22/12/08 A/N My first attempt at a fanfic. My idea behind this was having a more socially adept Ranma running through the usual Ranma events. Of course I had to have a reason for Ranma's insights, and didn't want to change Genma to do it. Decided on an idea sort of taken from Shallow Hal, where Ranma was 'taught' a technique to make him 'always see the truth'. This was done just after he left Ukyo and before the Neko-Ken. It means he can see other's emotions and spirit (including curses), and taught himself how to stop hurting others with his words. Chapter 2 isn't finished (as you can tell), and I'm just putting in some notes about what would be happening in the other named chapters. Plus I'm leaving my original A/N in as well.
Truthfully, I'm not exactly happy with this. Shouldn't have written it in script form, so if I do anything with this later, I'll have to rewrite the whole thing into prose.
Soul eyes Ranma.
Author's note: I probably will use various Japanese words and phrases picked up from reading fanfics, and names will be spelled how I choose, ok? Oh, and this is my first fanfic, so don't be too harsh.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Ranma ½, or any of the fanfictions or other sources I will use for inspiration. I am writing this because it's an idea that won't leave me alone.
Chapter 1 – Here's Ranma!
It was a sunny day in Nerima. People were going about their normal business, and birds were singing sweetly. A young man, dressed in a red Chinese shirt, with black pants, black kung fu shoes and a large pack, was following a fat, bald man wearing glasses, an extremely stained (previously white) gi and carrying a smaller pack.
Ranma: Hey Pop! Why are we going to see this old friend of yours anyway?
Genma: Before you were born, we made a promise.
Ranma's eyes flash gold for a second, before returning to their normal blue, and Ranma stops in shock.
Ranma: Pop, I don't believe it. You've actually made a promise you intend to keep.
His eyes narrow, and his voice hardens.
Ranma: And exactly what is this promise?
Genma: *mumbles something unintelligible*
Ranma: I didn't hear that Pop. And I'm not moving until you tell me!
Genam sighs in defeat.
Genma: Ok, Boy. I'll tell you. While we were training together, me and Tendo made a pact that one day, our children would marry and unite the schools of Anything Goes. We're going to see him now, and you are to choose one of his three daughters to be your fiancée.
Ranma sits down in shock, and Genma, in an unusual display of insight, allows him the time to recover.
Ranma: Ok Pops. Since this means so much to you, I'll go along with it. However, there are some things you will do, or I'm going to leave. First, you will leave the decision of fiancée to me and the girls. Second, you will not interfere in our relationship at all. This means that if we go out, you will leave us alone. If we don't want to get married until after I finish school, then you will accept it. If none of us want to get married at all, you will move the promise to the next will not hatch any plans to try and push us together, period. Third, you will get, and keep, a job. I refuse to be a freeloader if I'm supposed to marry one of them. Deal, or do I start walking elsewhere?
Looking into Ranma's eyes and seeing absolutely no possibility of compromising, Genma nods his acceptance.
Genma: Ok Boy. I agree to your terms.
Meanwhile...
Outside a typical Japanese home, a man in a brown gi with long black hair and a slim moustache was checking his mail. A wooden sign which read, 'Tendo Anything Goes Martial Arts Training Hall,' was posted in the front.
Soun Tendo looked into his mailbox, and discovered a postcard with a queer picture of a panda on it. He turned it around and read it. The card said,
'Bringing Ranma in from China.' It was signed, 'Saotome.'
A torrent of joyful tears streamed down his cheeks.
Soun: Finally, Ranma will be coming here. How I've waited for this day!
He ran back into the house excitedly calling for his three daughters.
Soun: Nabiki, Kasumi, Akane!
A frown marred his smile.
Soun: Akane? Where is that girl?
Kasumi was in the kitchen as usual, while Nabiki was in her bedroom reading a comic. However his youngest was nowhere to be found.
Down in the dojo, a girl in a light yellow gi breathed in, calmly and easily, as she sat in front of a pile of concrete bricks. Her shoulders tightened, then her hand came down in a blur of speed as she let out a loud yell. Dust, splinters and chunks of clay flew everywhere as the pile disintegrated through the middle. Akane sighed in satisfaction, as she shrugged her long black hair from her shoulders.
