Punishment Due
Disclaimer – You know, some good reviews would really help me to get more inspired. Basically, i'll give a reasoning behind the origins of Ranma in this universe, and why Genma was so cowardly. Yakuza, are by nature family oriented. That means, that if you resist, they'll take a finger or do something worse. It would not be too farfetched to consider that they would go after the wife of a man, if said man crossed them. Genma still loves his wife, even if he's not seen her for a long time. Also, the fact that Genma is a martial artist and the comment about the guns being useless, is mainly conjecture. Not many people are able to dodge a bullet, after all. Genma with all his bulk, would be able to dodge the first shot perhaps, but would fall under a barrage of gunfire. Nobody's immortal, after all. Also, it is likely popular myth that the martial artists, who seem to gather around Ranma, can do stuff with ordinary things, like use light-poles for fighting and such. That is why it's considered to be foolish to get guns in Nerima to hurt one of the fighters there.
For an explanation about why i put in the scene in which Ranma's origins are vested? Well, Frank Castle, in both universes, either Earth 616 (Main marvel continuum) and MAX universe (Without superheroes), has expressed a special dislike for human traffickers. Ranma being used as such a... thing, would also gain him a special distaste for organized crime, as Frank Castle has for the mafia, who killed his daughter and son. Being assaulted in such a manner, would also somewhat explain his lack of plain interest in the girls, along with holding Frank Castle in high regard, as his methods get things done. As for the choppy flow one of the reviewers mentioned, i can't do much about that. A beta would be absolutely fine to me, because I've got one thousand and other things to do other than edit a story chapter, and because of real life tensions.
I sleep about 2 hours a night, which blows ass... a lot.
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The States of Americaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
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The first impression Ranma had of the city of New York, was all the lights. The plane that carried them to the big Apple was a Boeing 747, one that carried a load of smoking Americans back to their homestead. The lights below, along with the small glowing figures that went through the sky, one of them even blasting another with some ray of light, impressed upon Ranma, that this city was populated with people that were a bit less than standard about their business. In a way, it reminded him of what he'd been through in Nerima, along with the ending of the entire thing, with his violent streak getting the best of him.
"RANMA NO BAKAAAA!" The mallet came at him, his body sliding out of the way, his smile staying on his face as he engaged in some light exercise, his feet moving his body out of the way of Akane's strikes, after she'd deemed him too slow to save her sister from some freak, the evidence that Nabiki may have been involved in drugs being dismissed because her sister would never do something like that. "Stand still and let me hit you!" He gave her a look that clearly told her that he thought her an idiot, his hand moving for the first time to grab the handle of the mallet, the instrument of ki energy collapsing at his touch. "You are dumb if you believe that just because you said to stand still, that i'm going to do it. You must have some brain problem, Akane, if you just want a man to stand still so he can get pummeled by that damn hammer of yours." She raged a little, tried to punch him, but he knew that it was futile, his body moving quickly into range of her body, grabbing her chest and pinching the nipples to hard that Akane's scream rattled the windows of the neighborhood. "Yeah, that's a sample of the pain I go through by landing."
he looked at the small pile of Akane which lay there, foam on the mouth due to the pain overload, her nipples likely bruised and sore when she woke up again. Who knew the violent tomboy to be so sensitive?
"Is everything alright with- RANMA HOW DARE YOU HURT MY LITTLE GIRL!" Soun Tendo entered, his tearstained face turning into a massive demonic caricature of a face, a serpentine tongue lolling out of the mouth of the beast, his eyes glowing with a yellowish tinge. "She and I sparred and she lost. You should know the rules of a match of Anything Goes, right? I was just trying to teach her a few things and she passed out." The sagely look on the man's face was a wholly different thing now, as he looked at the young man who'd tried to teach his little angel something with pride. "Ah, you tried to teach her the Ancient Way of Toughening, right? Maybe you should try with something a bit easier. Akane, daddy will teach you!" In a way, Ranma supposed it would be touching to see the father go to his daughter and try to revive her, only to get a fist to hit him in the chin with the usual brute force Akane placed behind it. To his current state of mind, it re-inforced that Akane was as usually, violent. "Tomboy, you just knocked out mr Tendo! Care for him would ya?"
