Animal I Have Become
Note: Chinese-""Thoughts/ Flashbacks
Man, I must be in a really good mood lately, especially considering that I finished another chapter in several days. Ok people, I also decided to go back a little bit and fix a few things in the last chapters like add a little more description. Other than that, please enjoy.
No, I don't own Ranma ½. If I did, I be wouldn't be here would I?
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Chapter 4: Feelings of Remorse and Obscurity
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Ranma continued to run across the concrete wall. He ran along the solid hedge and on his way to the Tendo household. He was feeling a little better, like a bit of burden was lifted, making it easier to breathe. That there were people out there that could accept him.
Or at least from what they see had seen. Soon or later they would be judging the real him. The creature that has been hidden deep within him, one that only so many have possibly seen. After they see it they would either cast him away or hunt him down like all the rest had.
Ranma frowned as he stopped at the end of the wall.
'Both the Tendos and Tofu have seen my curses, but what about……'
Ranma shrugged it off, not wanting to think about it. He quickly rushed off wall and headed towards the Tendo residence.
Far behind was Akane, trying to catch her breath as she ran after Ranma, or at least tried to. Her face was still red from being embarrassed from Ranma and his comment. He said that her smell was sweet. Sweet as in what she wasn't sure.
Akane laid against the wall as she breathed heavily from running.
'Ranma sure runs very fast. I don't think I have ever seen any one run really fast before.'
Akane then pushed herself off from the wall and continued to walk on. She continued to consider on Ranma's comment.
'I think that's the first time a boy had really commented about me.'
Akane brushed her right hand through her hair.
'Did he really mean it as a comment because he likes me or was he just teasing me?'
Akane shook her head as she removed her hand from her long hair.
'What am I saying! I'm in love with Dr. Tofu! I shouldn't care if that boy likes me or not!'
Though she wasn't really sure it that was true or not.
Akane continued to walk until she reached her house's front yard. She was heading towards the front door when she saw Nabiki there waiting for her.
"Hey Nabiki." Akane said courteously as she came up to the steps.
"Hey sis, we so need to talk." Nabiki replied.
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Kasumi hummed a motherly tune as she scrubbed the dishes in the sink. She was about half way through when she heard the front open then closed. She put the last plate away in the tray and slowly stepped out the kitchen doorway to see who it was. She smiled as she saw who it was. Ranma had just come through the front door was heading towards the dojo when Kasumi had showed up.
"Welcome home Ranma." She said in her caring voice.
He then turned and lightly bowed, "Thank you, Kasumi. I'll be out in the dojo."
Without any other thought he was already heading to the dojo.
Kasumi had then turned back towards the kitchen, when the front door opened once more.
Nabiki had just walked inside along with Akane not far behind, both deep in conversation.
"So did you give your fiancé the grand tour of the school yet?" Nabiki replied casually as she gripped both of her arms around her head.
"No I haven't and will you quit calling him my fiancé." Akane said as she tried to head up to her room.
"Well it might as well be officially now. There are going to be many rumors going around the school saying that you two are an item. Especially since Kuno shouted it all out for every student to hear." Nabiki finished just before she headed off down the hallway.
Akane watched as her sister took off. She was right in way. There are going to be rumors about both her and Ranma, especially considering that Ranma fought Kuno in front of the whole school and Kuno shouting it as he went through the halls.
Akane wasn't sure what she was going to do about it. She sighed and then carried her book bag as she headed up the stairway towards her room.
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Ranma lightly sweated as he worked through his complex kata. He had started slowly at first just to make sure that his muscles wouldn't give out on him as he worked faster.
Working through his katas and many other moves that he learned while growing up always somehow cooled him down or help cope with his nervousness. Focusing on how and when the move would commence helped him from turning is attention back to his troubles.
How ever though, it didn't work very well right now, especially every since both him and his father headed towards China.
Ranma slowly came to a stop, standing in the middle of the dojo to catch up with his breathing.
'It's not helping as much as I thought. It might only be a matter of time before…..'
Ranma was pulled from his trace of thought as he heard some one come into the dojo. He turned to see who it was.
There coming through the door was Soun, carrying a bottle of sake and a few glass cup drinks on a plate. He came several feet through the door and then sat down. He took the bottle of sake and slowly poured into one of the cups.
After Soun finished pouring into the cup he gentle set the sake down.
"Sake?" Soun asked Ranma.
Ranma shook his head.
"I understand." Soun said as he brought the drink to his lips.
The drink was gone in seconds as Soun poured it into his mouth and then slowly setting the glass down. Soun then grabbed the sake once again and poured in the glass.