Akane: That felt pretty nice.
Suddenly a girl with short brown hair wearing a tank-top and shorts appeared in the doorway catching one of the brick pieces underneath her foot. It was her older sister, Nabiki.
Nabiki(derisively): There you go again Akane.
As she took a snapshot of her sister out of a small camera she always had handy.
Nabiki: No wonder the boys think you are weird.
Ha! I wish! Akane thought sourly wiping moist hair from her forehead. Turning around to gift her sister with a tart smile.
Akane: Nabiki, not everyone believes the world revolves around, ugh, boys.
Nabiki just looked boredly at her before turning around to walk back to the house.
Nabiki: Then I guess you won't be interested in this. Daddy is quite excited.
Akane frowned. Excited was 'not' good.
~*~*~*~
Outside the Tendo residence, all seemed peaceful. A gentle breeze whispered through the various trees around the large house, while the birds chirped among themselves, hopping along the swaying branches.
However the peacefulness of the day was misleading as the discussion within the Tendo home was not peaceful at all.
"Fiancé?!" a shocked voice called out, scaring a few chirping birds from their perch outside the Tendo house. Gathered around the family table, Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane listened, aghast at what their father had just explained to them.
Kasumi: We have a fiancé, father? You didn't tell us before.
Kasumi was looking a little startled, which was so out of character it displayed just how overwhelmed she really was.
Nabiki(sarcastically): Nah, he did it so we wouldn't run away from home before he got here.
Then she smiled.
Nabiki: On the other hand, there is still time...
She frowned.
Nabiki: No, sounds too expensive.
Akane just wore a heated scowl that could have melted an iceberg.
Akane: Dad, I can't believe you did this!
However none of what they said seemed to pierce their father's bubble of joy.
Soun(joyfully): My greatest wish is at last to come true! *He smiled.* The Anything Goes Martial Arts School will continue if one of you could marry my friend's son, Ranma, and carry on the dojo.
The girl's realised then, just how important this was to their father.
Soun: And recently they just crossed over from China.
Nabiki: Ooh, China!
Travelling meant money.
Akane(grumbling): At least you could have asked us first.
Kasumi looked down at her hands thoughtfully.
Kasumi: I do hope he's not younger than me. Younger men are so ... young.
Nabiki(expectantly): And I wouldn't mind if he's cute. What does he look like?
Soun(a little self-consciously): I have no idea. *He frowned as he thought about it.* I've never met him.
Kasumi accepted this in her usual calm way, as the oldest she had more experience with their father's goofiness.
Nabiki did a double take. Engaging your own offspring, sight unseen?
Akane's scowl just grew darker if that was possible.
Soun(confidently): But, having Genma Saotome as his father, what could go wrong?
He was interrupted by the sound of knocking and the hallway door opening.
Kasumi: Oh my! Could that be them, father? And I haven't even prepared anything yet. She stood up.
Soun(excited): Since the card came today, I bet it's them. Oh it has been so long Genma! And now that you are here, our families will be united in marriage!
His eyes started to water as if about to start another round of ecstatic weeping. Nabiki went to answer it, while Soun followed excitedly.
Outside the Tendo Training Hall…
Ranma: Pops, we have to tell them about the curses right away.
Genma: I know Boy. It's just *Splash* Growf?
Ranma-chan: Figures. Can't go more than a few hours without water hitting at least one of us. Hot water now, or first thing when we get inside?
Genma-panda: First thing Boy. *flip* Can't wait to see Soun
Ranma-chan: *sigh* Okay Pops. We'll do it your way for now. But they're going to freak.
Ranma-chan knocks on the door before opening it. She sees an attractive girl in a tank-top and shorts followed by an older man in a brown gi enter the hallway from one of the rooms, and freeze in shock upon seeing a panda. The girl starts stuttering, eventually screaming 'Panda!', before running back the way she came and almost knocking the man over. Coming out of his shocked state, he ran after her.
Ranma-chan(to Genma): Told you they'd freak. Let's follow them, and see if we can clear this up.