Akane's reply was not for the typing, as it was quite foul and derisive to his manhood. Kasumi walked in moments later with a bar of soap and a small brush, proceeded to bend Akane over her knee and then push the bar of soap in her mouth and move it a few times, the foam that had been already on Akane's mouth disappearing, but her eyes still filled with rage, as her gaze fell upon Ranma. "No naughty words, Akane. Mother would not approve." Ranma disappeared in the meantime, his presence no longer wanted around. He hopped onto the roof first, his legs carrying him towards the restaurant owned by his so-called Cute Fiance, the one with the bombs and the other cooking utensils, for further clarification.
"Ranchan! What can I do for you?" The chef asked when she just hopped an okonomiyaki on a plate, her hands preparing another okonomiyaki for another paying customer, her hands working automatically, the small bandolier with throwing spatulas glistening for a moment. "I was wondering if we could have a chat about the engagement thing." She dropped almost everything for him, ushering out customers, as she said there was something private that'd come up, the customers taking a look at Ranma and understanding what happened, the exploits of this young man being widely known among the locals.
"Miss Ukyou went to freshen herself up, have something to drink, Saotome-san." Konatsu appeared once again, wearing a frilly kimono, totally not looking like the man he was underneath it all. There was a small edge in his voice that was hard to spot, but Ranma did and nodded, accepting the glass of water without any word said. "Ranchan, how do I look?" The sundress she wore was a deep blue colour, flattering her figure. Ranma knew that the girl would be crushed by his words soon enough, but he hoped she'd still remain a friend. "Ucchan, could you sit down, please? This may be a bit tough for you." That was an understatement, as he'd essentially already cut ties with her by the name and family change. "Sure. You're finally going to ditch the tomboy and go for your cute fiance, right?"
He shook his head, looking her in the eyes and taking a deep breath. "Ukyou, you've been a good friend since we first met and now you're one of my fiance's... but I want to break off our engagement. Now, before you start crying, I want you to listen, okay?" He held up a hand, her eyes already tearing up, a stern look coming on his face. "It's not something you wanted to hear, but it's the truth. My... father, dragged your and my name through the mud at every opportunity, even allowed some people to take what was not theirs to take, but I want you to know that I still like you as a friend. You're ready to listen, even though you're one of the fiance's I've been saddled with. But just... Just be my friend okay?" He watched as her face seemed to be tearing up, her eyes misty and wet, a few tears rolling down her cheeks already as she began to hiccup a little.
"It hurts." She said, her voice thick with emotion as she looked at her ex-fiance, who'd just broken up with her. Slowly, he seemed to get a smile on her face, as he spoke in one of the gentlest voices she'd ever heard from him. "It'll hurt for now, but I can't allow you to waste your life going after me. It'll be tough for you but consider that there are more boys out there, for you to follow around and bash over the head with that spatula." She cracked a little grin at that, his face smiling too, even as she took a very deep breath, Konatsu arriving with a few tissues, which she gratefully snatched. This would be better for her, she realized. If he broke up with her, saying it'd be better for her to be unaffiliated with her, it might just redeem her in her father's eyes. Then a peculiarity in his way of phrasing was noticed by her. "Eh, Ranchan, what did you mean with someone taking what wasn't theirs to be taken?"
He clammed up at that moment, his eyes getting an uncharacteristic steelly tint to them, as his face seemed to struggle not to go into an angry one, his calm seriously lost as he clenched his hand into a fist for a moment, taking a deep breath seemingly to steady himself. "Genma Saotome gave his son to Yakuza. That time was not the most pleasant of times." She shuddered at the look he gave her, her hands clenching softly, as she had heard about what Yakuza did to people that displeased them. They were the reason sometimes parts of people were found floating in Tokyo bay.
