the room in a huff.

Marina looked off at the irritated martial artist who had stormed out of the house. "Who is that?" She asked. Ranma frowned again.

"Oh him!" said Ranma. Unbidden loathing directed at the fat man. "That's just my Pop. He a real Jerk though. He doesn't like mutants. At all it seems." Marina tried to sit up again and this time she managed to get into a cross legged position.

Ranma held his arm around her back to steady her he didn't think she'd notice being such a small task. But she noticed and he corrected himself. "What's your name?" He asked the snake skinned girl.

"Marina." She replied, pulling up the edge of her cloak which had dropped down slightly past her shoulder.

Ranma continued his introduction. "I'm Ranma." He said holding out a hand in greetings. "Wanna be friends?" He asked. Marina Kitata studied the boys eyes but could see nothing but trust. She held out her hand and they shook.

*A friend.* The snake girl thought. *I haven't had a friend in nearly two years.* She began to cry and she grabbed the boy who was actually startled despite his own mutant powers. She cried into his shoulder and continued to do so for quite some time. Ranma had sensed in the girls mind that the thing she need most right now was indeed a friend. And the pigtailed martial artist felt compelled to be that much needed friend.

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

(Off in the Saotome kitchen)

Saotome Nodoka wiped a tear from her eyes as she watched her son bring the poor girl out of her shell of solitude and fear and into the open. "My son is so manly!" She whispered. She missed Ranma twitch.

When the young female mutant was finished crying she apologized to Ranma. He just waved it off saying that there was no need for it. Nodoka entered the room that Ranma and Marina were in. Ranma gestured to his mother as she entered.

"Marina this is my Mother, Nodoka Saotome." He said Marina twitched as the elder woman neared but held her ground. She didn't have many good experiences with ordinary humans and she was forever cautious of them.

Nodoka shook the reluctant Marina's hand when she arrived next to the girl. "Hello Saotome-san" She said in a soft beautiful voice that was very human. Nodoka nodded.

"Hello Marina. I see you've been fully acquainted with my son Ranma. "Marina blushed, a sight that made Nodoka giggle it was so cute. "Tell me dear. Where do you live, and where are your parents?" Marina's eyes cast down to the floor again.

"I-I have no family. I am an outcast." Nodoka was horrified. a young girl such as she should not be living on the streets by herself. There was all kinds of sick people out there not to mention the people that Ranma had rescued the poor girl from.

"Y-You poor girl!" Nodoka said. Taking the girls hands in her own. They trembled at the touch of the older woman. "Ranma! I want you to go make up the guest room for Marina. I will not have any child living on the streets!" She said. Her tone brooked no argument. "No matter how different they are."

Marina was shocked. She barely knew these peoples names and here they were offering her a home to live in and friendship she had only dreamed of as she slept in dumpsters, and sewers. She cried and grabbed on to the woman. Nodoka pulled her away from her self after a moment and looked at her.

"Now Marina. How about I go and get you some fresh clothes to wear after you have a bath. We can't have you running around in rags could we?" Marina nodded.

"I would like that very much Nodoka-san." She said, wiping the tears in her eyes away. The Saotome Matriarch led the girl to the bathroom where she undressed washed herself off and soaked in the tub. Nodoka left a pair of old clothes from when she was a teenager in place of the girls dirty cloak and left. She walked down to the kitchen and began to cook some lunch and make some tea.

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

Ranma finished fixing up the guest room in record time thanks to his telekinetic powers and his Martial Arts. He had it finished it up in about five minutes. He was about to leave the room but a vase full with flowers fell off of it's stool and splashed him with the cold water that it held turning the boy into a girl. "Great!" she muttered as she put her head in her hands.

She opened the door just a little and peeked out to see if anyone was coming since her psychic powers did not work when he was a she. The coast was clear and she decided to head for the bathroom to wash her self and turn back into a guy.

Ranma snuck in to the bathroom silently making sure she didn't make any noise as to raise suspicion. He opened the outer door and then took off her clothes setting them in the hamper. She didn't see however the other clothes that were beneath it. She took a bucket and some other bathing things and entered the bath.

Ranma stopped in her tracks as she came face to face with Marina. Marina was completely naked with hot water glistening down the scales that covered her entire body. Her hair, which resembled the thick whiskers of a dragon, cascaded down behind her right down to the small of her back.

Ranma turned bright red and turned around. "I-I-I'm sorry I d-didn't know there was anyone in here."

Marina smiled although Ranma couldn't see it. "That's all right. Uhm. Who are you? Are you Ranma's sister?" The snake girl said while she wrapped a towel around herself.

