A bid for Freedom

Chapter 1

Ranma Saotome, in his usual red Chinese shirt, black pants and shoes, was scared. Of course, he'd never admit that, or let anything more than mild concern show on his face, but he was convinced that something really bad was going to happen very soon.

As he continued walking to Furinkan High School, beside his reluctant fiancée for once, he sighed and said "It's really going to hit the fan today."

Akane Tendo, recognising the look on his face, asked "What do you mean Ranma? It's a lovely day, and nothing's happening."

"Akane, that's exactly my point. How often does nothing happen in my life?"

"Hardly ever. So what? You think you're not going to get a day off from the chaos every now and then?"

"Akane, you don't seem to get it. The only time things start to go right in my life is right before something goes horribly wrong. The last time I had a day even half this good, Saffron showed up. The time before that, it was Herb. Today has been perfect so far, which means that something worse then Saffron is going to happen."

"You really think it's that bad?"

Ranma stopped walking, and started listing off the things that would normally happen, but didn't. "Well, let's see. Last night, I got the best night's sleep ever. Got to bed at a decent hour and wasn't woken up during the night. This morning, I was not woken up by the panda, had not been turned into a girl, and didn't have Pop or Mr. Tendo hinting about marrying you. Nabiki didn't scam any money out of me, and we haven't had an argument, or anything which would cause you to mallet me. Kasumi gave me a genuine smile, instead of the fake ones that she normally does, and I haven't been challenged by anyone. Happosai's away on a trip, Ryoga and P-chan haven't shown up, Mousse hasn't tried killing me, and Kuno hasn't popped up spouting his usual crap. Shampoo hasn't glomped me, Kodachi's not around, and Ukyo has been keeping her distance since that failed wedding. Hell, even the ladle lady missed me today, and she's nailed me with that ladle every day for the two years I've been here. Yes Akane, I really think it's that bad. In fact, it's probably worse."

Akane blanched. "I really hope you're wrong Ranma."

"So do I Akane. So do I."

Feeling slightly depressed, and more then a little paranoid, they resume the trip to school.

As they reach the gates, the other students notice the heavy tension surrounding them, and decide it would be far safer to give the most talked about couple at school lots of space.

Feeling more depressed, Ranma and Akane are just reaching their seats, when they hear a shout from outside "RANMA!"

'That sounded like Kasumi!' Ranma thought as he jumped from his classroom window. 'She sounds really scared, and tired too. Something's really wrong, like I thought earlier.'

He hears her shout for him again, and calls back "Kasumi!", just before he catches sight of her leaning against one of the gates for support, breathing hard. 'She's about to fall over! Catch her now!' he frantically thinks to himself, as he sends a burst of ki into his legs to almost teleport to her side.

Even through his worry, he sees a look of relief pass over Kasumi's face as she collapses into his arms. He feels her press something into one of his hands, and hears as she strains to say "Help me Ranma… Your father… cursed potion…" before she passes out.

"Kasumi! Kasumi! Hang on Kasumi, I'll help you."

Putting the object into a pocket of subspace, he shifts Kasumi to make it easier to carry her, and defend her if needed, then glances back at the school. "Akane! Don't tell our fathers what happened! They'll make it worse!" he yells out before quickly considering where to go.

'Only two possibilities, Doc. Tofu and the Old Ghoul. Doc. Tofu's no good. He freaks out around Kasumi so much he'd be useless, plus we're dealing with some kind of potion. Hmm, Old Ghoul it is. Hope she won't ask for much for her help.' Decision made, he sets off running for the Nekohanten.

As he runs, he keeps looking at Kasumi with worry. He can see that something is horribly wrong with her ki, and knows that she doesn't have much time left. He sees the Nekohanten's sign, let's out a little sigh of relief, then starts yelling "ELDER KHU LON! HELP!"

As he gets closer, he sees Mousse open the door in confusion, and boots him out of the way without slowing, twisting his body to ensure Kasumi doesn't hit the doorway. "Elder Khu Lon! Something's wrong with Kasumi!"

