Ranma-chan: Genie of the Ring
by Disruptor

Disclaimer: All characters that are used belong to their respective creators. I do this for fun and do not take any money off of it. Please don't sue me. The stories are mine, so please don't use them without asking me.

Chapter 2

Somewhere in China, the Jusenkyo Guide was meeting a person dressed in a hooded robe. The man he was going to see stood in the wreckage of a temple.

"Honored sir. I have done as you asked and sent the ring to Ranma in Japan with the note you wanted sent," the Guide said, "Can I please have my daughter back now?"

The hooded man nodded and released Plum. The man chuckled silently, waiting for the day he could use Ranma to her fullest potential.

Before he left, the man said, "Grape, do not warn Ranma Saotome of me. If you go against my will, I will destroy you."

The Guide nodded mutely, stunned that someone would use his name.

Plum and her father left for Jusenkyo, hoping that everything would turn out right, but had misgivings about Ranma's fate. They discussed the situation on their trek home.

"Who was that man, father?"

Grape shuddered before answering, "A very powerful and very dangerous person. He has something planned, and I'm unsure of what it is."

Plum looked at her father and asked, "Father, will the one called Ranma be all right?"

"I hope so, daughter," the Guide said, "But no matter what happens, Ranma will never have a normal life, now."

Around three in the morning, Akane woke up with a start. A nightmare of being squashed inside a box had disturbed her sleep. She wondered at the meaning of her dream when suddenly she realized that she hadn't released Ranma from the ring. Panicking, she started rubbing the ring, visions of her nightmare forming in her head. The red smoke poured from the ring and formed into Ranma-chan.

"Yes, master," Ranma said reflexively.

"Ranma, are you all right?" Akane asked with concern. "What's it like in there? Are you comfortable?"

Ranma blinked, coming out of the trance that being released from the ring always put her in.

Ranma-chan said, "I'm fine. The inside of the ring is as large as the school's track field."

Looking out Akane's window, she saw that the sky was dark and asked, "Um. Akane, what time is it?"

Akane looked at the clock beside her. She quickly made shushing gestures.

Akane forcefully, but quietly said, "Ranma, whisper. It is three-o-five in the morning."

Ranma tried to shout, but because of that order all she could do was whisper, "What? I've been in that ring all this time? How am I going to explain this to Pops?"

I know what he's going to say. I've missed a practice session and say I'm becoming a sloppy girl, Ranma thought with annoyance.

Akane thought furiously for a few seconds. As she was thinking, Akane noticed Ranma was about to leave.

"Ranma, stop," Akane quietly commanded.

Ranma froze, looking like a statue. Akane could sense that Ranma was upset about having no choice.

You uncute tomboy. Let me go, Ranma thought, while anger filled her.

"Ranma, sit down and listen to me," Akane said.

Ranma did as she was told, without hesitation. She looked at Akane with anger filled eyes.

Just like that? No resistance? I-I'm sorry Ranma, Akane thought as she winced from the gaze.

Taking a deep breath, Akane started talking.

"Ranma, I have an idea. Until I finish explaining my idea, stay here. You will say that you were training last night and decided to stay where you were, because no one was bothering you."

Ranma smirked at the truth behind that statement.

Akane continued, "You will teleport to the woods where you will change into some of your daily clothes and return to the house this morning."

Ranma, losing some of her anger at feeling like a puppet, thought about Akane's plan. She looked at her master and mumbled something.

Akane asked, "What?"

"Nothing, Akane," Ranma said as she looked away. Thanks, Akane

Akane got up and walked over to the young genie. She put her left hand on Ranma's shoulder.

Giving a reassuring squeeze, Akane said, "Ranma, I know this is hard for you, but I am trying to help you."

Ranma-chan just nodded, not saying a word. Akane sighed sadly and put the final touches on her plan.

"Once you teleport, you'll be free of the whisper command. Ranma, go."

Ranma's form became a silhouette of red light that quickly faded. Akane looked at the spot that Ranma had been standing, and wondered if she and Ranma would be up to dealing with this new problem. She was about to return to sleep, when she heard scratching at her door. Shrugging, she went to open the door. She saw her pet pig, P-chan on the other side. Akane snatched up her pet.

"P-chan. Where have you been?" Akane said, in delight.

P-chan just squealed as Akane headed back to her bed.