"Were they... bad?"Ranma nodded, his hand stroking his hair lightly, his eyes looking at her, boring into hers to convey the message that it had not all been sunshine and peaches. She caught up on it, her eyes growing troubled now. "What happened? Did your father rescue you again?" Ranma shook his head. "He left me to rot. The Yakuza would go after mom and me if he didn't give them me, so the panda buggered off. I don't know nor do I really care much, what happens to Genma." He snapped his fingers a few times, the sound of his fingers being the only sound in the room, as time seemed to freeze for a split-second.
"I better go now. Ucchan, thanks for listening for a moment and sorry that things won't work out well." He exited through the front door, his hands lingering upon the doorpost for a moment, his hand stroking the wood for a moment, Ukyou knowing that this may be the end of their engagement, but perhaps they could still stay friends.
"Ranma!" She shouted, his form stopping, his head turning around, to regard her. "Let's just be friends, like in the old days, okay?" She smiled brightly while fighting back tears, her eyes looking at his as he bowed before her, a sign of formality. "That would be nice." He said, before turning away, a few tears beginning to form in his eyes, his body moving on its own accord, out of sight within moments.
He appeaed in front of his mother's house next, holding up the adress and looking at the front door, trying to see whether he had the correct one. It wasn't a stately house, like he'd expected but rather a common one, in a row. It didn't really stand out much, even as he rang the doorbell a few times. "What can I do for you, young man?" He looked at his mother and put on his best smile. "Hello mom. I've changed my style a bit, hope you like it." To see his mother gawk at him, he realized that the big skull on his chest along with leaving his hair a bit loose gave him a wholly different expression than his normal red and black attire, along with the pigtail. He was bid inside moments later by his mother, who seemed to be excited to have her son over finally. He recalled her threat about seppuku, vowing to deliver the news quickly and then get out of there, hopefully with no cuts.
"Mom, I've got to tell you something." The look she gave him gave him the chills, as she seemed to be expecting him to say he'd gotten some solution to the engagement thing. "I broke off the engagement with Ukyou Kuonji today. And I've come to-" He was cut off by his mother hugging him, saying something inane about finally making up his mind like a true man. "Mom, hold it would ya? I'm not done speaking yet. Isn't it the woman's privilege to allow men to finish speaking, before they do stuff?" His mother got a reserved look on her face, as she seemed to not agree with that at all, but held her tongue. "Also, Nabiki died yesterday. She got killed by someone working against the Yakuza she held deals with or something, I tried to save her mom, but she was dead by the time I got there." She gave a sad look at him. "Oh my poor baby, you must be so awfully shocked by not being there in time. Is Akane-chan handling it well?"
"Mom, I'm going to be extremely blunt with you right now, so bear with me for a moment. I'm leaving the family to strike out on my own because our honor is about zilch worth in the eyes of the average person anymore. Genma screwed up, mom, big time. Now don't go waving around that honor blade or threatening me with that seppuku thing, cuz I'm no longer a member of the Saotome clan. Now, I've said my piece, now's your turn, mom." The only thing his mother seemed to be able to do, was mutter unintelligibly, about shame, honor and dishonorable sons. He really supposed that there wasn't much to be done about it, the proverbial bomb being tossed already, the look on his mother's face being much like wanting to cry her eyes out for this sudden disaster.
"I'll just go then. You'll know where to find me, I haven't told the Tendo's yet, or the fat panda. Mom, I want you to live a good life, okay?" He disappeared out of the door moments later, leaving the Saotome matriarch to contemplate the news she'd just gotten. Ranma moved towards the Nekohanten, his last stop for the day, the time being pretty late already, as the talk with Ukyou had taken some time.
"Nihao honored customer, what can Shampoo do for you today?" Ranma didn't speak much, allowing him to be led to a table and be seated, Shampoo bouncing to get his menu for him. He had put in some effort to appear even less like himself, untying his hair and wearing it in a style that would cover his eyes slightly, pushing it in front of him. It wasn't really that different from having had a haircut, his hair in a different style was enough to put most rivals on a different track. "What would honored customer like to order? We have special special order on Peking Duck tonight, even if idiot Mousse not interrupt serving."
