From now on, everything in Japanese will be like this … unless I say it's different, ok? The last chapter confused me when I reread it at four o'clock in the morning. Maybe I was just tired or maybe it was just screwed up, I don't know, and I don't really care right now. Anyway here is the next chapter
X-men and Ranma crossover
Claws
*************
Chapter 2
*************
"Everyone, I have an announcement." Xavier said over the intercom at the mansion. "In a few minutes Logan, Scott, Storm and Rogue will be bringing a young man by the name of Ranma Saotome here. He is a mutant with healing powers much like Logan. He was kidnapped from where he was living by X-factor. He has no memories besides his name and his fighting skills, so be kind to him. Also, he appears to only speak Japanese, so during his stay here, please try to be patient. That is all."
"Did you hear that? A new guy is coming here!" Jubilee exclaimed as she turned to Jean.
"Yes, but don't forget, he's probably going to be nervous. No memories, in a strange country. I think that he would probably just want to find a bed and go to sleep." Jean said as she put a hand on the girl's shoulder.
They were currently in the lounge on the second floor of the mansion watching a movie on TV. When Jubilee had heard the announcement, she had jumped up, spilling popcorn all over the couch and the floor. With a quick gesture, Jean scooped all the popcorn off the floor and couch and into a wastebasket near by with her physic powers.
"Let's go greet him! It would be better if he was greeted by friendly faces." Jubilee said happily as she grabbed Jean's hand and pulled her out of the room and down the hall. They arrived in the hanger just as the Blackbird's ramp extended to the ground and the X-Men started to come out.
The first down was Cyclops, closely followed by Wolverine, who looked like he was going to pass out from shock. The third was storm, who was backing down, acing as a spotter for Rogue, who was carrying a small, red headed figure wrapped in her jacket and a sheet.
"Rogue, is that him?" Jubilee said, all but dancing up to her. Before Rogue could answer, the figure in her arms stiffened as their eyes shot wide open.
Ranma shot out of Rogue's arms like a canon ball out of a canon. She landed twenty feet away in a spectacular leap over Jean and Jubilee's heads. As she landed in a fighting crouch, her claws popped out and she glared at the people around her. She had been asleep since she had fainted ten minutes before and suddenly she wakes up to being carried and someone talking in a strange language that sounded vaguely familiar. After what had happened to her the last time she had woken up surrounded by strangers, she wasn't just going to just sit there and let them do something to her again. What Ranma was unaware of though, was that during her leap, the short jacket had gaped open and now, her breasts were on display for everyone looking.
Ranma. Please close the jacket before Cyclops faints from shock. Logan said wryly as he looked her over before politely turning his back, something that surprised most of the women there.
What? Ranma said as she looked down in confusion. Seeing her boobs hanging out of the gap in the jacket, she gasped and grabbed the sides to pull it together. Sorry. This is kinda freaky. I mean I was a guy and now I'm a girl. she said in a tone that conveyed how sorry she was.
That's ok. Are you decent enough now for this old man to turn around? Wolverine asked and in a rare moment of humor, chuckled dryly.
Ranma smiled and said yes as she finished buttoning the jacket. She watched as he approached, a small smile blooming on her face. He was the one person out of everyone that she had met recently that she trusted wholeheartedly. Wolverine, do you know where I can get some clothes? she asked, forgetting about the others that were watching them intently.
Jean or one of the others could get you some clothes. Would you prefer guys or girls clothes? he asked with a grin that none of the others had ever seen besides Jubilee who was the closest to him.
I'm a guy! Ranma yelled.
Then what are those? Wolverine asked as he pointed to her chest. He chuckled again as he saw her blush and heard her mutter something about dirty old man. Sobering quickly, he asked, Do you know how to change back?
I can't remember. But I changed with cold water, maybe hot will change me back. Ranma said thoughtfully.
Turning to Jean he said, "Can you get some hot water for her?" When she nodded and turned to get the requested water, turned towards Jubilee, who was still starring at Ranma. "Jubilee, can you go get some clothes for her? Make them extra large."
