The End of it All
Note: Panda Signs-() Chinese-"" Ranma- Boy Ranma-chan- Girl Unless stated other wise.
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Chapter 2- The Challenge Letter
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"That went 'real' well!" Scoffed Ranma-chan as she walked across the fence along side Akane. It just seamed things would turn around today after the fight at lunch, but noooo, first Kuno recovered once more from this morning rushing towards him and Akane shouting that he would free his loves. I swear he'll never learn! Then Mousse happened to show up for the second time today, but thankfully I was able to get rid of him quick. Although I got once again splashed and had to fetch some more hot water just before classes were over for today.
Once outside it started raining heavily soaking me once again, after a minute it stopped automatically. Talk about bad luck!
"Honestly Ranma!" Akane replied to the complaining pig-tailed martial artist, "Just stop complaining already!"
"Hey, I ain't complaining! I'm just pointing it out you stupid Tomboy!" Ranma-chan rudely replied back as she continued walking along the fence along side Akane.
Akane huffed and faced away from Ranma as she continued along the path.
This was how it was for the last few months for the both of them, one little thing or another and one would set the other off the spark that threaten what little trust there was. It eventually got better during the past month as Ranma was trying less and less of insulting Akane right back. Though right now he or rather she choose to throw an insult as of being annoyed of today's events. Both were silent for a few minutes before Ranma decided to break the silence.
"Akane," Ranma-chan started. Akane stopped, but didn't turn towards her. "Please listen to me, ok." Ranma-chan quickly sighed before continuing, "You know sometimes I get my foot in my mouth right?" Ranma-chan waited for Akane's reply, but after a few minutes she received none.
"Well I didn' mean to ….um…. yell at you….." Ranma-chan trailed off as she continued to wait for a response from the blue hair girl.
Akane turned around and faced the red head. She was about to say some rude comment before noticing the look in Ranma's eyes, shame and guilt written all over her face. Feeling a little guilty herself, she finally responded.
"I'm sorry too Ranma, for yelling at you."
"That's ok, I'm used to it." Ranma-chan replied before once more continuing down the pathway of the fence with Akane not far behind.
It was one of those moments where it seamed that everything would go right for once, however, when including the Murphy's Law, expect the worst.
"So, Akane what were you and your friends talkin' about under the tree today?" Ranma-chan threw a question out of the blue.
At this point Akane stopped and stared at Ranma like she had an extra eye on her forehead.
"What!?"
"Well I just wanted to know."
Akane found herself trying to come up with an answer that wouldn't lead to a more 'pressing' question.
"Just talking about girl stuff…." Akane trailed off as she quickly ran ahead.
Ranma-chan stared at Akane as she got further and further away from her.
"Ok…… guess that makes sense…."
Akane soon found herself getting closer to her house. If Ranma had taken a closer look, she would have seen a slight blush that went across Akane's face.
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"Tadaima!" Akane called out as she rushed into the house.
"Oh, hi Akane." Kasumi greeted her younger sister as Akane rushed past her.
Akane slowed down a little to turn around and tried to hide her blush as best as she could, but was failing miserably.
"Oh, Kasumi, I didn't see you there." Akane said as she tried to some how draw attention away from here so obvious blush.
"Well ok, just letting you know that dinner will be ready soon." Kasumi said in her motherly voice as she headed back towards the kitchen.
Just as soon Akane went upstairs Ranma in his curse form came inside. She sighed before continuing towards the kitchen to get some hot water to one again to trigger the curse. Once in his boy form, Kasumi came around the corner carrying a basket of vegetables.
"Oh, hi Ranma-kun." Kasumi said in one of her cheery voices, "Dinner will be ready soon."
"Thanks Kasumi." Ranma then walked out to the dojo.
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A little while later Nabiki ended showing up at the front gate. She was walking while glancing through the list that she brought. It was a list of all the people responsible for the bombing of the wedding.
She grumbled as she entered the front gate and stepping inside the Tendo grounds. Some how, the other suitors got a hold of few of the wedding invitations and ended up destroying the dojo. She only meant to send invitations to both Ranma and Akane's friends along with the weird teacher of theirs. But, some how a few of the invitations slipped out and Shampoo, Ukyou, Kodachi, and Kuno ended showing up and trashing the place with bombs and explosives.
Nabiki shook her head. It all seamed like a game and profit in the beginning when Ranma showed up, but now things have gotten out of hand. Now she was going to each person and trying to find a way to make them pay. Maybe not for Ranma, but for her family, herself and keeping them in house and home.
Nabiki walked strait through the door and up to her room, keeping her ever so cold face expression as she went. She once again glanced through the list.
I have been trying to deal with Kuno and his family, but the idiot keeps going on about his love ones. Thankfully Ranma was able to get that sword away from Kuno.
It was a close one. It was the next day when Kuno was waiting in front of the school gate with the same damn sword, obviously out for blood. Ranma ended up beating the fool up and taking the sword away from him.