Soun face looked like he hadn't slept in days. He had a look of a whitish pale color in his skin along with a hint of red blood shot eyes. He also had dark circles under his eyeballs as well.
"You don't look well Mr. Tendo." Ranma pointed out.
Soun chuckled lightly, "I have been worse. I'm just been morning over my dead friend. May that he rest in peace."
Neither one of them spoke for a while. After what seemed like forever, Soun decided broke the silence.
"I can remember the first that both Genma and I finally were able to lock the master away. We first set up camp near a cave opening; we then ended up giving him a lot of sake till he was drunk and out cold. Lastly we tied some explosives onto a barrel with the master inside and rolled him into the cave till the cave blew up and finally sent the master to rest." Soun said with a smile.
Ranma for one was a little curious, "Was he that bad to be killed that way?" He asked.
Soun turned to face Ranma, "Yes. Although the master was a really good martial artist he was also a complete perverted man of unbelievable power. Both me and Genma saw his perverted doings and we both lived in fear of the master's evil till we both finally put the master away."
Ranma suddenly felt not like not discussing anymore. He had started to walk away, when Soun interrupted him.
"Son, where are you going?" Soun asked with curiousness.
Ranma stopped just before he got to the door, "Just getting some fresh air." Ranma replied, "And please don't call me son. After all of this has been resolved, I'll be leavin'."
Soun quickly stood up, "Now see here! The schools must be joined!" Soun shouted angrily.
"I'm sorry Mr. Tendo, but like I said before, I will not be forcing any one of your daughters to marry me unless she wants to!" Ranma shouted with annoyance in his tone as he faced Soun, "Besides, you said it yourself that you will abide these terms and hopefully find a way to settle the matter with both side's honor intact. Am I right?"
Soun was about to shout right back, but gave up.
"Your right. I'm sorry Ranma. I'd just been waiting so long to see both Genma and my dreams to come true that I haven't been thinking about my own daughters." Soun apologized.
Ranma nodded and started to walk away again, "You should be thinking more about them than you have been lately."
With that Ranma was gone, leaving Soun alone in the dojo.
Unknown to everyone Nabiki had been listening to the entire conversation from one of the outside walls of the dojo. Too say the slightest that she was in shock. Here was a boy, no make that a man that not only talked back to her father, but also stood up for her and her sisters. Nabiki had never heard of anyone that talked that way to her father.
Though, she couldn't decide to either be angry for him yelling at her father, or to be glad for him in favor of sticking up for her and her sisters. Well one thing was for sure that she would be thinking better of him, for profit like she always has or for respect.
"That Ranma is something else." Nabiki quietly said as she ran off into the house.
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Ranma slowly opened his eyes as he glimpsed at the scenery before him.
It was dark, probably around midnight.
He looked around until he noticed that he had something warm on his hands and fingers.
He glanced down and saw what looked to be a black reddish color glazing all over his hands.
'Blood?' He said to himself.
He then looked down and screamed.
Ranma woke up screaming as he shot up with sweat. He then quickly glanced down at his hands while he breathed extremely heavily.
No blood.
He let out a sigh of relief.
'It was just a nightmare.'
The door swung wide open and in popped all the Tendo residents. Soun wore the same clothes when he was in the dojo. Both Kasumi and Nabiki were wearing night gowns, though Kasumi's was a bit more modest than Nabiki's, while Akane was wearing yellow pajamas.
"Are you alright Ranma?" Kasumi asked with concern.
Ranma took another breathe before lightly nodding.
"Never a dull moment." Nabiki said as she yawned and started to head back off to her room.
"You sure you're alright?" Soun questioned.
"Yes, I'm all right. Just a nightmare." Ranma answered.
With that both Soun and Kasumi walked back to their rooms. After they left Akane slowly walked over to Ranma's side and sat down.
"Do you want me to stay with you here tonight?" Akane asked concern.
Ranma shook his head, "You don't have to. I'm alright."
Akane lightly frowned at his response, but she then stood up.
"If you need anyone to talk to, I'll be here." Akane quietly said before she closed the door and walked away.
Ranma flipped over laying on his side with his head facing towards the wall.
'This is a good family. I shouldn't burden them with my problems.'
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Morning came quickly as Akane was jogging through the streets heading back to the Tendo grounds. She more focused on last nights events than on her jogging.
'Now I'm really sure something's bothering Ranma. That scream he yelled in his sleep was really shocking. It sounded like he was in pain.'
Akane frowned as she thought more about it. She pushed it aside as she came though the front yard and into the house. She quickly headed off to the furo hopefully to get a quick soak before heading off to school.