He flashed her his brightest smile. "I'll have the Peking Duck, please. Could you also give me a cup of herbal tea?" She smiled and bounced away, her breasts jiggling with every skip she made. He really didn't like her gungho attitude about this entire thing, even as she filed his order with the old ghoul, who smacked Mousse up the head and told him to bring the Peking Duck over to the paying customers.
"Here's your Peking Duck, sir. The herbal tea is still being prepared in the kitchen, it'll be there momentarily, if you'd like to wait for a moment." Mousse didn't recognize him, which was a thing Ranma was glad for, as he waggled a little back to the kitchen, an imprint of a high heel visible on the back of his clothes, Ranma wincing a little bit in sympathetic pain about the marks. "Here is your herbal tea, sir."
"Hey, you seem interested in the bouncy girl over there. Why not go for her, or is she already saddled with someone?" He asked, almost coyly, his eyes falling upon the myopic young man who seemed to freeze at his coy wordings. "It wouldn't work. She only has eyes for Saotome, i'm never going to get her." Ranma looked Mousse in the eyes for a moment, smiling softly. "Just try to up the charm and give her presents or something. Get rid of those glasses through eye surgery and treat her to a fresh new you." Mousse actually seemed to look around a little, spotting Shampoo busy with another table and the ghoul keeping track of the money flow while maintaining the kitchen at the same time. "I guess I could take a little break, to chat with you a bit more."
The next hour that followed, Ranma barely touched the Peking Duck, taking a bite here and there, but mainly keeping himself talking with Mousse, finding out how badly he was treated in the village and how Shampoo was the guiding light in his life, his closest friend or something, Ranma wasn't too sure, as mandarin occasionally interspersed the conversation, Mousse lost in memory without seemingly noticing his slipping tongue.
"So, if you're required to beat her, why don't you do so? You've got those hidden weapons skills, why not use them on Shampoo, knock her out and marry her then? Or just go for one of the local girls around here, they're plenty strong and they like a handsome young fella like you." Ranma watched as Mousse seemed to gain a burst of confidence, rising from his seat to exclaim his love for Shampoo again, until Ranma tapped him on the shoulder. "What's the price for my meal? I'd like to pay."
"Oh, honored customer, it's 1350 Yen."Ranma pulled the required money from his small wallet, the coins and bill jingling a little as he put them on the table. "Good luck with Shampoo." Mousse flashed a blinding grin, walking straight into a wall and collapsed to the floor moments later, rising instantly as the old ghoul came to check on him, sending him to the kitchen again.
He arrived at the Tendo home moments later, hair put in its original composition once more. He knocked thrice on the door, kasumi opening it before he could knock again, his hand held up in another knocking position, until she looked at him. "Ah, we're just about to have dinner. You're on time, Ranma-kun." He politely coughed, not feeling all that hungry, not after having ate something some time ago and learning a little bit more about the whole Amazon deal of marriage. He took his seat at the table nonetheless, keeping up appearances, but thanking politely for any food offered, his father not even noticing the lack of eating from him. Soun sat on the head of the table, his eyes looking serious and not clouded for the first time since Ranma had seen the man, the man noticing something new about the aquatranssexual.
Akane groaned softly as her hands were still sore from the training her father had given her, albeit a small amount of pride was shining in her heart. Soon enough, she'd be able to avenge her sister's death upon the one who'd killed her. Her gaze went to Ranma, who didn't seem to be eating, her mind working up reasons why he didn't eat, the facts buzzing through her head that both other fiance's had restaurants affiliated with them and thus being able to provide for his body, making him refuse oneechan's cooking.