Nabiki glanced back at her wall. There the blade layed against the wall glistening in the light. Every since that day the idiot used his same old bokkens as before. She soon found out that Kuno had grabbed his family's honor sword, meaning he was serious.
Nabiki shivered before continued on with her short but very dangerous list. Things have really gotten out of hand.
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Soon the whole family gathered at the table eating dinner away. Soun and Genma sat next to each other playing a game of shoji, Nabiki sat next to Nodoka but working out something on a piece of paper, lastly Ranma and Akane were sitting on the other end, eating their food away.
"Do over." Soun pleaded as Genma made a move that getting his closer to winning.
"No do overs." Genma stated as he grabbed another bite to eat.
Soun was about to protest when Kasumi called out.
"Seconds anyone?"
Kasumi had just then came back in with the next quality of food, thus disturbing any more conversation. She set the great amount of food on the table, which Genma helped himself to.
Kasumi was getting a helping for herself when she just remembered something.
"Oh, my, that reminds me." Kasumi went back into the kitchen and came back out with a letter envelope, "Ranma, a letter came for you today." She then handed the letter to him.
Ranma grasped the letter with curiosity as looked for who it was from.
"Who's it from son?" Nodoka asked.
"Yeah, who's it from boy?" Genma questioned as he stuffed more into his mouth.
Ranma flipped it over again and again as he looked for the name. He then opened it up and read the letter out loud.
"Dear Ranma Satome, I here by challenge you to a duel. I will be waiting for you in a shrine on Mount Fuji. Be there within a week's time." Ranma read out loud to everyone.
"A challenge huh?" Genma grunted in amusement. As if the person would give his son a real challenge.
"Who's it from son?" Soun asked as he was also filled with as much curiosity as everyone else.
Nabiki was too busy as she was still trying to figure out things and also not being really interested in Ranma's new challenger.
"There's no name. It just says 'Meet me on Mount Fuji'." Ranma stated as he set the letter down. He wasn't feeling very well about the challenge.
'Something doesn't feel right. Who sent it anyway? Why didn't they put their name in the letter?'
Akane was also thinking around the same lines.
'Something's not right here, why didn't the challenger state who they are?'
"Well, are you going to meet the challenge son?" Nodoka questioned with eagerness.
"I don't know…" Ranma was starting to say when he got interrupted.
"Now, see here son!" Soun said as he started to launch his demon head.
"Boy! You will go out to face this challenger!" Genma demanded.
"It isn't very manly, son." Nodoka replied in a slightly cold voice.
Ranma had just felt like he was cornered as the three adults jumped on his case. He swore that they'll never listen to him now and forever.
"What I'm saying is….." Ranma was saying till he was interrupted again.
"Son, you are going to face that challenger and that's all." Nodoka coldly stated once again while gripping the hilt of her sword.
Ranma then found himself keeping quiet.
Akane just couldn't believe her eyes and ears. Here Ranma was refusing a challenge, which made a little sense since something doesn't feel right about this letter, but to hear his mother threatening him was unbelievable, even after she said Ranma had fulfilled the contract.
Before she could answer, Soun spoke up.
"Hmm… Akane should go along too."
"That's a wonderful idea Tendo." Nodoka almost declared proudly.
Akane soon found herself forgetting on what she originally was going to say as the parents continued with their conversation.
"Akane should go with her fiancé and hopefully make sure the boy doesn't-" Genma was saying before he got cut off.
"Hey! I have a say in whether I go or not!" Akane shouted.
Genma, Nodoka and Soun turned their heads towards Akane's direction after her sudden outburst.
"Now see here young lady, you are going along with Ranma to this challenge and that's that."
Nodoka once again stated coldly as she gripped her katana's hilt.
For once no one spoke for the rest of the evening.
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Akane and Ranma walked down the streets of Nermia as they made their way to Mount Fuji. After their parents argument between the two of them, they were finally were sent on their way. Akane was quietly fuming as they went.
'I can't believe this! His own mother ordering not only Ranma around but also me! I thought both my dad and Mr. Satome's schemes were bad enough, but his own mother! I thought she was a lot different than that.'
Akane then glanced over towards Ranma as he walked beside her. She frowned at the sight, Ranma wasn't looking good ether.
'I forgot. This isn't only affecting me but also him as well. After all, she is his mother. I can't believe a mother would do that to her own son.'
"Uh…Ranma…" Akane started. Ranma then stopped, but still not turn to face her, "Even though you don't want to go through with this challenge because of your mother, I'm still here for you."
Ranma still said nothing as Akane waited for an answer.
"It's ok." Ranma said at last, "I'm used to it."
They both then continued out of Nermia as they walking on through the moon lit night.
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Finally finished this chapter. Sorry it took….. almost six months!?! Sorry every one, but I had so many this going on, plus a major writer's block. Though now I'm back in the grove of things and also working on another story as well. I hope 'Animal I Have Become' will do well as I continue working on both of them. Also the characters are ether a little or a lot of ooc, but that is expected. I'm trying to change this as the plot comes forth, plus also setting up the events to come. Also Herb will be showing up in the next chapter.
Also please review. Thanks!