A New Beginning
by Lerris
Smith
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon or Tenchi Muyo. This piece of work is purely for entertainment purposes. This is just a reposting to insure clean chapters. This story is on hold for now.
Monday begin with a surprise attack on Akane. It turned out that she was very ticklish.
"Ranma, stop it."
"Make me." Well this is definitely more fun that pops surprise attacks.
The battle was joined. In truth Ranma was more ticklish than Akane was. The soul of ice was all that saved him. The room did get a little cold though.
"Come on, its time to train."
Ranma got in several very good hits which had Akane sulking. She also had a bruise on her face and on her left arm. There were a few more, but weren't visible through her clothes.
Breakfast was up to Kasumi's usual high standard. Ranma was really starting to feel guilty about that. How was Kasumi supposed to live her own life if she keeps spending all her time on housework? Still there seems no solution right now. If I cooked it, Akane would want to help and she needs to focus on her training.
Nabiki said, "I'm going to visit some friends today. I was hoping you would come with me Kasumi."
"Um ok. It would be nice to get out of the house. There are some leftovers that father can eat for lunch."
Soun said, "But what about school?"
Nabiki said, "I will have my homework dropped off by someone. It won't be a problem. If nothing else this way I get to put off answering all the stupid questions about what happened to my hair for another day."
Sound nodded. He didn't like it, but given his track record at trying to get Nabiki to do something other than what she wanted to do, he didn't feel like arguing the point. I wonder why she wants Kasumi to go along?
Akane and Ranma walked into the Nerima schoolyard to something they had not expected to see. People looked from Akane to Ranma with fear and anger. It probably didn't help that Akane was still a bit depressed at not dodging those hits. They were something she should have been able to dodge after all.
"It looks like we were wrong about Ranma. First he puts both the Kunos in the hospital, and now he has beat up his fiancee." came in one whisper.
"Ya, perhaps he is nothing more than a bully after all. Look at those bruises on Akane." came from another.
Ranma had heard both comments and was trying to ignore them. Sometimes it doesn't pay to get out of bed in the morning.
Akane's battle aura was flaring now and Ranma had stepped away from the uncomfortable heat of it. "Now listen here, I'm only going to say this once. These are the result of hard training that I've chosen for myself. If any of you think that any of this is easy on Ranma then your nuts. It took him forever to even be able to hit me in training and I know he regrets every hit, so lay off or you will face me. As for the Kuno's. Ranma almost died thanks to Kodachi. They should be grateful that they got off so easy."
Ranma smiled at Akane. Having her defend him made his heart sing. He walked over to her and gently enfolded her into a hug.
Akane was not satisfied with his hug so she crushed him to her in a visual statement that almost seemed to scream "Mine!". She then did something that utterly surprised him, she kissed him full on the mouth and didn't let him up for air for almost half a minute.
Several cheers and snickers could be heard from the crowd. Some expressed disbelief. "That is Akane Tendo, confessed hater of men, and Ranma Saotome?" Ranma Saotome denied having any feelings for Akane, even though few believed it. Akane religiously denied the same.
"Thank you Akane. We should probably get to class."
It would seem that Akane's surprising display had largely fixed the negative image that Ranma had acquired for himself since the Kuno incident. The current talk seemed to center on wondering how far the two had gone, but they ignored it save for a lot of blushing. They arrived in their homeroom shortly.
Ms. Hinako was in her adult form. Ranma wondered who she managed to drain. "So I see your delinquency has gotten worse. There will be none of that on school grounds. Buckets, hall, now!"
Ranma sighed until he noticed Akane's smile. Yes, it definitely was worth it. He smiled too. Besides he could see she was using it as a chance to practice the meditation technique he had taught her last night. Everything truly can be training, with a bit of imagination. Ranma then became lost in his own thoughts, trying to think of how best to continue Akane's training when the opportunity arrived.
Lunch was peaceful. Hiroshi and Daisuke joined Ranma and Sayuri and Yuka joined Akane.
Sayuri asked, "So what is up with you two?"
Ranma replied, "I'd rather not get into details, but she almost died at Jusendo. It was like a wakeup call to me. How could I not admit my love to her? My fear of rejection was as nothing to my fear of losing her."
Akane added in a fond tone, "Yea, me and the baka finally admitted how we feel." In a quieter tone she added, "I could wish, well it doesn't matter, the past is behind us."
Sayuri smiled. I wish I had someone half as good as Ranma. She looked over at Daisuke and sighed slightly.
Hiroshi asked, "So why the sudden drastic focus on improving your martial arts Akane?"
"I have always wanted to be one of the best martial artists. Ranma just got scared when I almost died and is teaching me seriously now."
Yuka looked at Ranma closely as if to see what manner of creature he was. She then nodded slightly to herself and went back to eating.