"Why aren't you eating, Ranma? Did you eat at one of your floozies again!" The accusation was taken without ranma's face changing, Ranma looking at Akane with expressionless eyes. "I broke off the engagement with Ucchan today, Akane. If that is any explanation to you, I hope you are satisfied." That answer silenced the room for a moment, until Genma seemed to burst into a happy dance, Soun's eyes still looking into Ranma's, a moment of silence hanging in the air between them, as no words were spoken. "But you are also planning on breaking off the engagement with my little girl, aren't you Ranma?"
The words came out of the blue, Soun not even realizing he'd spoken himself, until Ranma nodded. "Yes, Tendo-san, that is true. Your middle daughter died, because of the martial artists always after me and I suppose it is only fair if I leave and do not darken your doorstep again." Soun Tendo was a man who was on the council of the city, his hands usually kept clean from the politics, having a vote in certain matters and such, but he knew that the boy spoke the truth. "Very well, Ranma-kun. As much as I would like to see it otherwise, the engagement between you and Akane is void. However, out of respect for your father, I would like to still offer you a place in my house, as you have proven to be a man of honor." Ranma looked at the man for a moment, taking a deep breath, then looking at his father. "Genma-ojisan, I told mom that I've left the family register, to clear my debts that you made. Thank you for teaching me in your style but you really could've been a better father." The panda-man seemed to watch him for a few moments, as he tried to speak, but found his mouth full of food, Ranma's hands feeding him more food with every moment that passed, until there was nothing left on his plate. The master of the Saotome branch of Anything Goes looked at his ex-son, who had renounced his kinship and thanked him for learning the style. "Oh well, I can make a new one."
Ranma had expected a different reaction, in the blustering tone that usually followed his father, but this was strange, how the man had seemingly accepted his lot in life, while he'd pressed the marriage earlier. "You're just letting me go, just like that? No Crouch of the Hidden Tiget or something stupid like that?" Genma nodded, looking actually sagely when he did that, his eyes looking at his former son, a glint within them that shone brightly, brighter than Ranma had ever seen. "You're better than me for the time being. No use to bargain, it's done and said. Good luck with your life."
The next morning, he appeared at school as if nothing happened, his hands covered in small cuts, plasters dotting them. He'd been working on developing something new, but the shards of wooden post still imbedded themselves within his hand whenever he tried. Class started as usual, their sensei droning on about the subject they gave and not rally looking up much, beside intoning what should happen and what could happen along with the best solution. "Hinako-sensei? I'll be leaving within a few days to another country, I was hoping if you would be so kind as to organize some sort of educational trip, so those that want to see me off can do so." The class perked up as they watched their hot teacher look pensive for a moment, before tersely nodding. "It's fine, we've not had our class trip yet. We can do this as an addendum or something, file it as an educational one, I guess."
He snapped back to the real world, as they exited the gate that had held their plane, the luggage arriving later apparently. If there was something different about this city, it might be the smells. There were hundreds of different smells that hung in the air, Frank's face scrunching up with distaste as he looked around, his hand twitching a little, as he seemed to have the will to fight. They waited for their bags to arrive, Ranma looking a bit out of tune with the rest of the people around, his ki flaring a little, trying to get a grasp on who might be dangerous. It was a force of habit, coming from being attacked almost daily by his rivals and the like, the caution he displayed not being too out of the ordinary for the people in Nerima.
"Son, we're going to City Hall first, deliver your paperwork and get you nationalized. Then we're going to go to our home." With a steady pace, Frank Castle stepped out of the lobby, Ranma in tow, his hands aching to be wielding a weapon, to dispense vengeance upon those that had killed his family and terrorized others.
"You wish to take this child as your own, having formally adopted him in Japan?" The clerk asked, chewing bubblegum whilst he looked at the details and such. "Yes, I was in contact with him over the years and adopted him, after finding his parents to be completely unreasonable individuals." The clerk looked up. "And you're okay with this, young man? He hasn't abducted or coerced you?" Ranma gave his most winning smile to the man, who looked impressed. "I'm his son in spirit, not in blood. My own family name is worthless now, our honor scrambled across Japan. That is why I will adopt this man's last name, to invigorate my honor."