Soon everyone meet at the breakfast table and started eating. No one spoke as they ate their meal as just about everyone was occupied with something. Soon Nabiki had finished and had rushed ahead out the door. Akane had finished hers as well as Ranma was not far behind her.
He was just about to leave through the door when he heard someone called out his name.
"Oh, Ranma!" Kasumi said just before Ranma ran off to catch up with Akane, "I've something for you."
Kasumi handed out a white looking box into both of Ranma's hands. Ranma stared at the box for a second before looking back to Kasumi.
"What's this for?" Ranma asked.
"Oh, just something that I thought of last night, that you might need. Now hurry before you're late." Kasumi answered with a smile.
Ranma lightly bowed before running off to catch up with Akane.
Akane was about half way to the school before Ranma caught up. Neither one of them said a word as they went. Akane was too focused to really notice Ranma as she was getting herself ready to face off against the pervert horde that awaited her every morning.
Ranma for one was wondering what was in the box, but pushed it off as they neared the school grounds. Both Akane and Ranma ran beside each other as they came to the school entrance. Akane readied herself as she went through, but soon stopped at what she saw.
Right between the entrance and the school doors was Kuno and what appeared to be half the kendo club. Just like Kuno, each and every one of them had a bokken in their hands. Ranma soon walked right beside Akane as he came to a halt.
Kuno still had his bandages all over his right arm as he held his bokken. He looked like he didn't get much rest last night, considering that he would tip over to the side before he stood strait up again. He had also taken notice of Ranma's arrival.
Kuno had then stepped forward, "I, Tatewaki Kuno, have declared that there be just justice be done upon the fiend called Ranma Satome! He thinks that he has stopped the heaven's wrath, but I, the Blue thunder of Furinkan High still stand!" Kuno shouted for the whole school yard to hear, "And I shall cleanse this filth of a being and free Akane Tendo from his control!"
Ranma felt his blood boil a little before he quickly calmed himself down. He then stepped forward, "Kuno just give it a rest alright. You saw what happened to you yesterday, and I don't want to do it again." Ranma replied.
"Silence fiend! You shall not stop me and my men of justice!" Kuno declared as he rushed forward along with the other kendo men.
"Guess I have no choice then." Ranma said as he rushed forward.
Ranma almost was a blur as he rushed forward and had stepped behind Kuno, giving him a kick to the back with out hurting him. As he went down he then rushed over to the next ones and hit them with his hand, knocking them down.
He kept doing this until there was only one remaining. He then ran forward with that one and gave a kick right through the bokken, in result splitting it in half and knocking the last man down.
When the last man went down, Ranma then rushed inside through the school doors. Akane sighed as she bent down to pick up the white package and hurried into the school as well.
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"Student's, we have a new student that is with us here today, his name is Ranma Satome. He has returned from a trip to China, so be sure to give him a big Nihao welcome." The teacher said as he told the whole class about the new student.
"You will be sitting right behind Ms. Tendo." The teacher pointed out.
Ranma lightly bowed before walking over to his assigned seat while the black hood dangled down in the back. He heard very quiet whispers as he went to take his seat.
Ranma for one was glad for the box of stuff that Kasumi handed to him. The black bandana really helped cover up his cat ears which helped him from not to bring too many questions about his look.
Ranma soon came to his seat and sat down as the teacher began to write down the assignments for the day. He then put his elbow on the desk while holding his head up. He was soon lost in deep thought as he stared at the chalkboard.
'I shouldn't be here….. but both Akane and Kasumi insisted that I at least get an education.'
Ranma then back towards the board and started to write them down.
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Soon it was time for gym class and everyone was outside. Ranma sat down in one of the grass fields, not really feeling like joining in any of the activities. Right beside him were two guys from his class room. One was called Hiroshi and the other was Daisuke. And they were bugging Ranma while he layed there.
"So, Akane's your fiancée?" Hiroshi asked with interest.
"And who said that?" Ranma asked with little enthusiasm.
"The whole school is talking about." Daisuke commented as he looked out in the crowd, more of the girl's softball team's direction.
Ranma after that had layed on his back, being not really concerned.
'It figures. The way that Kuno was shouting about freeing Akane from me everyone must be assuming that I'm her fiancée or something close to that.'
"So, how far have you gone with Akane?" Daisuke questioned.
Ranma stood up with this question.
"How far what?" Ranma asked.
"I said have far have you gone with Akane?" Daisuke replied.
"Yeah, did you do it?" Hiroshi asked.
Ranma eyebrows went down a little, "Do what?" He questioned.
"You know, like slept with her." Hiroshi pointed out.