"He's a girl!" Jubilee blurted out and he sighed.
"Yes, for some reason he changed into a girl when some cold water splashed on him. But right now, she needs some clothes. Jubilee, are you listening?" he asked and she nodded absently as she approached the nervous Ranma.
What does she want? Ranma asked as she backed away from Jubilee.
She's just curious about you. She was told that a young man was coming and suddenly the young man is a young woman. You can understand that, can't you? storm said as she approached the two girls and laid a hand on each of their shoulders.
That uncute tomboy didn't act like that. Ranma said absently, gaining both Storm's and Logan's attention.
What uncute tomboy? they asked together.
I…don't know. It just…popped out. she said, confused. That wasn't the first time something like that had happened since Wolverine had got her out of the X-Factor's base.
"I'm back." Jean said as she walked up to the group. She handed Logan the water, then looked at Ranma, who had grabbed the water from Logan and dumped it over her head. Suddenly she became a he, a tall handsome he with midnight black hair, though his deep blue eyes stayed the same.
That feels better. he said with a sigh as he unbuttoned the to small jacket. While it fit his girl form like a glove, on his boy form, it pinched and threatened to split at the seams. Turning to look at the others, he blushed and dangled the coat in front of his waist. Um, does anybody have some clothes I can borrow? he asked and Storm smiled at him in a motherly way as she took his arm and led him away from the others.
As soon as they were out of the hanger, Logan turned to Cyclops and snarled, "Why don't you take the disks you found to Chuck, one-eye? Try to make yourself useful for once." Still to confused and shocked to take offense, Cyclops just nodded and headed towards where he knew Xavier would be.
"You know, if I didn't know better, I would say that you and the kid were related." Rogue said into the silence after Scott had left.
"…" Wolverine looked at her for a second before he spun on his heel and stalked away.
"Well, it's true. Same black hair, the same blue eyes. Why, even your features are a little similar." She called after him.
"You know, you're right. They do look kind of the same. Especially when Ranma went into that fighting stance with his claws out. I've seen Wolvie exactly the same way a couple of times before." Jubilee said as the last three women deserted the hanger.
"So you say he turns into a girl when splashed with cold water?" Xavier said as he looked at Scott in mild shock. "Is it part of him mutation?"
"I don't think so. If it was, than he would have been able to control it without the water I think." Scott said thoughtfully. Shaking his head to clear it, he handed the Professor the sack of disks they had taken from the lab. "Here, Wolverine told us to grab these."
"Yes, and I'm glad he did. Maybe we can find out more about who is behind this and how they did it, among other things." Xavier said as he wheeled himself out the door with Scott following close behind. Sending out a telepathic call for everyone to meet them at the war room, he headed in the direction. Once there they waited a few minutes for everyone to get there before he started talking. The last ones into the room where Storm and Ranma, who was now dressed in blue jeans and a black t-shirt the clung to his chest like a second skin and brown work boots, the only shoes his size at the moment.
"Hello everyone, and welcome Ranma." Xavier said and Storm translated for him.
It's nice to meet you, too. Ranma said and bowed, while Storm translated again. Seeing that it was going to be a problem until Ranma could learn passable English, Xavier went over to a console and opened a small compartment, taking out a small device. He quickly handed it to Storm and asked her to explain
Ranma, this is a translator. You put it into your ear and it will translate what we say into Japanese for you and when you speak, it will translate your words into English for us until you learn how to speak it. she said as she adjusted the small mechanical wonder and put it into his ear. "Can you understand me now?" she asked in English and he nodded, a stunned look crossing his face.
(When the translator is translating, Ranma's words will be like this. "…" to show it's in both English and Japanese. Well, back to the story!)
"Yes, I can." he said and then put a hand over his mouth in shock as he heard both the Japanese and English of what he had said.