Ryoga thought, If it wasn't for that sprinkler, I would have crushed Ranma with my new attack.

Akane laid back down. P-chan, feeling something different about Akane's right hand, maneuvered so he could see it. The glint off the ruby caused P-chan to freeze.

Inside the pig's body, Ryoga thought to himself, Ranma! How dare you give Akane an engagement ring?

Akane, speaking her thoughts, said, "Ranma should arrive in the morning, just in time for breakfast."

Just you wait, Ranma!" Ryoga thought viciously, How dare you leave Akane unprotected, Ranma! You will pay! Akane deserves better than you!

Akane drifted back to sleep, thinking of Ranma's plight. Ryoga fumed silently at the supposed claim that Ranma put on his Akane. He stayed awake all night, mentally ranting about Ranma. He kept thinking of all the injustices that he had been through, that he believed were Ranma's fault. His eyes bulged out as he scanned the area. Clenching his piggy paws in anger, Ryoga's snout flared out as he took stock of the scene. Akane, still asleep, rolled over and coldcocked Ryoga with her elbow, sending him to slumberland. Other than that, the night passed peacefully.

As the sun crested the horizon, Ranma entered the Tendo home. Kasumi, being up already, greeted her pleasantly.

"Good morning, Ranma," Kasumi said, "I see you're back. I'm sure Akane has cooled off by now."

"I wasn't staying away because of that macho chick," Ranma replied forcefully, "I found the perfect practice spot and stayed there last night."

"Well, at least you made it back in time for breakfast," Kasumi said.

"Err, yeah," Ranma said and then thought to herself, I guess I had better eat, even though I'm not hungry.

Soun and Genma, in his panda form, came into the room and saw Ranma-chan. The two of them confronted Ranma.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, son," Soun said.

Genma held up a sign, "What were you doing?"

Ranma rolled her eyes and responded, "After Akane hit me, I found the perfect spot to practice my martial arts. I wasn't interrupted by fiancées or rivals there."

"Where is it?" Soun asked

"It's my secret," Ranma said defiantly. "If I told you, the others would find out."

Before anyone could comment on that, Kasumi said, "Breakfast is ready, everyone."

Ranma-chan just smirked and went to the table. Soun and Genma promised each other they would find this hiding spot of Ranma's, so they could send Akane with him next time. Akane came downstairs holding P-chan. When P-chan saw Ranma, he leapt from Akane's arms and attacked Ranma.

"Hey, get away from me, bacon-breath," Ranma said, while slapping P-chan away.

Akane, getting mad, said, "Stop hitting my P-chan, Ranma."

A slight tingle came over Ranma as she heard Akane's words. P-chan charged at Ranma a couple more times. She tried using her hands to slap the pig away, but found she could not proceed. After a few seconds, Ranma sighed in defeat, since she realized she was affected by Akane's command. Akane flinched as Ranma gazed at her with resentment-filled eyes. Knowing it was pointless to even argue, Ranma stood up.

Ranma shook her head and said, "Fine, see you at school, Akane."

Ranma leapt over the wall, leaving the Tendo household in a stunned state. Ranma had just left without eating any of Kasumi's cooking. She didn't bother to insult Akane or Genma. Genma, Soun, and Nabiki stared at the wall Ranma had leapt over. Akane was the first to recover from the shock that Ranma had given them. Ranma had never just left like that. A gleaming reflection of the sun caught her attention, and she looked at the ring she was wearing. Akane slowly realized that she had given a command to Ranma-chan. Grabbing her school supplies, Akane ran after Ranma, and thought about what she would say to Ranma at school.

Do I apologize for making him a toy? If he hadn't attacked P-chan, it wouldn't have happened. I don't want Ranma mad at me, Akane thought sadly, I don't what to do.

Akane mentally shivered as she recalled the other emotion that was in Ranma's eyes: hate.

Ryoga shook off his daze and thought, while following Akane, Ranma! You coward! How dare you run from a fight! Just you wait, Ranma!

Ryoga, after a couple of minutes of following Akane, managed to get hopelessly lost.

You shall pay, Ranma, Ryoga thought, getting more depressed as he wandered.

Akane managed to catch up with Ranma just before they arrived at school. Akane looked at Ranma, stumped. Ranma stared straight ahead trying to figure out how to deal with Ryoga the next time he showed up in human form.

