Authors notes: Hi yall thanks for reading. Sorry but I have been a little sidetracked with some great Harry Potter stories. I hope to keep up this rate of chapter production, but don't expect it to last. I will keep it up as long as my time and muse last. Just to let yall know this is not my forte when it comes to writing. I generally suck at writing introductions. Oh well read and enjoy.
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Never have, never will.
Chapter 3
or
Meetings
Ranma Saotome was reflecting on his day. He had so far been woken up by his father, at an exceedingly early hour, and played their daily game of "kick the panda in to the pond". Akane walked in on him in the bathroom, how she seemed to show up when he was getting out of the furo was starting to look a little suspicious, and naturally he was malleted into the koi pond again. His Mother had questioned his manliness because he emerged from the pond a female and not immediately changed back. On his way back to the house to change his clothes, he discovered the contense of his wallet had once more been raided for sake money. He had been bitten by that rat of a pig and then malleted for picking on her P-Chan. His "Loving Fiancé" then proceeded to make a toxic waste experiment for him so he couldn't eat the one Kasumi made for everyone else. When he had dared to mention it was moving and attacking the panda, not that he minded that last part, he was sent sailing over the horizon once more.
Score card:
Pond trips 3
Malletings 3
Yen lost 2500
Time ...
Ranma looked up at the angle of the sun.
about 9:30
He was up to a 7.5 on the Inter-dimensional Crappy Day Scale.(1)
He looked up to see a nervous looking girl peering over the edge of the fountain he was currently sitting in. His brain went into combat mode:
Female Bookish type, glasses, fit, no obvious combat skills
Bright Blue Hair Possible Amazon
Cross check with known Amazons...
negative
Hands Possibly holding small object...
danger minimal
Aura Double... second magic in nature...
Danger analysis Possible Magic Girl
Minimal to moderate(2)
Combat systems on Yellow alert
Engaging Speech parameters
"Uh... Hi" the pigtailed girl said.
It took a second for Ami to access the site in front of. Here was a small red headed girl that would probably give Haruka a fatal nosebleed from the was the wet silk was clinging to her. Ami had the strangest feeling like she had just been weighted, measured, and categorized. The red headed girl had a growing bruise under her right eye and a look of hopelessness and loneliness about her that was almost was palpable.
"Excuse me Miss," Ami said, noticing her wince, "are you hurt?"
"Not much, noting I'm not use ta," the red head said.
"Do you need any help?"
"Nah, I'm alright, see."
As Ranma tried to stand a shooting pain passed through her left ankle, sending her back to the fountain bed.
Ami jumped into the fountain to help her back to her feet.
"You did hurt yourself," she reached to help her up "let me take you to the hospital, my mother is a doctor there."
"No!" "No hospitals, I can't do hospitals."
Ami felt the girl stiffen when she touched her arm but wrote it off to the poor girl being in pain from her fall. "It's alright, why don't you come back to my house, my mom can see you there." "My name is Ami, do you want to be friends?"
Ranma looked at the blue haired girl that jumped into the water. She could see worry and concern in her eyes, something that was almost alien to her. Only Kasumi ever looked at her like that, she couldn't equate that reaction to anyone else, especially not a complete stranger.
"My name's Ranma." the red head sighed.
-----*****-----
Later that day at Ami's apartment
Ami handed the wet red head a towel after helping her into a chair.
"What time does you Mom get home?'
"Around 4:30, so what do you do for fun Ranma?"
"Nuthin much, all I have time for is The Art, it's all I'm really good at."
"What kind of art?"
"The Art, ya know, martial arts.
"What belt are you?" "My friend, Makoto, is a second dan in kempo."
"Don't know, never been tested, Pops wouldn't let me."
"So how did you get into the fountain?"
"Pissed off the tomboy again, she's a lot stronger than she looks."
"Is that your training partner?"
"Somethin like that."
Ranma was looking around the room, desperate for something to change the subject. His eyes fell on several trophies that filled one whole bookshelf.
"Whatcha get them for?"
"Mostly academic bowls and Chess," Ami blushed "I am nationally ranked."
"What's chess?"
"You never played chess?" asked the shocked bluenette.
"Nah, if it didn't involve The Art Pops said it was a waste o'time"
"I simply have to teach you"
"Sure, we got nothin better ta do, but I'll warn ya I'm pretty stupid"
Ten minutes later
"So that's how all the pieces move, I'll take white and show you, nothing beats a practical demonstration."
Ten more minutes later:
"That was a good first game you really catch on fast."
"Show me how the horsey one moves again"
Forty five minutes later:
"Wow, you sure you never played before?" Ami asked "I have had professional matches that were less intense."
"One more time please Ami."
Twenty minutes later:
"How the hell did you do that!"
"I pick up things fast."
-----*****-----
4:45 pm
Dr Saeko Mizuno was just pulling off her shoes after a long day at the hospital. Her daughter Ami had called her at work and told her a friend had injured her ankle from a fall and all she could think of was that Usagi needed to be a lot more careful. The sound from the living room reminded her of her daughter typing on that laptop of her, probably ignoring her friend to finish their homework. The sight that greeted her was her daughter hunched over a chess board with a red head she didn't know. The pieced were clicking a staccato beat on the polished marble board as their hands seemed to blur at times.