Stopping long enough to slip her shoes off, Ranma-chan and Genma-panda follow the girl and man into what looks like the dining room, and find an angry looking girl in a yellow gi standing in an offensive stance, a serene young woman in a housedress and apron about to enter the kitchen, and the girl and man from before. Ranma-chan bows politely, then starts to speak.
Ranma-chan: I'm Ranma Saotome. Sorry about this, but can I get some hot and cold water before I start explaining everything?
Kasumi: I'm Kasumi Tendo. How hot would you like the water?
Ranma-chan's eyes flash gold as she looks at Kasumi. 'Ka-kawaii.' she whispers, not knowing that she was heard by everyone. She collects herself quickly, and replies.
Ranma-chan: Hot enough to be uncomfortable, but not hot enough to scald.
Kasumi(blushing slightly): Of course.
As if Kasumi's presence was the only thing keeping everyone calm, once she left, chaos reigned as the Tendos all started talking at once, and slowly advanced on Ranma-chan. Ranma-chan looked in dismay at them, eyes darting from one person to the next as she tried to pick out what they were demanding to know.
Ranma-chan(yelling): Quiet! You're all acting like children! I said I'd explain when the water got here!
Everyone stops and returns to their seats, looking slightly sheepish
Ranma-chan: Now, while we're waiting, would you please introduce yourselves? You know my name, but I don't know yours.
Soun(happily weeping): I'm Soun Tendo, and I'm so happy you're here Ranma. The schools will be joined!
Nabiki(eyes narrowing): I'm Nabiki Tendo. I thought you were supposed to be a guy. Your chest looks far too big to be a guy…
Akane(much happier): I'm Akane Tendo, and I'm so glad you're actually a girl.
Ranma-chan laughs nervously and starts scratching the back of her head. What Nabiki and Akane said gets through Soun's happy mood, and he takes a closer look at Ranma-chan.
Soun: A girl… Not a boy…
He faints.
Nabiki and Akane: Dad!
Nabiki: Well, I knew he was excited about this, but I didn't know he cared that much about the engagement promise.
Ranma-chan: Hehe. That's actually one of the things I was going to explain.
Looking at Soun, Ranma-chan's eyes flash gold again. She looks a little shocked, then sad, then progressively angrier and angrier, until she realises that she's grinding her teeth and snarling in rage. She looks at Akane and Nabiki and lets out a nervous laugh. Kasumi arrives with the water before any awkward questions are asked. Ranma-chan takes the hot water, motions Genma-panda to sit beside her and for someone to wake up Soun.
Ranma-chan: Now, to start explaining things. First, have any of you heard of a place called Jusenkyo? No? Okay. It's a cursed training ground in China, and our last stop before we returned to Japan. It looks innocent enough when you first arrive, hundreds of springs with lots of bamboo poles sticking out of them. The idea being that you fight on the poles without falling into one of the springs.
I had a really bad feeling about the place, and wanted to leave as soon as I saw it, but Pops wouldn't listen. My bad feeling got much stronger when the guide came out and tried to warn us, but by that time Pops had thrown me onto the poles for some sparring, spouting off some nonsense that I wasn't listening to, being too busy trying to avoid falling in.
Akane: So what was wrong with falling in? They were just normal springs, right? There's no such thing as curses, right?
Ranma-chan: I wish that were true. But these springs are cursed. Something had fallen into each of these springs in a 'tragic story' and drowned. Every person who then fell into the spring is forced to take the form of the drowned thing when hit with cold water, returning to normal with hot. My father, after I had regained my balance, was hit into the Spring of Drowned Panda, and knocked me into the Spring of Drowned Girl while I was surprised.
Ranma-chan then pours the hot water over herself and Genma-panda, returning themselves to Ranma and Genma.
Ranma: I'm Ranma Saotome. That's my idiot father, Genma Saotome. Sorry about this.
Soun, Akane and Nabiki faint, while Kasumi merely says 'Oh my!'