Akane thought, Now that I'm here, what do I say?

Ranma took a quick glance at her, and then just looked straight ahead, without saying a word. An unfamiliar feeling came over Akane, as this was the first time anyone had ever ignored her. Akane's thoughts became confused as she tried to sort through her emotions. She opened her mouth to speak, but Ranma spoke first.

"Don't worry about me hitting your precious pig anymore, Akane. Thanks to your order, I can't attack him," Ranma said.

Akane was about to say something when she noticed that Principal Kuno was heading towards them. The principal was carrying an armload of brooms, when he spotted Ranma-chan and Akane.

Principal Kuno chortled evilly while he said, "Ey, you two. Don'tcha know that all keiki gotta be sweepin' de school roof before dey goan' to de next grade? And it gotta get done befoah class."

Akane rolled her eyes as she listened to Principal Kuno's latest scheme. Giving the principal a dirty look, Ranma-chan clenched her fists and thought to herself that this might be the perfect way to release some stress.

The principal laughed a bit and continued, "Betta get busy if you wanna get on class on time, othahwise you gettin' held back!"

Ranma was about ready to clobber the principal when she heard Akane say, "I just wish for once that you would go somewhere else and leave us alone."

Ranma sighed as she thought about where to send the principal. A mischievous thought came into Ranma's mind as she teleported Principal Kuno away.

After Principal Kuno had vanished, Ranma said, "Granted."

Akane put her hands to her lips, once she realized what she had just said.

"Oh, my!" Akane said, doing a very reasonable impression of Kasumi.

She took a quick look around the grounds. She sighed with relief when she saw that no one heard or saw what Ranma did.

Feeling a bit nervous, Akane asked, with trepidation in her voice and concern in her eyes, "Ranma, where did you send him?"

Ranma smirked and said, "I sent him to the Amazon Village. I sent him so that he would fall headfirst onto one of the Amazons. That should keep him out of our hair for a little while."

Akane just stared at Ranma's retreating form and then giggled at the thought of an Amazon wanting to marry the principal. She followed Ranma into the school. Ranma, feeling much better, got some hot water, changed back to his male form, and went to class. Until lunch rolled around, it was a very peaceful day.

During lunch, Akane and Ranma were sitting on a bench, near the school's birdbath. While eating his lunch, Ranma heard a very loud shout.

"Ranma! Prepare to die!"

Ranma looked up and sighed. He said, "Well, well. If it isn't pig-boy. I'm surprised that you found me this early. Is your sense of direction improving?"

"Enough!" Ryoga yelled, and threw punches at Ranma.

Ranma easily dodged the punches, but did not strike back at Ryoga. Ranma leaned back against the wall of the school. He looked at Ryoga with disgust.

Ranma thought to himself, This is just great. Akane's command prevents me from hitting her precious P-chan. Since Ryoga is P-chan, I can't fight him. Oh well at least I can still dodge.

"You're getting sloppy, Ryoga"

Ryoga poked his finger into the wall, near Ranma's head while yelling, "BAKU-SEI-TEN-KETSU."

Chunks of bricks went flying everywhere. Ranma did a quick somersault roll between Ryoga's legs. He used Ryoga as a shield from the flying rocks. The explosion brought the other students running, including Akane, Kuno, and Ukyo.

Ryoga screamed, "How dare you give Akane an engagement ring! Have you no honor, Ranma! You will die for staining Akane's honor!"

At least he doesn't realize what it is, Ranma thought with disgust. Ryoga, you have just royally screwed up my life.

Ranma prepared himself for battle. He wanted to knock pig-boy within an inch of his life. The other students gasped and stared at Akane. All of them noticed the ruby ring that Akane was now wearing. Ukyo silently fumed at this latest development.

"Akane, if you think you've won, you are wrong," Ukyo whispered with a lot of venom in her voice.

Tatewaki Kuno was stunned at the revelation. His delusional mind was unable to accept that Akane would willingly wear Ranma's engagement ring.

"Oh, how the flower of womanhood hath been enslaved by the foul one. Fear not, fair Akane. I shall soon smite the one who enslaves thee and the pig-tailed one, and you shall be free of his evil," Kuno spouted while running towards Ranma.

Akane was painfully aware that she was being stared at by everyone, when she noticed that Ranma hadn't once struck at Ryoga.

