The First Vizard Arc Chapter 44

Somewhere in the forest. Soul Society. 1,002 years prior to Aizen Incident.

The day’s events made it clear to Ranma that he no longer had a place in the Soul Society. His only option was to leave and never return. Doing so was the only way he could ensure the safety of his family and friends. Ranma walked through the trees while maintaining awareness of his surrounding in case he was being followed. He had eventually reached his destination. It was a cave that connected to a series of caverns that delve deep into the earth. In the farthest of these cavern was the Keikaigi Ranma used to enter Hueco Mundo every four months for the last five decades. From there he would go to El Dia to exile himself from the Soul Society. It was then that he felt the presence of another individual behind him. Ranma recognized the spirit pressure along with their attempt to conceal it. “So Ginrei told you about this place,” he said. “You shouldn’t have followed me Kosame.”

Kosame Shihoin stepped out from behind a tree. She looked at her husband with a mix of sadness and fear. “You’re leaving the Soul Society,” she said. “After what has happened today I know why. But why do you have to go alone? To protect me? If my safety is that great of a concern to you then let me come with you. You shouldn’t have to be alone.” Kosame eyes began to fill with tears.

“You still have a life here Kosame,” Ranma said. “You have a chance to clear your name by cutting your ties with me.” His words caused a look of disbelief to appear on Kosame’s face. Seeing this angered Ranma. He squeezed his left hand tight enough to break the skin on his palm. Blood dropped to the ground from between his fingers. “You have a title to uphold!” he shouted. “You have a bloodline to maintain. You would give up all that you have in this life in order to be with a monster?!”

“No!” Kosame cried, her face drenched from her streaming tears. “No.” She began to slowly walk toward Ranma. “Everything I have, everything I could ever want in this life. I would give it up to be with the man that I love.” Standing in front of Ranma she grabbed his right hand and held it to her chest. “I’m your wife; I belong by your side.” She then placed his hand on her belly. “And so does your child.”

Ranma’s eyes widened to what she had said. His anger began to subside as her words began to fill him with a sense of joy. His left hand relaxed and the blood from his palm started dripped from his fingertips. “Kosame,” he said. “Are you saying that…?”

Kosame looked at Ranma with a smile while keeping his right hand on her belly. “I’m carrying your child Ranma Kurogami,” she said. “And I think they deserve to know who their father is.” She raised her other hand and wiped the tears from her eyes. She could tell that her news was sinking in.

This revelation made Ranma realize that Kosame was no different from him now. She was carrying the baby of a branded traitor. Knowing her she would keep it regardless of the counsel of others. But she was not the only one at risk. He thought of the life of cruelty and ridicule they would life because of who their father was. “This changes everything,” he said. “It can’t be helped. You’re both coming with me.”

“Not without me,” a voice called. Ranma and Kosame turned their heads toward the cave and saw Akio Tachibana walk out of it. “In case you’ve forgotten, I have a Hollow inside of me too,” he said. “I’m as much a traitor as you in their eyes.” Akio’s eyes shut for a moment and when they opened a demented smile spread across his face. “Besides, if you leave I can’t go back to Hueco Mundo to feed.”

“We’re coming too,” two voices came from the forest. Both Lao Fon and Kai Fon jumped down from the trees. “Even if the Soul Society sees you as a traitor, I took an oath to serve you until death Lord Ranma,” Lao Fon said. He fell to a knee before Ranma. “And I took the same oath to protect Lady Kosame,” Kai Fon said falling to a knee next to Lao Fon. “Take us with you,” they said in unison.

Ranma looked around at the four astonished at what he was seeing. He then sighed and a grin took form on his face. “So be it,” he said. “I guess that means we are all going into exile together. From this point forward we no longer serve the Soul Society, but that does not mean we will abandon our duty to the balance. We will preserve it from Hueco Mundo and ensure the stability of the worlds. Now let’s go. It won’t be long until they search for us here.” Lao Fon and Kai Fon stood up and joined the others as the five of them walked into the cave disappearing into the darkness bidding their home farewell.