"Wow! This is so cool!" Jubilee exclaimed from her seat on a near by console. Turning to Beast, she added, "This is one of your creations, isn't it Beast?"
"Why, yes it is. I felt it would be better if we could understand what people were saying when we are in other countries." The blue furred scientist said, then turned towards the still stunned Ranma. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Henry McCoy, also known as Beast."
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. McCoy." Ranma said with a small smile and a slight bow.
"Please just call me Beast like almost everyone else does." Beast said and Ranma nodded.
"The name's Remy La Bau (by the way, I have no clue how to spell his name. If it's wrong, then write me and I'll correct it.) but you can call me Gambit." The tall man with the brown duster and red hair said from where he leaned against the wall next to Rogue, with a heavy French accent.
Before Ranma could reply to that, Jubilee jumped in. "Hi! I'm Jubilee! You are going to love it here. I can't wait to show you around." She said and would have bubbled on his Logan hadn't covered her mouth with a small grin.
"Um, hi." Ranma said shyly.
"My name is Jean Grey. I don't have a nickname so just call me Jean." She was dressed in slacks and a blouse that complimented her red hair.
Ranma just nodded, starting to look a little overwhelmed. Then he turned his attention to the last unidentified person in the room. Looking over the bald man in the floating wheelchair, he was unsure what to thin of him.
"Hello, Ranma. My name is Professor Charles Xavier and welcome to me School for the Gifted. Everyone who stays here is a mutant in one way or another. They are here to learn how to control their powers."
"But mine is healing. How am I going to learn to control that?" Ranma protested.
"You will learn how to live with what they did to you, like Logan. When he first got here, he was full of rage and anger, but we are helping him with that. Just being in an environment that accepts you for what you are can help everyone. Will you accept our offer of help?" Xavier said and Ranma reluctantly nodded.
"I guess so, but will you be able to help me get my memories back?" he asked slowly.
"Maybe. They mind wiped you, so maybe there is a recording of your memories somewhere on one of the disks that Cyclops and the others brought back or at the very least, maybe how they did it." Xavier said and Ranma reluctantly nodded again.
"Well than, come on! I'll show you around." Jubilee exclaimed as she grabbed his hand and dragged him out the door.
"Me' thinks petite has a crush on the newest X-Man, no?" Gambit chuckled and the others exchanged smiles.
"Yeah, she as hooked as a tout during a fishing convention." Rogue said as she grabbed gambit's arm and pulled him out of the room. "Come on, let's go fix up a room for him."
"The room two doors down from Logan's if you please. I tell Jubilee." Xavier said with a small smile still lingering on his face.
"Thanks!" she said and pulled Gambit out the door and down the hall in the blink of an eye.
Chuckling lightly, Xavier turned to Beast. "I would like you and Logan to go over these disks to see what you can find."
"Alright Charles." Beast said and left with Logan right behind him.
"Jean, Scott, Storm, will you please come with me? We need to talk about what we're going to do about Ranma's family. We know where he lived in Japan, but from the few times I've had Cerebro scan the home and area, I have gotten some very confused readings." Xavier said as he turned to the last three people.
"What kind of confused readings?" Jean asked as they followed the Professor out the door and down the hall to a walled in garden.
"Has been surrounded by two mutants that seemed to be around his home almost daily, but Cerebro reported three huge power readings from the area, none of which are mutants." He said and the others looked at him sharply.
"Is that possible?" Storm asked quietly.
"Apparently. I think that you three should go there and find out what is going on."
"When?" Jean asked.
"Whenever. It will be a while before Beast and Logan can go through all the disks and all of you deserve a vacation." Xavier said with a small smile and would have continued, but then all of them heard a blood-curdling scream of pure terror. "That's Ranma!" he exclaimed and all of them bolted out of the garden as fast as they could. "He's in the backyard with Jubilee!" he called after them as they quickly outdistanced him.