Akane thought, What is that idiot doing? He's going to get killed."

Kuno rapidly approached Ranma with his bokken raised, when Ranma grabbed him and threw him towards Ryoga. Ranma hadn't thrown the deranged kendoist hard enough for him to actually reach the lost boy. Just enough to distract Ryoga. Ryoga was so full of despair and fury that he didn't notice Ranma's tactic. Ryoga started glowing green.

Ryoga yelled, "SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!"

A blast of green chi energy streaked towards Ranma. Fortunately for Ranma, the blast hit upperclassman Kuno and knocked him into a drinking fountain. The drinking fountain crumbled under the impact and sprayed Ranma with water. Ranma changed back into the cursed form, her clothes remaining unaltered. She looked at Ryoga with wide eyes.

"What was that?" Ranma blurted out, shocked to her core.

Ryoga smirked and said, "That was my chi-blast. I learned it, just so I could kill you! SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!"

Doing a ground roll, the first green blast passed harmlessly over her head. The bolt struck the school, where it blew a hole straight to the gym.

"SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!"

The slightly larger blast came searing towards Ranma, who did a quick cartwheel to get out of the way.

Those things are getting stronger. I don't know how much longer I can dodge. Nuts. If Akane hadn't given me that command, I wouldn't be in this mess, Ranma thought

"SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!"

Ranma jumped up and used a branch of a tree to springboard over the large green ball of energy. Ranma landed near Akane who was whispering, unaware that Ranma could hear her.

"I wish that you knew how to counter this and start fighting back," Akane muttered.

Ranma smirked to herself, Thanks, MASTER. Now I can fight Ryoga, since you just canceled your previous order.

Ranma used her magic to have the knowledge of how Ryoga was making the chi-blasts and how she could counter it come pouring into her mind. She smirked at the unintentional boost that Akane had given her.

Ranma whispered, so that only Akane could hear, "Granted."

Akane glanced up, startled. She then resolved to watch what she said from then on. Ranma turned back to the fight and prepared herself.

Using her new knowledge, Ranma yelled, "MOKO TAKABISHA!"

Ranma-chan unleashed a yellow ball of chi energy that caught Ryoga completely off guard. The blast knocked Ryoga into a tree, which fell over. Ryoga stood up, while backhanding the tree aside. Ryoga concentrated on the memory of the ring on Akane's hand. Ryoga grabbed hold of his own shoulders and started shivering, while glowing brighter.

An engagement ring, Ryoga thought to himself, getting more depressed by the minute. Akane hates me, because Akane loves Ranma. Akane loves Ranma. Akane LOVES Ranma. AKANE LOVES RANMA!

"SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!" Ryoga screamed as tears welled in his eyes.

Ryoga launched a column of green energy into the air. Ranma and the others were shocked at this display of power. Green light started filling the courtyard, and everyone looked up. They saw a huge ball of green chi come barreling down, with the centerpoint of its impact being where Ryoga was standing. Ranma and the others quickly dived for cover. The perfect shishi hokodan hit and blew a crater into the ground. Ranma looked and saw that Ryoga was unharmed by the blast.

"Ranma! How dare you run away, you coward!" Ryoga bellowed

Ranma, for her part, did a flying kick at Ryoga's face. Ryoga went soaring. Ryoga smashed through the outer wall of the school. He went sailing through the room he was in. A clonging sound came forth, as Ryoga's head plowed through the school's piano, four tubas, and a drum set. Ryoga's flight continued as he cracked into the inner wall of the music room. He broke through the wall, where he slammed into a toilet.

What the heck! Ranma thought. My kicks don't have that much power."

She studied Ryoga's flight path and wondered about what she had just done.

Okay. I just guided Ryoga through the school, so he could get splashed with water. This isn't right. And, why should thinking Akane is in danger put me partially into a trance?

Looking around the devastated schoolyard, Ranma-chan decided something.

"Come on, Akane. Let's go home. I don't think there's going to be any more school today," Ranma said.

Akane looked around and seeing that their classmates were still in shock nodded. Akane also wanted time to think about what just happened.

How did Ryoga know that I was wearing a ring? Ranma and I are the only ones who knew of its existence, Akane thought to herself, His yelling that so that the entire school could hear is going to cause problems.