Soul Eyes Ranma
Authors Note: Before you ask, I probably won't explain Ranma's eyes flashing gold. It should be fairly clear what's happening when they do flash gold. Although, if you ask me nicely enough and you really don't want to work it out…
As a side-effect to what happened, Ranma has trained himself to appear far less ignorant, arrogant and rude. Also, the meeting with the Tendos turns out a bit darker then I intended, but once the idea struck, nothing else would fit.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Ranma ½, or any of the fanfictions or other sources I will use for inspiration. I am writing this because it's an idea that won't leave me alone.
Chapter 2 – Dark Revelations
At the Tendo Training Hall
Ranma, Genma, and Kasumi are waiting for Soun, Akane and Nabiki to wake up after the revelation of the curses.
Soun: I just had the strangest dream…
Akane: Was it a dream about a girl turning into a perverted boy? I had that dream too…
Nabiki: I don't think it was a dream. They're still here.
Ranma: If it makes it easier to believe, would one of you girls like to trigger my curse? It's why I asked Kasumi to bring hot and cold water.
Soun: A moment please. You are Ranma Saotome, son of Genma Saotome, right?
Ranma: Yes, I am.
Soun: Happy day! Please choose your fiancé. Kasumi's 19, Nabiki's 17 and Akane's 16.
Nabiki: He wants Akane.
Kasumi: Oh my. Maybe he should have Akane…
Akane: I don't want that pervert!
Ranma: Hold it! Before any decisions are made Mr. Tendo, I have some conditions of my own. Pops has already agreed to them, and if you don't agree as well, then I'm going to leave. Got it!
Soun(slightly shocked): What are your conditions?
Ranma(firmly): First, the decision of fiancé will be made by me and the girls after we have gotten to know each other. Second, you and Pop will not interfere at all. You will not follow us on dates, you will not nag me or the girls about getting married, you will not even bring up the subject of the engagement in conversation. And third, you will accept the money that Pop will pay for rent. I refuse to be a freeloader, and won't let Pop do it either. I'll look for some way to earn some money as well.
Soun(defeated): How long must I wait before you decide on your fiancé?
Ranma: Girls? Does six months sound like long enough?
Akane: Never!
Nabiki: Okay.
Kasumi: Very well.
Ranma: Our decision on who I'm engaged to will be made in six months. We will decide on when any marriage will happen amongst ourselves also.
Soun: I understand.
Ranma: Now, I'd like to…
He catches sight of Akane, and his eyes flash gold. He looks slightly shocked, then confused, before looking thoughtful. He blinks and shakes his head slightly, and is about to continue speaking when he catches sight of Nabiki. His eyes flash gold again, and he looks quite shocked, then really confused, thoughtful, then really angry.
Ranma: Nabiki, may I speak to you privately? I need to ask you something, that I don't wish the others to hear.
Akane: Pervert! No you can't!
She lunges across the table at Ranma, hands balled into fists and swinging wildly. Ranma easily catches her fists, and flips her over his shoulder. She lands on her backside, and immediately starts getting up to try again.
Ranma: Kasumi? Would you try calm her down? I don't want to make her angrier then she is.
Kasumi: Akane, stop!
Akane(furious): Why? I'm trying to teach this pervert a lesson!
She swings again, and is blocked again by Ranma. Not deterred in the slightest, she swings a third time. This time, Ranma deftly slips past her and taps a point at the base of her neck, catching her as she slips into unconsciousness.
Ranma, seeing the confusion on Nabiki and Kasumi's faces, and the quickly growing anger on Soun's, explains.
Ranma: Sorry about that. Had to tap her sleep point before she became hysterical or too angry to see reason. She'll wake up in a few minutes. Nabiki, where would you like to talk?
Nabiki: Right. Private talk. Follow me.
She leads him to her room, gesturing for him to sit at the desk while she leans against the door.
Ranma(quietly): Nabiki, who raped you?
Nabiki: WHAT?
Ranma: Nabiki, you've hidden it really well, heck, I bet your sisters don't know, but you're even more terrified of me then Akane is. A rape is the only reason I can think of for a girl to be this petrified of men. So, who was it, and how many pieces would you like him in?
Nabiki starts shaking her head, and muttering 'no' over and over. Ranma notices, and realises that he was pushing too hard.