Ranma didn't turn around but he decided that the best way out was the truth. "Actually." Ranma began. "I am Ranma." The boy turned girl turned back to see what the other girl's reaction was but she just looked confused.

Ranma seeing that she was at least covered slightly turned around and continued. "Well I'm actually a guy, uh, but whenever I get splashed with cold water I turn into a girl. Hot water changes me back." Marina's jaw dropped.

"Y-Y-You're a mutant?" She asked. Ranma shook her hands from side to side in a dismissing manner.

"No, no, no, no! It's, uh, a curse a magical curse that I got from a valley of springs in China called Jusenkyo. It's not a mutant power. My Pops got it too." She said. "And you saw how he hates mutants." She said.

Marina fixed the towel she wore around herself. "How do I know your telling the truth?" She said cautiously. Ranma thought for a short second then headed over to one of the sinks filling up her bucket with hot water.

"I think it's better if I just show you." He said holding the bucket over top of her head. "I'm warning you though this may be a little bit freaky." She then dumped the bucket of water over her head. Once he turned male again he gained his psychic powers back.

He could tell what she was thinking and also what she was looking at. He quickly covered his genitals, so as not to be thought of as a pervert and to keep her from ogling him. "Heh pretty out there huh?" He said hoping to make it seem a little lighter than it actually was.

Of course his eyes flew open at the thoughts that ran through Marina's mind, especially the one about screaming. Ranma waved his hands back and forth again. Of course the bucket that was covering his parts fell to the ground. "No, no, no! Please don't scream Marina I didn't know you were in here it was an accident!" He said. Marina visibly calmed down and he picked up the bucket and covered himself again. "I'll wait for you down stairs." he said. As he inched his way out the door towards his clothes.

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

Marina sat on the edge of the furo thinking. *Not a mutant yet he has the power to turn into a girl.* She thought about the boy in detail. *He was even cuter without clothes on.* she thought with a smile. *I'm gonna like living here.*

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

(Later at the table)

It had just started getting dark out now and the lights were on. Ranma sat at the table and his Mom sat beside him. They perked their heads up as the floorboards creaked and Marina came down the stairs and into the dining room where Ranma and Nodoka sat. The snake skinned girl wore a pair of fairly tight jeans and a blue sweater that covered only one shoulder. Her hair was tied back in a long ponytail and it was draped over her shoulder. Ranma blushed thinking of the little _talk_ they had in the bathroom together.

Marina walked over and sat at the table in front of Ranma. "How do I look?" she asked.

Ranma put his thumb up in the air signalling the okay. His mother of course went into the whole motherly adorable thing. "Ooooh you look so cute in those! I knew blue was your colour." Marina blushed, Nodoka continued. "I used to wear that when I was younger. I had kept it just in case I had a daughter one day."

The Saotome Matriarch looked to her son with question. "Now Ranma, now that your fathers not here why don't you tell me why you weren't able to contact me?" Nodoka asked.

Ranma had nearly forgot about it he had been so caught up with helping Marina and the, um, bathroom incident that the nights earlier conversation had slipped his mind. "Oh that well as I was saying Dad brought me to Jusenkyo and these head aches were affecting my powers and I fell into the springs. Pop swung down and redirected me over to another one of the springs, and we both gained a curse that turns us into females when we are splashed with cold water." He said.

Nodoka boggled at the information her son had given her. "But how does that have any affect on your power?" She asked clearly confused.

Marina butted in. "Wait, powers?" She asked fixing Ranma with a glare. "I thought you said that you weren't a mutant?!" Ranma shook his head.

"I didn't say that I wasn't I just said that the curse wasn't a mutant power." Marina stared at him with confusion.

"B-B-But you don't look anything like a mutant!" She exclaimed.

Ranma began explaining, again "Not all mutants have a certain look Marina. I have certain Mutant powers that I developed when I was very young. My mutant powers are of the psychic and telekinetic kind. I was using my powers to talk to my Mom while I was in China learning Martial Arts." He said in a very intelligent manner.

"But what does that and Jusenkyo have to do with your not contacting me?" Nodoka asked.

Ranma looked confused himself. "I'm not sure Mom." He said. "But when I turn into a girl I lose my psychic powers and my telekinetic powers increase in power." Marina looked at the boy in wonder.

"So you can read peoples minds?" Marina asked with wonder. Ranma nodded She blushed as she thought back on what she was thinking in the bath. "So you um?" she began trailing off and gesturing upstairs. Ranma again nodded but he blushed to himself.

"Uh yeah." He said. "Loud and clear."

