Ranma ½: Ranma and Ranko

Written by: Dana "D.L. Showtime" Hill Based off the original manga series, Ranma ½ by: Rumiko Takahashi

NOTICE: This story is a work of fan fiction, and has NO official relation to the original Ranma ½ series. All the original characters and stories are the sole property of Rumiko Takahashi, and the author of this story claims no ownership of any characters or stories from the original work. Anyone wanting to post this story on a web site must have my permission before doing so. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or complaints, you can e-mail me. My address is you and enjoy the story.

A Brief Refresher

It's not easy being Ranma Saotome. First, when he was still young his father, Genma Saotome decides to take him on a decade long training journey all over Japan and into China, promising his mother that he will become a "Man-among-men," or both father and son will commit ritual suicide, (Genma Saotome takes training 'very' seriously). As he travels, Ranma becomes a master of the "Anything Goes" style of martial arts. Things were going fairly smooth until he and his father find the ancient training grounds of accursed springs; JUSENKYO, where there lie over 100 springs, each one cursed. Now whomever falls into one of these springs takes the form of whomever (or WHAT-ever) drowned there last. Naturally Ranma's a bit surprised when during a training session he manages to knock his father into the "Spring of Drowned Panda," and his dad takes the body of a panda. To make matters worse, Genma manages to knock Ranma into the "Spring of Drowned Girl" and he takes the body of a rather well figured young girl. Of course this makes it hard to be a "Man-among-men" when you transform into a girl. Thankfully, a splash of hot water will return them to their true forms, but cold water will return them to their cursed forms. To make matters even more complicated, Genma informs Ranma that due to an agreement made before he was born, Ranma must marry one of the daughters of Soun Tendo, his father's old friend. Ranma ends up being engaged to Soun's youngest daughter, Akane, who just happens to hate boys.

Naturally the two do not get along and are constantly arguing and/or fighting. Plus they are constantly bothered by additional problems that include (but are not limited to) aggressive suitors, other fiancés, vengeful martial artists, perverted old men, and their ever annoying fathers. Despite these annoyances, the two slowly begin to fall in love. After admitting their feelings to one another they are, after one failed attempt, married. Of course they couldn't just live happily ever after. Our story begins 4 surprisingly peaceful months after the wedding…

Prologue: Back home for the first time

Genma and Soun sat in front of their Go board, each one waiting for the other to be distracted long enough to re-arrange the pieces. Nodaka sat close to her husband sipping her hot green tea. She was a bit surprised that they could be so calm, considering the phone call they had gotten a day ago.

"Something bothering you dear?" Said Genma turning to his wife as Soun quickly took advantage of his friend's distraction. "You look worried."

"I just hope Ranma and Akane are well." She answered "They said they had trouble on that island. Aren't you worried that they might be hurt?"

"I'm more worried that Ranma may have offended Akane again." answered Genma "That boy can handle any problem they could run into, but he can't shut his mouth and be grateful that Akane puts up with him as much as she does."

Nodaka looked down into her cup, wanting to defend her son, but even she would agree, abet reluctantly, that Ranma had a tendency to speak without thinking. She looked up at Soun who turned to her and smiled.

"No need to worry Nodaka. I'm sure that they are fine. They're only coming back a day early, besides, I heard that there were some weather concerns, they probably just wanted to avoid any problems with it."

Nodaka smiled back at him, a way of quietly saying, 'If you say so.' But she still wondered what could possibly make Ranma and Akane return from their free trip even a second early, it had been so lucky of them to win such a trip.

A 5-day, all expenses paid trip to a remote island near Hawaii, a romantic little island for just the two of them, and now they were coming back early? She had long realized her son and his wife had no trouble being "intimate" with one-another, especially when no one else was around. The trip hadn't cost either one a dime; they had brought only spending money, and all of that had been borrowed from Nabiki, (Although it meant that they would owe Nabiki a "favor").

'No.' She thought, 'There is no apparent reason for them to return early.' She took another sip of her tea. 'I guess we'll all find out the truth when they return.'

The waiting continued for about an hour before Kasumi walked in.

"Ranma and Akane have arrived." She announced.

"Good," responded her father, "Send them in. Now we'll get to the bottom of this." He turned to Genma who nodded back. Kasumi led the pair inside.

Nodaka met them as they entered the living room. "How have you been?" She asked, embracing them both.