Ranma: Sorry Nabiki. You don't know me, so why would you tell me something that you haven't told your sisters? Could you get your sisters please, and some more cold water? I have to tell you something that should let you trust me a little more.
Nabiki almost runs from the room, leaving Ranma with his thoughts. She returns a few moments later with a glass of water, Kasumi, and a rather groggy Akane. Ranma uses the water to change, before walking to Akane and tapping another pressure point. She starts glaring at Ranma-chan, but doesn't say anything.
Ranma-chan: Akane, would you please tell me why you think I'm a pervert?
Akane(angry): Because you're a boy, and all boys are perverts!
Ranma-chan: What on earth made you think that?
Akane: Every morning I have to beat up a bunch of them just to get to class! They're all perverts!
Ranma-chan looks shocked and confused, and looks at Nabiki, silently asking her to explain.
Nabiki(sighs): A couple of months ago one of my classmates made an announcement to the school. He declared that no-one could date Akane unless they defeated her in combat first. Since then, Akane has had to beat up a bunch of boys, now called the Hentai Horde, and their leader every morning before class.
Ranma-chan(shocked): No wonder you think boys are perverts. And I bet you have nightmares about losing, where they don't stop at a date, right? Well, that's something you'll never have to worry about with me, as I've experienced some of those nightmares. It's not something I can talk about as a guy, far too painful, which is why I changed. Just give me a moment, and I'll tell you what happened.
Ranma-chan's little confession shocks both Nabiki and Akane, who just sit there, while Kasumi enfolds Ranma-chan in a comforting hug.
Kasumi: You don't have to tell us anything, especially if it's this painful.
Ranma-chan: No, I have to. If I don't, Akane will never be able to trust me. Now, before I can tell you what happened, I have to tell you about Pop's stupidest idea ever. It's worse then what happened at Jusenkyo. The Neko-Ken, or C-C-Cat Fist. Preparation is deceptively simple – dig a pit. Place starving c-c-c-c-cats into the pit. Tie child between the ages of 6 and 10 up with fish products, and throw into the pit. Repeat as necessary. Problem is, 9 times out of 10 if they survive, the child's mind is gone and they're an insane berserker, absolutely deadly to just about anyone and anything around them. Those that aren't permanently insane are completely terrified of those furry demons, and if they can't get away or get too scared then they snap, and go c-c-c-cat.
The Tendo girls are all looking appalled, and more then a little sick. Akane is the first to recover somewhat, and speaks up.
Akane: You go cat? You mean that you start acting like one? What's so bad about that?
Ranma-chan: You know how easily I beat you before? Imagine that I'm at least twice as fast, strong, and agile, with retractable chi-claws coming out my fingers and toes, no Code of the Martial Artist restraining me, and regarding just about everyone as a probable enemy. In that state, if you really get on my bad side, then I'd probably rip you open. Pops tells me that I haven't really done anything while like that, just acting like a big k-k-kitten, but even if I think I'm just playing, you could get seriously hurt without me meaning to do it. What I think is even worse is that I don't remember whatever I have done while in the Neko state.
Ranma-chan pauses for a while, to let it sink in before she continues.
Ranma-chan: It was a couple of weeks after I'd gotten the curse. We were passing through a fairly large city. Pops had managed to get some money together, had found a bar and was doing his best to get drunk, so I'd decided to explore a little. It had rained earlier, so I was in my cursed form, when I heard one of those little demons calling. I screamed, and ran. Looked behind me to see if it was following, and ran right into a fire-escape that someone had left down, knocking me out. When I woke up sometime later, I had been stripped, tied up and gagged, and several men were leering at me.
Ranma-chan draws her knees against her chest, withdrawing and becoming quieter as she speaks. Akane and Nabiki are both speechless in horror at what she went through, and, with a little hesitation, join Kasumi in hugging Ranma-chan.
Ranma-chan: I'm really quite clueless about what goes on between a guy and a girl, but even I knew what they planned to do to me. I struggled, as much as I could, and they laughed at me. One of them even put his fingers down there, into something I'm not even supposed to have.