"Thanks." Scott called over his shoulder as they ran through the door that led outside. They got to Ranma and Jubilee at the same time as Beast, Logan, Rogue and Gambit. Looking around, they saw, Ranma cowering against a tree with Jubilee shake his shoulder in an attempt to get him to answer her questions bout what was wrong.
"Get it away! Get it away!" Ranma screamed as he covered his face with his arms. The X-Men were shocked to see a tiny kitten in front of the cowering Ranma, and were even more surprised when he shot up straight against the trunk of the tree when it nudged him with it's nose.
Ranma couldn't believe it. He had just been talking to Jubilee when something had rubbed against his ankles. He had looked down to see a fuzzy black kitten curled up against his leg and he had freaked out for some reason. He wasn't sure why he was so scared, but the sight of it just filled him with terror.
He had ended up cowering against the tree, covering his face because something was telling him that he had to protect his eyes from claws and fangs. Now as it pushed on his arms, he bolted up right and started shaking even worse.
Finally, the terror got too much and blackness over came him.
"What is he so scared of? It's only a little pussy cat." Rogue said as she picked up the cat from in front of the terrified teen. Suddenly, everyone heard a huge meow and turned incredulous eyes to Ranma as he crouched on all fours. "Sugar? Are you all right?" Rogue asked as she stretched her hand down to him, only to have him lash out with his new claws. She jerked back and looked at the three blood stripes on her arm in shock.
"Rogue, back away very slowly." Wolverine said quietly as he slowly approached. One look at his face convinced her to do as he said so she slowly started to back away. As soon as she was even with the others, he stepped forward, catching Ranma's attention.
Ranma, can you understand me? he asked, making his voice as soothing as he could. When he received a less unfriendly look as Ranma slowly started to relax, he continued, talking about anything and everything that he could think of, keeping his voice as relaxing as he could. "Jubilee, walk very slowly over to the others. When you get there, just keep walking. This might take a while. All of you leave, and take that cat with you." he said, still in his soothing voice.
"I don't think…" Cyclops started to say, but Ranma hissed viciously at the sound of his voice, cutting him off.
"Get out of here Cyks. You don't understand. His fear of cats has made his mind snap. Right now, he is a cat. And he feels threatened by you." Wolverine said, his soothing voice starting to strain with his annoyance at the thickheaded people.
"What if I put a force field around him?" Jean asked, her own voice soothing.
"No good. You can't keep it up forever and he'd be pissed enough to attack you with everything he had." Wolverine sighed and gestured at them to leave again.
"If, you're sure you can handle him." Jean said and started to slowly pull the others away.
"I'll yell if I have any problems. Now get out of here." As soon as they were safely back in the building, Wolverine turned back to Ranma, who had relaxed enough to chase a butterfly in the grass. He watched the boy for a while as he ran around, climbing the tree, chasing butterflies and grasshoppers and generally acting like a young cat, and while he was full of hyper energy, Ranma never strayed to far from Wolverine, who was leaning against the trunk of the tree.
Suddenly, cat-Ranma sprang at wolverine in a playful way, tackling him to the ground then jumping off of him to dart away, tempting wolverine to chase him. So you want to play now, huh? wolverine said as he stood up and started to run at Ranma, who dodged and sprang at him from a new angle.
They played like this for over an hour, a type of tag game where each one would try to pin the other to the ground. First Ranma would tackle wolverine onto his back and the older man would respond by kicking him off, then lunge at him, attempting the same thing. Finally, Wolverine resumed his seat at the trunk of the tree and Ranma came and curled up in his lap, drifting off too sleep purring enthusiastically as Wolverine stroked his head and back, is if the boy was just a giant cat.
As soon as he was soundly asleep, Xavier floated out into the yard from where he had been watching from an open doorway. "Wolverine, do you know what happened to him?" he asked quietly so that he wouldn't wake Ranma up.