Ranma felt himself snap as he grabbed Hiroshi by the collar.
"Hey, get one thing strait buddy! I don't want you or anyone else to talk that way about Akane. You hear me!" Ranma shouted as he lifted the guy up.
Before anyone else could've said anything else a large white speck came and hit Ranma on the right cheek.
Ranma felt something hard roll off his cheek and hit the ground with a thud. He glanced down and saw that it was a softball.
"Ow." Ranma quietly muttered.
"Oh, Ranma I'm so sorry." Akane said as she ran up next to him.
"Hey, couldn't you have dodged that?" Daisuke asked.
"I was distracted at the moment." Ranma pointed out before dropping the other guy.
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Ranma and Akane walked out of the school yard as the school bell rang. Ranma was holding his bruised cheek on the right side, since that he didn't want anyone to see what he looked like underneath his hood.
"Come on Ranma, at least have some one look at it." Akane asked with impatience.
Ranma shook his head, "Like I said before, it'll heal on its own. It doesn't need attention!"
Akane groaned, "Let's have Dr. Tofu look at it then since you don't want any other doctor or nurse look at it."
Akane took Ranma's hand and then rushed off down the street.
They soon reached the clinic and stopped right outside the door. Akane opened up the door and stepped inside, which Ranma didn't go in. Akane groaned before coming back to grab Ranma by the hand and pull him in.
"I swear that you're very stubborn when it comes to someone looking over your injuries." Akane whispered as they walked over to Tofu's office.
"Hello? Dr. Tofu?" Akane called out as she glanced around the office.
"Oh, hello Akane." Tofu called out from the back, "I'll be then in a minute."
Tofu soon came out carrying several boxes, "Sorry, it's just that I've been busy all morning sorting through stuff since I haven't had a lot of help lately."
Tofu bended and set the boxes down on the floor before coming over.
"Now what can I help you with?" Tofu asked.
"Can you have a look over Ranma's bruise on his cheek? Since that he doesn't want anyone else to look it over?" Akane requested.
"Sure." Tofu said as he had Ranma come to sit down on the patient table.
Tofu raised an eyebrow, "Hmm….. this type of bruise looks awfully familiar…." Tofu commented as he looked it over.
Akane blushed, "Um… I'm the one that did that." Akane admitted.
Tofu turned towards Akane's direction, "Akane, you did this?" Tofu questioned.
Akane lightly nodded, feeling still a little guilty for it.
Tofu calmly slapped his right thigh, "I thought that damage looked familiar!" Tofu said as he lightly laughed.
'Yeah, and I had to be at the end of it too.' Ranma inwardly groaned.
The phone suddenly rang, nearly startling both Ranma and Akane.
"Akane, would you answer that for me please? Thanks." Tofu asked as he patched up Ranma.
"Sure." Akane said as she went over to the ringing phone and picked it up.
"Hello? May I ask whose calling please?" Akane asked as she answered the phone. She let out a small gasp before lightly frowning.
"Yes I see, Ok bye." Akane finished.
She put down the phone and walked over to get her book bag and started to walk towards the door.
"Who was it?" Ranma asked as he got off the table while Tofu went back to moving the boxes.
"I'm going home." Akane replied as she tired to get out the door, but Ranma quickly grabbed her hand.
"Who was it Akane?" Ranma questioned.
Akane quickly shook her hand from Ranma's grip. She looked for one second at Ranma before she ran outside and started down the street, leaving Ranma behind.
Ranma was too surprised for words. As he saw Akane's face he swore he saw what looked like tears that just started to flow down her face, just before she left. Ranma felt a little at fault, like he was responsible for her crying.
'Something must be really upsetting her.'
With that thought he quickly rushed outside the clinic and followed Akane's scent as to where she went. The sky then darkened with black clouds as Ranma ran down the street.
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Several hundred miles from Tokyo, some where in the deep woods, a tall boy with a bandana was running through the area. He wasn't watching where he was going or paying attention for that manner. He'd just smash anything out of his way or quickly brushed it aside.
He stopped at one point to glance around the surrounding area.
He then would once in a while stare up to the sky.
"Just you wait Ranma Satome! Because of you I've Seen Hell!" The tall bandana boy yelled as he glanced at the sky. He then would start running through out the woods once again.
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Ok, this time I tried to write a chapter that is not only longer, but that doesn't seem to go really fast. I really appreciate everyone for their comments on how the story is going. To answer one question, Ranma is suffering from depression though the reason why will be answer later.
Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Does anyone know how to correctly spell 'ne-how'? Because I couldn't find the correct way to spell it. Last please review on what you think.
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