Nodoka smiled as she saw her son blush. *My son is so manly!* she thought. Ranma twitched.

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

After the trio had eaten Ranma decided to go out to the family dojo and practice a few katas and mind tricks. Marina followed him out to the back yard and sat in the doorway of the dojo. Ranma began his kata after giving her a quick smile. She smiled back and leaned against the door frame.

Ranma began his kata with a simple kata but he made it look very complicated the way he weaved in and out of it, not making any sound except for the rustle of his red, silk, Chinese shirt. Marina marvelled at the grace of the young boy as he flowed with the katas merging into a more complicated one, right after he was done with the previous one.

Ranma began to glow a small battle aura concentrated around his body as he began to do the really advanced katas. Marina thought it was another one of his mutant powers. Then to her amazement the glow seemed to travel down his arms turning into a flourescent pink glow and then shaping itself into a sword. Ranma now held a sword of pure telekinetic energy. He laughed as he looked at his creation.

"HA HA! I did it!" He exclaimed. Marina looked confused.

"What did you do?" She asked him. Ranma looked her way.

"Well," he said, "I got this idea today that since I can use my telekinetic powers to make pure TK force blasts, I thought that maybe I could use that and turn it into a solid object. I thought that maybe I could form an Astral weapon that I could shape into any occasion." He said. "Like, say I wanted a bow staff instead of this here katana."

Ranma then concentrated and the telekinetic Katana turned into a bow staff. "Wow!" exclaimed Marina. "How do you do that?" She asked. Ranma smiled triumphantly.

"Well I use my advanced Martial Arts skills to lay out lines of chi and the telekinetic force follows those lines to form the weapon." Marina stared at him in amazement. "Wow! What about those martial arts moves could you teach me those? Maybe that Chi thing too?" She asked with hope in her eyes. Ranma nodded.

"Sure! I'd love to teach you! I mean, What are friends for?" Marina giggled she hadn't had this much fun just talking to someone in a long time. Just then a large noise was heard from up above. It was loud like a sonic boom or something.

"What the hell is _that_!?!" Ranma shouted as he headed for the door of the dojo to see what it was.

As Ranma poked his head out of the open shoji he saw a large black jet that looked very similar to a stealth bomber. From what he knew about those types of planes this was a lot bigger than any regular stealth bomber. It landed in the large empty lot that was beside their house.

Ranma motioned for Marina to stay back in the dojo and he went out to investigate the mysterious aircraft. He held his telekinetic katana out in a defensive stance as he approached the jet. He had already tried to search it with telepathy but it somehow blocked him from doing so.

Nodoka in the house had heard the sound as well and rushed out the doors to see what it was. She saw her son carrying what looked like a sword made of pure energy and the jet he was stalking towards. "Oh dear I hope he doesn't hurt himself."

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

Ranma stalked towards the jet with the mental barrier with his astral Katana drawn. *I don't know who these guys are or what they want but I'm sure it can't be good.* He thought. A ramp leading to the under belly of the craft opened up and extended to the ground. Ranma could see seven silhouettes of people of various sizes standing at the entrance of the craft. They descended down the ramp and Ranma could now feel their thoughts.

The teenage psychic powered down his astral sword and relaxed motioning for Marina to come with him he picked her up and jumped over the wall to meet his guests.

Upon landing on the ground the team of mutants had reached the ground. Ranma walked up to greet them Marina followed close behind being wary of the people from the ship. Ranma reached into their minds and pulled out the info he needed on every one of them.

"Hello." He said to the mutant team. The man with the ruby quartz visor, Cyclops, stepped up to Ranma ahead of the others. And held out a hand in greeting.

"Good afternoon." He said, as Ranma grabbed hold of his hand and shook it. "You are?" The mutant team leader asked?

Ranma smiled after letting go of he older teens hand and he gave a mock bow. "Ranma Saotome, Psychic extrordinaire. How can I help you?"

Nodoka off in the background sighed. *Looks like more guests have arrived. I'll go make some more tea.* She thought as she headed back into the house to prepare for company.

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to be continued

{That's the end of chapter two for Astral Minds. I had some writers' block around the end there when the x-men came in. I had no idea how I could make them greet the American team of mutants. But I figured it out and it's all good. The next chapter will probably be bigger being that it'll be the meeting with the x-men, Ranma's first day of school, and the arrival of the brotherhood of evil mutants. I'm guessing that there'll be a big battle. Anyway stay tune next time for chapter 03: School Daze.}

Thanks to everyone for reading my fics. Josh_VH (aka: Morden Night)

http://josh_vh.tripod.com/mordensranmapage/