Cologne's eyes widen in her wizened face, and she merely says "Follow me Ranma. I'll examine her in the back. Did she say anything before she collapsed?" as she starts pogoing to her own room.

Laying Kasumi on the bed and retrieving the object, Ranma said "She gave me this, asked for help, and said something about my father and a cursed potion. Any idea what it is?"

Seeing the vial, filled with an evil-looking red liquid streaked with black, Cologne blanches and her eyes widen in shock. "No. It can't be. He swore that it was all destroyed, and that all copies of the recipe were disposed of." She calms herself, and says "Ranma, I think I know what's wrong with Kasumi, though I pray that I am wrong. Stay here a moment, I must make sure."

She pogos out to one of the other rooms, where Ranma hears her rummaging around for a few seconds, before she returns with an olive leaf. "I'm very glad I kept one of these around. It'd be almost impossible to get one in time here in Japan. Now Ranma, one of two things will happen when I brush this leaf over her tongue. Either nothing, or she'll start shivering. If she shivers, you must make her drink that potion in your hand. Fail, and she'll die. Are you ready?"

Ranma nods, and removes the stopper. Cologne gently opens Kasumi's mouth and brushes the leaf over her tongue. The effect is immediate, and she starts shivering. As Ranma ensures that Kasumi drinks the potion, Cologne looks angrier, and angrier, until she yells "A thousand curses upon that thrice-damned fat fool Genma Saotome!"

Ranma is about to ask what was wrong when Kasumi's eyes start blinking, and she wakes up. "Master Ranma! My Warrior! I knew that you'd help me!" she exclaims as she glomps a stunned Ranma with skill and enthusiasm to rival Shampoo. She then stops for a moment, and says "Hang on a moment. Since you're my Master, that means I'm not cured, but, I don't care. I can be with you."

Cologne, still looking rather angry, interrupts. "Kasumi, please wait a moment while I get the others and explain some things to you two." She pogos to the door and calls "Shampoo! Mousse! Close the shop and come here. We have to talk."

Ranma becomes more and more uncomfortable while they wait for the young Amazons, since Kasumi kept hugging him, blushing and giggling without warning, and it was really beginning to creep him out. Finally, they arrive. Shampoo's eyes narrow when she sees Kasumi, but she says nothing. Mousse also says nothing, but that was due to the ever present threat of Cologne whacking him with her staff.

Cologne waits for them to sit, before she speaks. "Shampoo, Mousse. Kasumi has been afflicted by the Enslavement Poison, and Ranma has been chosen as a trustworthy male. Do you understand what this means?" Mousse stares in shock, unsure of what to say, or whether to rejoice for his chance of wooing Shampoo or lament for the pain that this would cause her, while Shampoo bursts into tears. In between her sobs, she manages to say "It mean Ranma no longer Airen."

Cologne nods, allowing her great-grandaughter to grieve without censuring her for showing weakness in front of outsiders. "Correct. Ranma is no longer under the Kiss of Marriage. Ranma, I am going to tell you what you must do to allow Kasumi to live as long as she can, then I'll explain why. You must marry her within two days, and bed her at least once every day until she becomes pregnant. You must secure a supply of that vile liquid, and ensure that she has one dose every day. You will need to adjust the dosage depending on how quickly she builds her tolerance. And finally, for his crimes, Genma Saotome must die."

A/N Well, here's the first chapter. Faster then I thought it would be, though it doesn't feel as good as the prologue.

Can anyone guess who Cologne was talking about? The man who swore to her that the poison was gone?

Oh, and since I keep having more ideas pop up, it looks like this will end up being a fair bit longer then I intended. I will leave the ending open for further adventures though, just in case.

Here's a teaser from the next chapter

Ranma blasted forward, taking Genma by surprise and hitting a particular series of pressure points to paralyze him. "Genma Saotome," he snarled "For your crimes against me and the Tendo family, you are going to die."