Legalities: Damn you Jack Staik, I can't think of anything funny!
Mad-Hamlet Presents:
Curse of Silence 1.2
A continuation of C. Jones "Curse of Silence" which can be found at www.furinkan.net
Written with his permission.
Background: This is the Ranma ½ series starting all over again with, once again, a little switch.
Akane is mute. She lost her voice when she was a small girl in the car accident that
took her mother's life. It is HIGHLY recommended that you read the original.
'Curse of Silence" cause I ain't going to go over it. In part 1.1 we left off where the
original one shot ended. This included Ranma's first day at Furinkan and his
exposure to Akane's eternal 'battle with the boys' but, again, with a little switch.
It all went all downhill from there but picked up at the end. What? You want details?
That's what I wrote the last chapter for!
Ok due to some C&C I've decided to change a few things:
"Talking"
Thinking
{White Board}
God I hope I can remember all this. Here we go…
Through the rain the two girls ran. The skies had opened shortly after the pair had left the school grounds.
"Good thing we didn't get any hot water, it would have been kinda useless." The red head tossed the comment to her companion.
The girl running beside her was dressed in a typical girls school uniform. Her long black hair hung limply across her back, despite the wind, being so soaked by the rain. Only one feature stood out of her apparel, the long white scarf, twice wrapped around her throat with the ends hanging over her shoulder; it too was paralyzed by the soaking skies. Without breaking stride she nodded at the red head.
A few minutes of silence ensued as they continued running and soon reached their destination: The local ice cream shop.
{I can't believe you did that Ranma.}
The red head stared over the top of the white board on which the words were written. Both girls were now seated across from each other at a small table beside a window; outside the rain continued to spatter against the windows, building in ferocity. On the red head's side of the table was an assorted ensemble of various sugar laden, frozen, dairy products. In contrast the black-haired girl had only a small dish of vanilla ice cream with a modest amount of chocolate syrup on top in a silver bowl.
"Whaddya mean Akane? Can't believe I did what?"
In response Akane bunched her fists under her chin and opened her eyes impossibly wide, being sure to angle her head just right so the reflection of the overhead lights made them seem slightly empty. Coupled with the vapid smile, Akane now looked like the perfect, little, uber-kawaii, brain dead, girl.
She batted her eyelashes a few times of extra emphasis before dropping the façade and giving Ranma a mischievous smile.
"Well… that is…" Ranma stuttered helplessly before giving up the battle and tore, red-faced, into her treats to hide her embarrassment.
They ate quietly for a bit; actually Akane ate quietly while Ranma devoured the assorted ice creams with gusto. After a few minutes Ranma carefully broke the silence.
"What is with that Kuno guy anyway?"
A pained expression flashed over Akane's face. Oh no, thought Ranma, I did it again. Baka, Baka, Baka!
Ranma stammered out an apology but Akane waved it off with a gesture before beginning to write on the board. When she finished she held it out for Ranma to read.
{Get comfy; this will take a while.}
Ranma shrugged, "I've got ice cream, and the company of a good friend. I could wait forever."
She was rewarded for her careless compliment with another blazing smile from Akane and the grey skies outside lost some of their gloom.
More smiles like that and I could wait twice that. Ranma thought before realizing it. Oh man…did I mean that? She glanced at Akane's smile again. Definitely.
Eager to get her mind off that train of thought, Ranma began to devour her remaining ice cream.
Akane set her white board aside and took out several pieces of paper from her book bag and began to write. After nearly twenty minutes she folded the papers in half and handed them to Ranma who graciously took them and began to read.
{My memories after the accident are spotty. According to my family I was fairly messed up, both
in mind and body. When I was awake all I felt was pain, at the loss of my mom, the pain of my wounds; I would start trying to cry and not being able to make any sound would just make me cry harder. I supposedly did it for hours, even days, at time. I don't want to imagine how awful that must have been for my family, as they still had to deal with our Mother's death.}
Ranma paused and remembered how Akane had looked earlier that morning huddled behind the lockers silently crying. She locked eyes with Akane who gestured to her to keep reading.