"Were fine," answered Akane. "Sorry to worry you all."

Ranma turned to where his father and Soun sat. "Guess you guys want to know what happened?"

"Please," Said the two men in unison.

Nodaka led the pair to where their fathers sat. Akane and Ranma sat down at one end of the table as she took her seat by Genma at the other end of the small table. "Well how was your trip? I hope your stay on that island was pleasant." she spoke hoping to open the conversation on a pleasant note.

"The first two days were great…but after that, everything went straight to hell." Said Ranma catching a nod from Akane.

"So then, what was this 'trouble' that has you two home so early?" Spoke Genma interjecting suddenly.

Ranma and Akane eyed each other, and let out a collective sigh. "Kasumi, would you please bring her in." asked Akane.

Kasumi nodded, and it was at that moment that Nodaka noticed that Kasumi seemed a bit pale, as if she had seen a ghost or something.

"Her?" She said diverting her attention to Ranma and Akane.

Ranma only held up his hand as Kasumi returned with the mystery girl. As she stepped into the room everything seemed to freeze. She had on a Chinese shirt, not unlike the ones Ranma always wore, although hers looked a little large for her. Her hair was red, short and in a pigtail, and she had a very cute figure.

There was no mistaking it was Ranma. Specifically, in his cursed female form. That in itself was not odd, the strange part was that girl-Ranma was standing there with male-Ranma sitting down right in front of them!

Soun just sat there, some unseen force keeping his eyes from falling out their sockets. Genma kept glancing back and forth to both Ranmas and rubbing his eyes in disbelief. Nodoka sat unmoved, the color drained from her face. Obviously this is what Kasumi had seen. It was unbelievable. Akane and male-Ranma turned to female-Ranma, as if saying that she had to say something. She looked at them, than backed towards the stunned folks…

"I'm…Ranko…Saotome. …Sorry 'bout this."

Nodaka fainted.

"Well…that went well."

It had only been a week ago that the 3-month peace between Ranma and Akane ended in a very familiar fashion. Akane had prepared breakfast that morning. Ranma came from the dojo and sat down at the table, first to arrive. Had he known why the others had skipped breakfast, he would have been absent as well.

"Hey Akane. Where's Kasumi." He asked, noting his sister-in-law was away from the kitchen.

"Here! Try this omelet." She said, seeming to ignore his question. "I made it myself."

Ranma's face turned an interesting shade of green following his wife's words. "You…made this?" He asked looking horrified. "Did you try it yourself?"

Akane frowned at him. "Just try it!"

Ranma took his chopsticks and snared a piece from his plate. 'How bad can it be?' He thought, 'I've avoided her cooking for this long. She had to know why. Maybe she's gotten better.'

His hopes died the minute the food touched his tongue.

'Oh GODS!' He thought. He caught a glimpse from Akane, who sat beside him, smiling, waiting for his approval. 'I can do this!' He thought, returning Akane's smile as best he could, 'Just swallow it! Tell her it was good.' Ranma forced the food down his throat.

"Well…" spoke Akane still smiling.

"I…I…it was…!" Before he could say another word, instinct took over. Ranma jumped up and took off for the bathroom, running at speeds that would leave the worlds greatest sprinters in awe. Akane sat still at her place, her face turning red.

Finally she got up, and followed her husband into the bathroom, where he was busy jettisoning her breakfast and most of last night's dinner as well.

"What was that!" he asked weakly, slumping down on his knees.

"I can't believe you!" She shouted back, "I got up early to cook that breakfast! You didn't even say thank you!"

"You want me to thank you for trying to kill me?" He said, jumping to his feet.

"What do you know anyway!" She argued back "Most men are happy having their wives prepare breakfast for them!"

"You cooking me breakfast is like, like… Lois Lane giving Superman kryptonite for breakfast."

That was it, the breaking point. Akane's face grew dark, her fists balled up tightly, and her chi illuminated the room. "RAN-MA! You…you…JERK!"

CRASH!

Ranma flew through the sky, and landed with a splash in the fishpond outside in the Tendo yard.

Kasumi came out of her room at the sound of the commotion, in time to see Akane stomping out of the bathroom, grumbling to herself. "Oh dear…" she sighed, "Looks like I'll have to call the roofers again."

She found her sister downstairs in the kitchen, disposing of her attempt at breakfast.