"Maybe." Wolverine said softly. "When I was in Japan years ago, this monk I knew told me about a martial arts technique called the Neko-ken, or the cat-fist. It gives the user great strength and speed plus claws made out of pure ki that can slice through steel like paper. But the training gives the user a fear of cats so great that the trainee sometimes goes insane and acts like a cat or becomes permanently feral. They also can only use the technique when they go cat. But it's been band for years. No one could have been crazy enough to teach a child though, right?"
"It seems like someone was. I would say that this is exactly what has happened to him." Xavier said regretfully.
"When I find out who did it…" Wolverine trailed off as he popped his claws in a suggestive manner.
Before Xavier or Wolverine could say anything else, Ranma sat up with a start, tumbling off Wolverine's lap. "What happened?" he groaned as he rubbed his eyes and looked around in confusion.
"Ranma, what was the last thing you remember?" Xavier asked as he floated nearer.
"Talking with Jubilee and then, nothing but a blank." he said, slightly confused as why the Professor was asking that.
"There was a cat and you started acting like a cat after you got really scared." Wolverine said and Ranma looked t him in shock before looking around franticly for the aforementioned cat. "It's gone." Wolverine said, guessing that was what he was looking for.
"Thank goodness. I don't know why, but just the thought of a c…ca…one of those is just so…so…" at last Ranma just gave up trying to describe it and shuddered.
"Ranma, would you like to go back to Japan? That is where you're from." Xavier said and both Wolverine and Ranma looked at him in shock. Seeing their looks, he chuckled and continued. Most of the X-men are going on a vacation to Japan in a week or two. You are welcome to go with them if you like."
"Sure! Maybe that will help me with my memories." Ranma said and stood up.
"I'm sure it will, but I would also like to try to elevate some of your fear of cats. Why don't we work on that tomorrow in the walled in garden? That way if you come across another cat, this won't happen again." Xavier said and Ranma nodded before all three of them turned to enter the mansion.
"I wonder what happened to Ranma." Jean said to Storm as the two of them finished preparing dinner for everyone.
"I don't know. It wasn't a normal fear of cats, but more like a terrible memory that was just to much for him." Storm said as she gathered plates and glasses, while Jean put the finished mean into serving dishes. In honor of their new friend, they were eating Japanese food, and they were even going to use chopsticks.
"Yeah, it was kind of like that. Maybe the Professor can help him with that." Jean said and mental called everyone to dinner.
Once everyone was at the table and had started eating, the X-Men had another shock as they watched Ranma eating. His chopsticks were a blur as they shoved food into his mouth while at the same time steal food from everyone else's plates, though almost nobody noticed at first as they attacks were done with such speed.
"Where did you learn to eat like that?!" Jubilee said more to herself than to anyone, but Ranma heard and stopped eating for a moment to say, "I have no idea. No memories, remember?" he said slightly bitterly.
"I'm…sorry Ranma. I didn't mean it." Jubilee said softly as she looked own at her food and poked at it with a chopstick.
"It's ok. Beast and Wolverine is working on those disks so maybe I'll have them back soon." Ranma said reassuringly and she smiled at him thankfully. Just as they were starting to eat again, the window next to them exploded into a million pieces that landed on everyone at the table and in the center of the table landed a figure.
"Well, well, well. It looks like there is a mini runt now. Is he your son, old buddy?" Sabertooth said as he stood up and looked down at Wolverine and Ranma, who were sitting next to each other.
"Sabertooth…" Wolverine growled as he jumped to his feet, overturning his chair. Ranma also jumped up and it was at him that Sabertooth lunged.
Ranma let Sabertooth's weight push him to the ground, then used his legs to kick the huge man over his head and into a wall. "Well, the pup has some fight. That must be why Magneto wants you." Sabertooth said, showing his fangs in a sneer.
"I don't care who wants me to go where. You can just forget it. I go where I want to go." Ranma snarled as they both stood up again. "You want me? Catch me if you can." he said and jumped out the window, Sabertooth right behind him.
After a moment's hesitation, the other X-men jumped out too, with Professor X staying behind to monitor the situation from the window.
*************
TBC