{When I wasn't crying I was drugged so I could sleep. After I physically recovered my family withdrew me from the normal educational system in favor of a specialized school so that I could learn to deal with my 'situation'. The only thing that kept me going was the support I found there; my family couldn't handle me. Not that I blame them overmuch. The only time I really spent with father was when he was teaching me the Art and I took to it desperately. At the beginning of this year, despite the fact I didn't feel ready, the school and my family thought it was time I was reintroduced to the mainstream system. …}
Ranma pictures the events in her mind and read on…
***Flashback***
Akane nervously stood before the gates of Furinkan High School in her brand new uniform. She fingered the soft, white scarf that coiled around her throat. Kasumi had made it and given it to her that morning. "For luck." She had said. Akane wasn't so sure that was the only reason.
Setting her jaw and with a determined stride she entered her new school. The words repeated over and over in her mind like a mantra.
I WILL fit in here!
I WILL have a normal life!
She wasn't going to make it ten steps.
Her stride was brought to an abrupt halt by the figure that stepped out of shadow of a nearby tree. Akane took a step back involuntarily, surprised at his unexpected presence.
"Truly there be, at this noble place of learning,
Damsels fair and beauteous. Like flawless roses
In a garden.
But before me I see a true treasure, a rarity.
That perfect, wild rose. Much more than her
Domestic cousins.
Tell me, oh rose, will you be mine?"
Akane, still trying to figure out the blathering words, got a good look at the speaker. He was dressed in a dark blue kendo outfit, sans mask. Tall, with dark brown hair his, admittedly, handsome face held a haughty expression. In one hand he held out a single red rose to her, the other held a wooden bokken. So caught up in her observations and still trying to get her bearings, Akane completely missed the next few words. Something about Captain of the Kendo team and being allowed to date with him. The next thing she knew, she was attacked.
The first blow came in high and from the side, it was meant to strike the side of her head but she ducked underneath it and backpedaled outside the downward slash that followed after the initial strike.
Damn he's fast! The thought flashed through her mind before the boy launched a jab straight at her face. She tilted her face to the right and the bokken through the empty space between lower jaw and collarbone, missing her neck by centimeters. But not fast enough! Before he could pull back Akane stepped inside his defenses. Two open palm strikes to the chin, and one roundhouse kick to the head, later the kendo boy lay sprawled on the ground.
Akane stood over her fallen challenger oblivious to all the whispers from the other students around her. The kendo boy began to stir and her eyes sought out his.
What was that all about? She wondered. Akane hadn't noticed the bokken slicing her scarf and she didn't notice the light breeze tugging at the cloth. Neither did she notice the frayed edges sliding from around her neck and onto the ground. She did notice the look of revulsion on the boy's face as rose to his feet and her hand instictivly reached to cover her scars.
"T'would seem I misspoke earlier. You are as flawed as any I did see. This shall not be forgotten cripple." So saying the boy scooped up his fallen weapon and entered the building.
***End Flashback***
{I later learned his name was Kuno and he was, up until I defeated him, the best fighter in the school. He made a speech to the student body that same afternoon claiming that I used dark magic in our fight. He used my handicap as proof saying it was Heaven's punishment for my 'evil ways'. Kuno called on the male population, as warriors, to defend the "honor of that noble institution of education" from me. Most of the boys ignored him but they ignore me too. Kuno's kendo team, on the other hand, follows him fanatically so they're the ones who attack me every morning. Kuno also went on to say that the female population should stay away from me "Lest my sorceries defile their innocence." using veiled threats to force his points. I've been pretty much an outcast from day one. Some people tried being friendly but they were either scared away or actually beaten up by Kuno and his team.}
Akane picked at the remaining spoonfuls of ice cream in her dish. Ranma certainly seemed to be taking her time reading. She glanced at Ranma. The petite girl sat unmoving, her face an unreadable mask. Shrugging slightly Akane resumed staring at her bowl of unfinished ice cream. She noticed it was melting quite rapidly.
When did it get so hot in here? She wondered.
Akane's eyes bulged slightly as she felt a wave of heat wash over her and watched her ice cream melt into a puddle in seconds.
What was that? She looked again at Ranma who sat perfectly still, not one red hair had moved since Akane had first handed her the papers. Again a wash of heat pushed past Akane and she actually SAW the air between her and Ranma ripple like on an over hot day.
Akane understood. Kami! She's generating the heat!!
The point was accented nicely as the papers in Ranma's hand chose that moment to burst into flame quickly burning to ash. Still Ranma sat unmoving, her fierce unseeing gaze now exposed for Akane to see, and fear. She scribbled frantically on the board and held up in front of Ranma's eyes. {HEY, CALM DOWN!!}
There was no response so Akane resorted to more desperate measures and began whacking Ranma on the head with the white board. After repeated impacts Ranma snapped out of her anger and unthinkingly grabbed Akane's write to intercept the next blow.