Nabiki choose that moment to walk in. "I told you it would be the cooking." She said, smiling slyly.

"Poor Akane, she tries so hard." responded Kasumi, "Well, let me go check on Ranma. I'll talk to Akane when she's had a chance to calm down."

"Sis, would you give him this letter." Asked Nabiki, handing her sister the mail.

"Sure."

Kasumi walked outside in time to see the now transformed Ranma stepping out the pond. Ranma-chan sat on a nearby rock, removed her shirt and began to wring it out.

As Kasumi neared the girl she could see the look of sadness in her eyes.

"Don't worry Ranma. I'm sure Akane will cool off after a while. Even she doesn't stay mad forever."

Ranma-chan half-smiled at her sister-in-law's words. Still she couldn't help wishing that she had handled the situation differently. Akane's deadly cooking was nothing new. At this rate she and Akane would be back to calling each other, "Un-cute tomboy," and "Macho pervert," before the end of the week. Ranma shivered at the thought, (that, and being soaking wet); 'No way I want that to happen.'

Kasumi handed her a towel to dry off. "I put some water on to boil. You have some mail today." Kasumi handed her the letter.

'Probably Ryoga telling me he wants to challenge me, or maybe Mousse. Could be that old ghoul…bet she's mad.'

Ranma took the letter in hand; she noticed some English words next to the Japanese. 'What is this?' She thought as she opened the letter. She began to read, looking at it very closely.

"What's it say?" Asked Kasumi.

Ranma-chan froze for a moment. "I…don't believe this. It says I just won an all expenses paid trip to an island resort, for two people, for five days."

"Oh! That's wonderful Ranma!" Exclaimed Kasumi, "I didn't know you entered a contest."

"Me neither. It sounds fishy." She replied as she looked at the pamphlet describing the island. It did look like a nice place. No one lived there, it was simply a resort for the rich and famous, only about 50 people visited yearly. It was odd, yet strangely compelling at the same time.

"I say go for it." Spoke Nabiki, walking outside to where they sat and handing Ranma the kettle full of hot water. "If someone handed me a trip to an island only the rich went to, no force on earth could stop me."

"I agree." Added Kasumi. "Besides, it would be a good chance for you and Akane to spend some time alone."

Ranma hadn't thought of that. He and Akane hadn't really been alone since their honeymoon. After they returned they had been bothered by their noisy fathers, and when school had started, all eyes had been on Furinkan High's only married couple. Maybe that had caused some of the stress between them.

'No time to ourselves.' Thought Ranma. 'This is a perfect opportunity to be alone with Akane. Just her and me.' Ranma poured the hot water over herself. "Okay. We'll go." Announced Ranma. "I just gotta tell Akane."

"Good luck." Shouted Nabiki as Ranma dashed back inside.

"Yo. Akane. You in here?" Asked Ranma peeking inside the room he and Akane shared.

"What do you want, Ranma?" she asked irritably as she lay on her bed.

"Oh! Come on. You're not still mad at me. Are you?" he asked sitting near her on the bed.

"I worked really hard on that breakfast, you know. You didn't even say 'Thank you." She answered.

'Okay…still a little angry. Well I know one way around that.'

Ranma lay beside her, putting his arms around her waist, and moving closely to her. "I'm sorry about that," he spoke quietly, "and about those things I said." He moved his nose to her neck, rubbing softly. "You forgive me?" He asked, quietly talking into her ear.

She threw her arm around his neck, meeting him eye-to-eye. It was useless to remain angry at him. "All right, you're forgiven."

"Good," He responded, "cause I've got a surprise for you." Ranma reached into his pockets and pulled out the letter. "Read this."

"What is it?" She asked. "Just read it." Akane read the letter, when she reached a certain point she stopped. "You…mean."

"That's right, a little private island for just the two of us. For five days, all expenses paid." He answered.

"No way!" This was too much. An island resort exclusively for the rich, and now they were going. "Oh Ranma." She said, looking deeper into his blue eyes,

"I love you."

"I love you too, Akane." He said, kissing her.

Nabiki took off her headphones, turned a small knob to "off" and walked downstairs to the living room where the rest of her family sat.

"Well…" asked her father, taking a drag of his cigarette.

Nabiki smiled. "I think it's safe to say they made up."

END: Part One