"Sure, fine and all that. So it'll be... Ranma Castiglione?" Ranma nodded, looking at Frank for a moment. "Yes." The american english came out without a hitch, the clerk raising an eyebrow. "Not much of an accent you got there, you've been to the states before then?" Ranma nodded, rubbing his cheek a little bit. There were some hairs that had started to grow there. "Also, list me as male and female. I've got a bit of a curse placed on me, you Americans may see it as a mutation, but I assure you that I am 100% human." Ranma pulled from his sleeve a canteen, filled with cold water. "Watch me change." There was a small moment when the change seemed to wait on itself, until he could feel his bones shifting, his form growing shorter, as mounds seemed to form on his chest, the shirt that was previously loose, fitting a bit tighter now. "And I'm a redhead now." The clerk didn't keep much of his surprise under wraps. As he looked on, a teenager had just changed genders. He recomposed himself moments later, professionalism, save for the chewing gum, back in place. "You said it was a curse?" Ranma nodded. "Got it in China, wanted to get rid of it, but it's futile. Guess I'm lucky to be a girl instead of a sea slug or something. Hot water reverses the change, male's my natural form. If you'd like to make a small separate entry for the alternate form, please?"
Things were typed, codes were entered and the clerk's tongue poked out from between tense lips. "Done and ready, Mister Castiglione, Castiglione Junior. Pleasure doing business with you, and hope you forget about the... business of a few months back." Frank stepped up to the clerk, grabbing him by the neck. "You best keep straight then, Danny. You're not a criminal, but you're a crook however. And stay off the stuff, otherwise, you're going to be punished." He released the clerk, who fell on his chair heavily, looking at father and newly adopted son with annoyance in his eyes. "Yes Punisher, sir."
"So, I've got my stay in America, what's next?" Ranma asked once they left the government building, his new father smiling, Ranma getting the impression that it wasn't an oft occurrence, quite like an eclipse or something. "We're heading home, to your new home." The car they drove in was a volkswagen van, with weapons lining the inside, several guns prominently on display, it's appearance altered to resemble just another van that's used by someone who uses it to get about. Frank drove up to an apartment building in the middle of Queens. "Two flights of stairs up, and there we're at." Ranma followed him inside, carrying one of the suitcases that held most of Frank's luggage, his own luggage would be brought up, along with a nice rifle he'd spotted among the guns in the van. "Welcome to your new house, son."
He looked at his kid's reaction to being introduced to the new surroundings. There would be a room cleared first, but he didn't mind that too much. It was good to have someone around, after Max... The memory of his dog, who'd died in the line of duty pulled to his heartstrings for a moment, his eyes growing distant for a moment. "You were a good dog."
"What's this about a dog?" Ranma asked as he stood in the middle of the apartment, the walls decked out with almost every type of gun that would be buyable. "Say we're going to redecorate a bit. I don't think we'll be able to pass for a normal family while we look like we're going to fight a war against mad martial artists." Frank grinned at that. "I killed a martial artist once, he made me receive hospital treatment for three months, he'd broken most of my ribs. Then again, he was in the Kingpin's employ, so it shouldn't be too strange."
Ranma nodded, not knowing who or what a kingpin was, but he vowed to find out, not that it would be too difficult. "We're going to pose as a family then. Or actually, we are. Heh, I never really considered that." He laughed a bit sheepishly, whilst Frank merely nodded, thoughts about his own family coming to mind. "You'd have liked my wife Maria, she was always smiling, same with Frank Junior and Lisa. God, I miss them so much, but every son of a bitch I send to hell reminds me why I do what I do, and why you will do what I do." Ranma nodded, rubbing a hand over the barrel of an M411.
"Mister Castiglione? Are you there, Mister Castiglione? I saw your van park outside, Ive baked some cookies if you'd like to have some." Frank turned to the door, his hand resting on the doorknob for a moment. "Thanks Sharon. How's Alice?" He opened the door on a crack, the girl in the doorway only being about 18 years old. "Mom's fine, although she's gotten a cold or something. You've got a guest?"