"Hey, what'ya do that for?" Ranma demanded.
In response Akane picked up a few of the scattered ashes and thrust them in front of her fiancé's face. "What?" Ranma asked, "Where did those come from. Oh. Heh-heh, sorry 'bout that.
I guess I got a little carried away."
{I'll say.}
Ranma looked appropriately sheepish for a second before continuing. "I can't believe that guy Akane. Him and his goon squad attack you every morning?"
Akane just nodded.
The cracking of knuckles sounded like gunshots in the small café. "Just you wait till tomorrow. Man, I am going to pound on…" The self-monologue dwindled away as Ranma caught Akane's expression. She was frowning slightly and shaking her head.
"What?" Ranma dared to ask.
A few seconds later the white board was casually tossed across the table.
{I thought we talked about this already. I don't need, or want, your help. I can fight my own battles.}
Ranma thought very carefully. Life on the road had not taught her very many of social
Graces but, the one lesson she remembered, the one lesson that had been shoved down her throat from the day she could walk, the one lesson that seemed to be Genma's legacy, was: Girls were weak and unable to do much of anything and needed to be protected, even from themselves. Ranma's thoughts turned to the night before and her father's cruel words about Akane because of her disability.
He had been wrong; Akane's disability did not mean she had 'problems'. Sure, she had tough times but everybody did. If anything her disability had made her stronger. Genma's vaulted wisdom was flawed; what proof was there he was correct about the so-called weakness of girls? Ranma had not known many girls in her life but the two he did know threw everything Genma claimed out the window. With that realization Ranma threw the majority of her father's lessons away, completing the ostracism begun the night before with Genma's careless, hateful words.
Ranma ended that train of thought when she noticed Akane giving her an exaggerated expression of boredom while loudly drumming her fingers on the table.
"Oops, got lost in thought. Um… look, bear with me here ok? This ain't easy. All my life Pop's has been drillin' into my head how girls are inferior to guys an' we, as men, gotta protect em'. He's done this to me all my life and that kind of thing don't go away easy. Even after seeing you in action and despite our talk earlier, my guts are scrunchin' up and screaming something awful about how I gotta watch out for ya and keep ya from getting hurt."
Akane's left eyebrow began to twitch, Ranma hurried on hoping to prevent the explosion.
"I said it earlier and I'll say it again. You're right. You don't need me to protect ya ok? Kuno's a total ass and his behavior really makes me angry, as you can tell. I don't want to pound on him 'cause I don't you're capable or ya' need my help. I want to pound on him cause it's the right thing to do. I won't though, unless ya' want me to. Good enough?"
Ranma let out a deep breath, a little winded from being so open. Something she was not used to at all. But then again, She mused, I was never open at all. Now I am, this is good…right? She looked at Akane's puzzled expression. I hope that worked, because as far as I know that's the truth.
Akane wrote on the board briefly and handed it to Ranma.
{I can't pretend to understand how hard that might have been. Thanks.}
Ranma shrugged, "No problem."
Akane jotted down a few more lines as Ranma scraped up the last remaining ice cream in the scattered dishes before her.
{Ranma, can I ask a question? It's kind of personal.}
Ranma paused before answering, "Sure, why not? I asked you about Kuno neh? Fair's fair I guess."
{Why doesn't your father like me?}
Ranma's hand froze midway to her face, the last spoonful of ice cream remaining uneaten. She read the board a few more times. Damn, she's cute, into martial arts and smart too. I am in way over my head. She gulped audibly before reluctantly answering. "Um… well … he's.. I don't really know. I mean, sure, I've been with him all my life but I still really don't know what makes Pop tick. Up until now I never realized that or really cared. Pop was always sayin' how the Art was everything and required total dedication. All that education and philosophy stuff was a distraction to a 'true' follower of the Art."
Ranma thought for a few seconds before continuing, "I guess maybe he's like Kuno only less so y'know? I was offered a 'choice' last night between you and your sister an' he dragged me off to talk, 'member that? Well, he wanted to tell me to pick Kasumi an' stay away from you because in his words, 'you were a girl with problems."
Akane got a very dangerous glint in her eyes and she snatched the white board from Ranma's hand then scribbled some words on it before practically flinging it across the table.