"Checkmate" her daughter cried pumping her fist in the air.
"One more, I swear I'll even the score yet." The healthy looking girl giggled.
She was resting on the couch with her left ankle resting on a pile of pillows and an ice pack on top of it.
"Having fun dear" Dr. Muzino asked already knowing the answer.
"Hi mom, this is my new friend Ranma." "She hurt her ankle in a training accident this morning."
"Pleased to met you Ranma, what's the score?"
"Ten to eight Doc." "Ya don't hafta look at my ankle, I heal real fast, I'm sure its fine"
"Nevertheless I'm here so let me see." Dr. Muzino said leaning down.
"Looks like a sprain, keep it elevated and alternate heat and ice." "no gym class for a week." "Do you need me to write you a pass?"
"Sure, thanks Doc." the red head smiled till she looked at the clock on the wall. "Ah great, Sorry Ami, Doc, but I gotta split." "Pops and Mr. Tendo will flip if I miss dinner."
"Do you need a ride home?" Dr. Mizuno asked
"Nah, think I'll just catch the train."
"Come back anytime Ranma, I usually sit in the park in the morning, maybe we could play again sometime." Ami said helping her friend up.
"Sure, I'd love ta next time I'm in Juban." Ranma replied slightly blushing.
-----*****-----
On top of the express train bound for Nerima:
Ranma was reflecting on the day after the malleting. He had enjoyed the new game but doubted anyone at the house would play it with him and not get involved in a three alarm brawl. His ankle was feeling better and by morning would be back to normal. That girl Ami had offered to be friends and so far the offer was everything the tomboy wasn't. She had listen to him, not ridiculed him for his injury and even offered help. She had shown him a fun new past time and was not upset when he beat her, just laughed and tried harder the next time. This was going to take some serious thought.
-----*****-----
Outers house later that night
Usa(3) and Hotaru was lounging on the bed reading some magazines.
"Hey Usa, I been meaning to ask, why do you call Rei, Auntie Rei, and not any of the other inners?"
"Don't really know Taru, always have."
"So, how is the future?"
"Pretty boring, that's why I got Mom to send me back here to live for a while." "It could have been a little bit of fun if they had let me see the animals.
"What animals?"
"I overheard Minako tell Makoto that Mom, Dad, and Auntie Rei had a menagerie."
[Insert awkward silence here]
"Usa, you don't think?"
"No, that's just weird, it's not like their outers or anything."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean."
"Well, I'm just saying that at least over half of the outers are."
"I resent that Haruka-papa and Michiru-mama maybe, but me and Setsuna-mama are not."
"Sorry, but are you sure, I personally haven't ever seen her on any kind of date."
(1) Also know to use this scale were Naruto(7.2), Tenchi(6.5), Harry Potter(8.7) and current record holder for worst possible day, Rincewind(9.4).
(2) Normally Magic + Girl = instant danger.
(3) I know her name is Chibi-Usa, but I am going to call her Usa because it's like calling someone Little Joe they eventually grow out of it. The last Little Joe I know stands at just under six foot ten inches tall and three hundred fifty pounds.
Authors end notes: Again thanks to those who have faith in this old Georgia boy. BTW if anyone wants to submit Omakes fell free. I think they help to make any story better. Now to answer some questions that came up in the reviews
7 winds, King Toral, and deathgeonous: Pretty good guess. I guess I can let the cat out of the bag. Ranma is Beryl reincarnated. One day after reading one too many stories of our resident gender changer, I got to wondering what in the hell he had done in this life to deserve all of the shit he constantly has heaped on his plate. Then the idea hit me, he had been every red head under the sun but one and this left him with a whole hell of a lot of bad karma to work off.
Robby Cartwright: I hope you liked how their first encounter went it wont be the last.
Dumbledork: I agree with you but not this time.
Wharpt: Luna and Artemis would love Nuku-Nuku but she's just a walk on character. Akane and Ryoga will be cleared up in a few chapters. Yes, I don't do fan service or lemons. I don't mind them and have read more than my fair share of them but I don't write them. Incidentally those examples you listed were in your mind. I never said what caused Haruka's goofy grin and if you will read the foot notes it aint Michiru that caused it for one, she was lost in her own little world. To quote the great southern writer Lewis Grizzard there is a difference between naked and naked. let me explain, we southerners have two words for being without clothes. 1. naked means you aint got any clothes on. 2. naked pronounced (n e double k by God e d) means you aint got any clothes on and you up to something. I know its hard to tell the difference in print so I can forgive you its just one of those contextual things that but the piss out of southern writers. Also, Setsuna can drink if she want to she pass legal age in centuries a while ago. I aint ripping on you dude any comments are in jest.
King Toral: Yah got me brother there will be conflict in my story, like you can have a Ranma story without at least one great scrap, it just hasn't shown up yet. Yes some of the NWC will make an appearance as Endymion's Generals, what do you think their reaction to rose chucking will be.
Just to make sure it's said, thanks to 7 Winds, DeltaBladeX, deathgeonous, Robby Cartwright, Dumbledork, Jerry Unipeg, Wharpt, and King Toral for the reviews.