Throughout Heaven, Hell, and the Mortal Realm chaos began to spread. It started with those who had ties to Ranma. Reactions varied among those gods and demons from shock to confusion to anger or to curiosity. Most thought that another god or demon had meddled and removed their link to the boy, at least until they looked into the matter and discovered the truth. After that reactions were mainly limited to shock, sorrow, and fear.
Urd was watching television when it happened. Her links to Ranma just.. faded away. She was angry, of course, figuring that some rival had meddled with the amusing boy. When she cast a quick spell and saw what was going on though, her anger was snuffed out like a candle.
Belldandy was in the kitchen making dinner when she heard Urd cry out, "Dear Father, No." She rushed into the living room to find a crying Urd staring into the fading remains of a scrying portal. "Urd? Are you ok? What's wrong?"
Urd's fearful eyes focused on her sister as she worked to get the words out, "Ranma.. Ranma Saotome.. has become an Apostate."
Belldandy collapsed to the floor with a cry. Keichii, who had just entered the room to see what the noise was about, rushed to her side, "Belldandy!" Belldandy just buried her head in Keichii's shoulder and cried.
Urd stared blankly at them for a moment before she started to move. "I need a drink, or four. Four dozen, yes, that should be enough. I'll be in my room, don't bother me unless it's a life or death situation." Urd gave a strangled laugh and shambled out.
Keichii continued to hold Belldandy, "Bell, what's going on? Why was Urd like that? What's happening?"
"Oh Keichii. It's horrible. Someone, a mortal, has renounced the gods."
"Huh? But, people do that all the time? Is he working for the demons now? Is he an atheist?"
Belldandy smiled sorrowfully at her poor, clueless love. "It's not a matter of someone deciding they don't believe in their gods. Some of them still believe deep in their hearts, and there is a system in place to deal with the others. And if he worked for the other side there are systems in place to deal with that too. No, this mortal, Ranma Saotome, knows that gods and demons exist. He accepts that. He has renounced the entire system. Heaven or Hell, he's turned his back on it all."
Keichii was still confused, "But, don't people do that too? All the time?"
"No. Not really. Of those who do, almost none have the power to take the final step and remove themselves from the system. Ranma has that kind of power."
"What does that mean, that he 'removed himself from the system'?"
"It means that the powers of Heaven and Hell no longer affect him. To him, gods and demons can be treated just like anyone else. If he were to decide to come here and.. and.. snap my neck," Belldandy burrowed into Keichii's chest for reassurance, "there would be very little I could do to stop him. And if he.. succeeded.. then I would truly die."
Keichii just held Bell tighter and he vowed to himself that this Ranma person wouldn't be going near Belldandy unless it was over his dead body.
In Kami-sama's office he gazed in sorrow at the file that represented Ranma. After a long moment he reached out and deleted it. It was with an even heavier heart that he sent out the next order. The one stating that Ranma Saotome was to be killed.
Reaching over to his intercom he ordered, "Call Eilistraee to my office, now."
Hild cursed as she sent out the order for Ranma Saotome to be killed. That mortal represented so much potential gain if they could have won him to their side. Oh well. He was much too dangerous now.
(Posted Tue, 03 Aug 2004 20:29)
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