{So you chose me out of some sort of twisted sense of sympathy is that it?}
Ranma stared at the words in front of her. This was not what she had expected, not at all.
Her mind began to race but none of the thoughts were clear, just a meaningless jumble around a central certainty that rang over and over in her head. I'm in trouble I'm in trouble I'm in trouble I'm in trouble I'm…
"NO! That's not it at all!" Ranma began frantically. "I mean I only met you an' your family yesterday so I don't know anyone that well but… you're my age, you like martial arts, and you've been real nice to me when everyone else saw me as a weirdo and..and….and…."
Ranma's mouth was on autopilot. The words came stumbling out as a panicked mind tried anything and everything to prevent the disaster that seemed to loom, inevitably, ahead. The dreaded Saotome mouth was in complete control and this one time, this very one time; Ranma said exactly the right thing.
"…and you're just like me, damnit! You're cursed just like I am! There's something different about us that we had absolutely no say in or, have no control over, and everyone thinks we're bad cause of it or thinks less of us." She made a sweeping gesture with her had that threatened to clear the table.
"You're the only person I've met who could possibly understand what it's like to have something incredibly valuable torn away from you an' you have to live with it for the rest of your life! It's not a nightmare but instead of waking up from it, we have to wake up into it every damn day. But just like me you don't let it stop you. You're strong, you keep going and keep fighting' hell you're stronger than me! You've been doing this for ten years but you never give up! After only a month there are times I just want to curl up into a ball and cry, other times I wish I were dead! But you're still here, you're still here after ten damn years and you never ever gave up. I like that, I really like that and I really like YOU!
Ranma was shaking from the power and intensity that flooded through her. The door in her mind, that her father's training had slammed shut, was fully open now. It had been cracked the night before from the absolute and unconditional kindness from a relative stranger. Now it yawned open and all the emotions, held in check from a lifetime of suppression, flooded out with a vengeance. The consequences were soon to follow.
I've blown it. Ranma thought, Damn, damn, damn! Where do I get off yelling at her like that? Where did that come from? What the hell is happening to me? How could I just unload on her? She's going to hate me and..Kami Sama, I don't want her to hate me, oh please no.. If Ranma had not been so scared, she may also have wondered why she was so scared, or cared so much that Akane not hate her.
Too ashamed at her actions Ranma stared at the table and saw her fists clenched so tight the knuckles were turning white. The person flinging herself across the table into Ranma's arms shattered her self-recriminations. Ice cream dishes crashed to the floor, scattering ceramic and leftover ice cream all across the floor.
"Hey!" a clerk shouted at the noise, "You're going to have to pay for that!"
Ranma had no idea what was going on but she knew this idiot had no part in it. She shot the clerk a look promising intense pain and the clerk wisely chose to shut up and turn his attention elsewhere. With that problem solved Ranma focused on Akane. For the second time today she was crying, her face was buried in Ranma's shoulder while her hands wrapped around the smaller girls chest, fingers clawing into the red silk material of Ranma's shirt in a powerful embrace. Like she was scared to let go, like she'd die if she let go.
This was all very new for the boy-turned-girl. The most common form of affection she had ever received from her father, more often than not, had been a grunt. Only on rare occasions she would receive a slap on the back, and never after Jusenkyo, regardless of her form. This hugging was a totally new experience.
Hesitantly Ranma raised her arms and gently placed them around Akane's still shuddering form. Akane reacted to the returned embrace by squeezing even tighter. Itai! She's crushing my breasts! . Ranma shoved that thought aside, her instincts were screaming that something far more important was going on, and Ranma listened.
She held Akane trying her best to help the mute girl weather the storm. After several minutes Akane's shuddering ceased but she made no move to pull away. Removing her arms from around Ranma and turning on her side, she curled up in Ranma's embrace laying her head on Ranma's shoulder like a pillow, before closing her eyes. She let out a deep sigh, like someone setting down a heavy burden that they had carried far too long, and seemed to drift to sleep.
Ranma looked unbelievingly at the sleeping girl in her arms. I should be stopping this. She thought, We just met each other. I don't know her at all! What if someone can see us! I'm liking this far too much!!! She spared a quick glance around the café; the clerk was eyeing them warily.
Yep, that's what I'm gonna do, I've got to put a stop too this. Ranma glanced at Akane's peaceful face. Later.