"Son actually. Adopted him. Ranma, come and greet your neighbor!" Ranma appeared within the door opening, laying eyes upon a black mass of hair, with thickly rimmed glasses peering out from within the mass, along with pale skin. "H-hi. I'm S-Sha-Sharon Jensen, I'm your neighbor from three doors by. Welcome to the building." She gained confidence as she spoke, Ranma's assessment of her aura being done first, not finding a single hint about ki usage or something else that would put her apart from those that trained. "I'm Ranma Castiglione, hello. Pleased to meet you. I hope we'll become fine friends." She shied away from his offered hand, so he just bowed respectfully before her, giving her respect that she seemingly hadn't expected. "Where are you from? I wasn't aware Mister Castiglione had a son."
"Japan, actually. We met in America a few years ago, he bailed me out of a bad spot when my real father had disappeared. I owe him my life." She seemed to squeal at the thought, Ranma noticing that she seemed to have gained flushed cheeks. "Ohmigod, that's so romantic, Mister Castiglione rescuing you and all that. It's like my favorite comic books! You've got to see them Ranma." And he found himself pulled along, Frank giving what could be accurately sounding as a chuckle. Before the door to Sharon's parent's apartment closed, Ranma got a good look at the other doors, paint chipping off at some of them. "Mom! I brought Mister Castiglione's son and i'm taking him to my room to show him my collection!" Ranma followed at a sedate pace, the girl moving aside some stuff, whilst babbling about a comic book issue in which some Bat-boy or whatever whacked up some Jokers. "So, do you know martial arts?"
The question was expected, Ranma looking at Sharon for a moment before nodding. "I've studied some styles, yes." Her eyes seemed to glow, as she began to babble about styles she'd seen in kung fu movies, asking him whether he knew Drunken Fist or something inane like that. "It's best to show you, I suppose. The life of a martial artist is fraught with peril, after all. Do you have a banana?" a banana was fetched posthaste, the banana laying in his hand for a moment and Ranma focused his energy for a moment, his hand beginning to glow with his ki, the energy slicing through the banana easily enough.
"Open it up." There was no argument in his voice as he watched Sharon's eyes be wide and she picked up the banana, slowly peeling it, the slices almost falling out. "Wow, you cut it with that glowing energy? Why can't I do that?" Ranma looked seriously at her."You'd have to be training since you can walk and have special instruction in how to manipulate your body's natural energy. It's not a skill many people can develop, I'm something of a prodigy, or so I've heard." Twenty minutes and two more sliced bananas later, he left the apartment, Sharon's mother Alice giving him another big plate of cookies to share with his father, along with the best wishes. They'd found him to be a sweet man, Ranma picked up by listening with just a bit of ki to his ears and a good influence on that 'poor mister Castiglione' who worked late. Ranma knew better of course, as he closed the door, the trip-mine that was placed against the wall being de-activated by Frank moments after the bell had rang. "Cookies, nice. The Jensens are nice people. Good people too."
And so, the first night of the Punisher and his son in America started, the kevlar vests being worn, the familiar skull motif emblazoned upon it and criminals to be punished.
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Okay, a chapter out for you all to enjoy, well, I hope you did, because otherwise, my efforts would be wasted. Don't make me waste my efforts, okay?
If it's not dark enough yet, it'll be getting much darker the next chapter. Occasional superhero visitations will be coming in every now and then, but you have to keep in mind that in the main Marvel universe, Frank Castle AKA the Punisher, is one of the people most superheroes avoid, due to being a crafty son of a bitch, to quote Wolverine apparently. Even if you look at his ratings, there's a good reason why he's to the max with fighting ability.
Btw, still looking for a beta. If you're interested in getting a free preview of my work, and ensuring i can work on more, sign up, would ya? A mail is just a click away ^^
Punisher for the win!