She gives a bitter laugh
Ranma-chan: There must have been a kami with a real warped sense of humour watching over me though. Just when I thought they were going to have their 'fun' and complete my humiliation, I heard a c-c-c-cat, and snapped. I think I killed them, but nothing turned up in the news, so maybe not. Anyway, when I came back to normal, they were nowhere in sight, though there were signs of a big fight. Burst ropes, claw marks all over the place, some splashes of blood, torn strips of their clothes. My clothes were fine, so I got dressed and acted like nothing had happened when Pop found me again.
She blinks, and looks at the girls hugging her.
Ranma-chan: That's why you have nothing to fear from me. I know what it's like, and any man who would do such a thing is not a man at all. I still get nervous around guys sometimes, especially how I am now.
Akane: Thank you for telling us. I'll try not to treat you like those perverts at school.
Nabiki: Akane, Kasumi, I need to talk to Ranma again. Give us couple of minutes please.
Akane nods and leaves, while Kasumi gives one final comforting squeeze before going.
Kasumi: I'll be in the kitchen if you need me, okay?
Nabiki and Ranma-chan: Okay.
Nabiki(quietly): It was Tatewaki Kuno. He asked to meet me alone to pay his debts. He then raped me, and added insult to injury by thrusting a wad of yen into my hand. I want nothing to do with him, if I had my way he'd be rotting in jail, but he's rich. And we need the money he provides by purchasing information and pictures of Akane, and the bets on the morning fights.
Ranma-chan: He was the one who made that announcement, right? He's the leader of the 'Hentai Horde'? And you probably aren't the only girl he's raped either.
Nabiki: Yes, he is. And there is talk among the girls about others who have been on dates with him, and now avoid him like the plague. They won't say anything, but I'd say he wouldn't take no for an answer with them.
Ranma-chan: As I said earlier, how many pieces do you want him in? And why do you need the money? Your Dad is a master of a dojo isn't he? Doesn't he teach?
Nabiki: No he doesn't. He hasn't taught a class for eight years. His little council job barely covers the food we eat, but everything else has come from me and Kasumi.
Ranma-chan(getting angry): I knew I'd forgotten something. Please, think of something me and Pops can do to help out while I go 'talk' to your father about his failures.
Ranma-chan begins storming down to the living room, where Genma and Soun have begun a game of shogi. She picks Soun up by the collar of his gi and slams him into the floor.
Ranma-chan: How dare you!
Soun(scared): W-w-what?
Ranma-chan(standing over him): How dare you call yourself a Master of the Art, when you haven't taught in eight years! How dare you call yourself a man, when you don't make enough money to care for your family! How dare you expect your daughters to look after you, when you are supposed to look after them! How dare you call yourself a father, when your daughters would trust me, someone they've only known for half an hour, with their problems before they would trust you! And how dare you treat Kasumi like a house slave! Your wife would be ashamed if she could see you now. Grow up, you spoilt child!
Chapter 3 – The Blue Thunder's Blunder
Kuno is confronted by Ranma, and tricked into revealing how many girls he's raped – caught by Nabiki's camcorder. Hentai Horde abandons him, and Ranma presses the kanji for 'rapist', not idiot into Kuno's forehead.
Chapter 4 – The Eternally Lost Boy
Ryoga shows up. He's not adopted as P-chan, as Ranma blurts out loud that he ignored the note Ranma left, warning him to avoid China and wait for Ranma's return. Akane and Nabiki realise this means Ryoga's been to Jusenkyo. Ranma tries to get Ryoga to see that many of his problems are his own fault.
Chapter 5 – Thorns of the Black Rose
Ranma makes friends with Kodachi, having seen her emotional state and deduced the horrible things that Kuno has done to her. She still tries to use the paralysis powder on the roof the first time she meets 'Ranma-sama', but he has enough warning for it to miss before he loudly tells her why she should never try to paralyze him.
Chapter 6 – Aiyah! Chinese Amazons
The Amazons arrive. Mousse is calmer, as no Kisses were given to Ranma, but Cologne is still trying to get Ranma into the tribe, trying to trick him into defeating Shampoo so that she can give the Kiss of Marriage.