Carefully leaning back, so as not to disturb the sleeping girl, Ranma relaxed a bit. Despite the discomfort of her breasts she was enjoying this new experience very much.
Why didn't anybody ever tell me of this hugging stuff before? Oh right, Pop would consider this 'unmanly'. Strike three Pop; manly or not I like it and I'll be damned if I listen to you again.
Stupid panda.
Ranma's musings were rudely interrupted by an irritating nasal voice. "Excuse me ma'am but I'm afraid we can't allow this sort of behavior here. I have to ask you and your friend to leave."
Ranma eyed the manager, for that was who stood before them, then, without jostling her charge in the slightest, she swiveled in her seat. Raising her legs she caught the weasly little man's head in a vice like grip with her feet then, with superhuman strength, lifted him off the ground. The tips of his toes scuffled wildly off the floor, seeking some form of purchase but finding none.
Ranma's gaze burned into the poor manager. "Leave. Us. Alone." She snarled out between clenched teeth. She relaxed her grip and the fool nearly collapsed to the floor; Ranma turned away as if dismissing him. She ignored the manager's attempts at recovering his dignity, as he shouted at some of they employees to clean up the mess on the floor.
Outside, in the Nerima ward of Tokyo, a storm raged in the heavens. Cold rain lashed the pavement as thunder rumbled. Chill winds seemingly attacked any foolish enough to step outside, as if punishing them for their lack of common sense. On a street corner was a small ice cream café; the inside was warm and inviting, offering protection from the elements. Included in the small number of people within was a petite redhead who had in her lap the sleeping body of a very beautiful, black haired girl. The redhead wore a small smile on her face as she looked out the window, her arms around the dreamer; protecting her from all threats real or imagined. She was having a great day.
***End COS 1.2
Next Chapter: JACKIE CHAN!!! (Don't ask)
Authors Notes: Greetings.
Allow me to rant for a bit.
I have received several comments (Amid all the applause I'm sure.) about how OOC these characters are.
I think that's the point isn't it? Something changed, something critical and this is the reflection of that change. Your opinions are just that though, yours. And I would not begrudge anyone for having them. As yours are yours so are mine my own. Mayhaps a few words on my part would clarify some things.
It would not be hard to convince a skeptic of the changes in Akane. After all ten years living with a disability would teach, if anything, patience. What about Ranma though? He's been left unchanged right? So why is he behaving so different? Well my justification for his character is twofold.
- The initial, budding, friendship between Ranma and Akane, in the canon, was shattered by several forces. Akane's discovery of Ranma's duel nature and the two being forced into something they didn't want. Their powerful senses of independence was more damaging then anything else IMO. Both these factors have were cast to the winds in the original COS. Ranma was open with his predicament and they both accepted the engagement to a degree. The degree being if they truly were incompatible then things would change, they're still too strong willed to be forced into a no-win situation.
- Ranma lost all respect for his father in the original COS because of Genma's ill chosen words. Instead of leaving that idea as a spur of the moment impulse, I've decided to explore it completely up to, and possibly including, total rejection of Genma. In an act of defiance against his father Ranma is actively pursuing his relationship with Akane. She's already someone he likes and seems to have a lot in common with. Also its in direct conflict with his father's wishes. Sort on a inverse on the canon where all Genma wanted was the fulfillment of the promise. Expect this change to have several affects on Soun as well.
Well that's all I have to say now, you don't have to agree with me but this should at least help you understand where I'm coming from. Besides, I'm an obsessive, beserk, Akane-o-phile who insisnts, fanatically that Ranma and Akane belong together, so ya' gotta expect SOME favoritism. (Which is interesting because, despite my preference, I really enjoyed "Shampoo ½" and "Thy Outward Part".
Go figure.)
A few thanks thrown in here but is generally all encomosing kind of thanks so don't expect your name is lights ok? I'd like to thank everyone who put up with my awful grammer. I guess I should re-read (Yet again.) "The Elements of Prose". Also anyone and everyone who sent me encouraging email, yes even those that threatened bodily harm if I didn't continue the story. They're kind of nice in a twisted, leather bound, sadomasochistic sort of way. Also everyone who pointed out every single flaw in my work, even though my ego took a bruising it was in a good way cause I got better. Really. No I didn't enjoy it at all; why do you ask?
Oh yes, before I forget, my thanks to C.Jones for his original work and his allowing me to continue it. He is, and I mean it, a very cool guy.
I remain, as always,
Mad-Hamlet