That was the extent of the explanation they gave on that subject. The other popular topic was who would go to the graduation dance with whom. Akane's eyes brightened and then saddened right afterward.
Yuka asked, "Aren't you going to go Akane?"
"No, I have a match the very next day that I must be ready for. I shouldn't go."
"Ah come on. A few hours won't matter." added Sayuri.
"No, I have to be ready to face Shampoo then. I can't afford to lose this match. I promised I wouldn't marry him until I succeeded at becoming an Amazon."
"Marry? Your finally going to marry him?" asked Yuka.
"Well if she can win her battle against Shampoo. I still wish you hadn't made that deal."
"You know why I did it."
"Yes. Yes I do. Its one of the reasons I love you."
"Don't hold us in suspense. When is the wedding?" asked Sayuri.
"The wedding is the Saturday after graduation. Your all invited of course." said Akane.
Ranma put an arm around her carefully, watching to make sure it was something she wanted. She allowed it then leaned into his side.
Gym class was another game of team dodgeball, except this time it was everyone against Akane. Ranma avoided doing more that dodging until Akane had taken out the other team members. "Nice job Akane, except now you have to deal with me." Akane threw the ball at him, but he caught it easily and returned the throw. Akane dodged, and managed to get the ball as it rebounded off the wall. Ranma got faster and faster. He tried to always stay just barely within Akane's skill level so she could dodge it. As she improved he speeded up his throws. Finally Akane made a mistake and dodged in a way that caused her to lose her balance. Ranma recovered the ball and beamed her with it in the lower leg.
The rest of the gym class were sitting in awe of the game. The coach returned to his ever present dream of how far he could go if he could get them on an Olympic team.
"Nice game Akane. Your definitely improving."
Akane smiled at the compliment.
"Well we ought to be able to run at least six or seven miles in the time we have left. Lets get to it."
Akane groaned. I asked for this. I will not let her beat me.
About half of the class face faulted. Several of the more adventurous ones tries to keep up with them, but failed to do so beyond a 1/4 of a lap. Akane and Ranma kept that pace the entire time.
Akane kept falling asleep in her afternoon classes, so she joined Ranma in the hall. Since Ranma often fell asleep in the afternoon, no one thought it was a big deal for him. Akane tried to practice meditation again, but succeeded in figuring out how to sleep standing up. The training was beginning to exert its toll on her. When the bell rang Ranma was splashed with water as Akane jerked awake.
On their way home Ranma found a spot where it wouldn't be noticed and took hold of Akane gently and washed away her fatigue with his magic. They both glowed a pale violet during it. "Well that was almost useless. The fatigue I removed from you just made me more tired and transferred back to you."
"That's ok Ranma. I just need to eat something and I'll be fine." Akane yawned. Ranma was having difficulty resisting the temptation himself.
Ranma grabbed her gently and cradled her in his arms.
"Hey I can walk!"
"Just think of it as an introduction to roof hopping. Besides I'm hungry too."
"Dang you. Put me down." She beat his chest with her fists several times in annoyance although they were not enough to hurt Ranma. Of course most normal people would have been in extreme pain, but well Ranma is not normal. Her struggles subsided a little after they became airborne. After the third hop, Ranma saw a small smile on her face which she quickly suppressed. He did not suppress the one on his own. They arrived back at the dojo a couple minutes later. Soun was tending the plants that were outside.
"You can put me down now." He did so almost expected to be hit, but it never came.
Soun grinned widely. The houses will be joined.
Nabiki led Kasumi to doctor Tofu's clinic. Dr. Tofu was outside sweeping the sidewalk.
"Kasumi what happened to you?"
"Hello doctor. Don't worry I'm fine."
"I gave her a gift. Don't worry she really is perfectly fine. Perhaps you would like to examine her?"
Kasumi blushed.
"Um, Um.., no I'm sure that won't be necessary. Kasumi looks very nice, err I mean she looks fine to me."
Nabiki laughed.
"Actually, I was hoping you would come along as well and meet my friends. Yosho is a very old friend of mine."
"Well it has been pretty slow lately. I could leave a note and have people call my cell phone in an emergency I suppose."
"Excellent doctor. Let's go." Before the doctor could protest much more, a sign was posted and his doors were closed.
It took about twenty minutes to get to the Masaki shrine once they exited the train. Yosho and Achika were waiting for them when they arrived.
"Good morning Tsunami or should I say Nabiki? Regardless it is good to see you again. Who are your friends?"
"Hello Yosho. This is my sister Kasumi and Dr. Tofu, our family doctor."
The remaining introductions were made and they went to sit at a picnic table. Nabiki was right Achika and Kasumi hit it off right away. They were almost kindred spirits. Yosho's acting was perfect. A quick word to Funaho who passed the message to Yosho had him fitting the role Nabiki had chosen perfectly.
Kasumi loved all the attention. Yosho's obvious kindness and consideration for her was making Dr. Tofu insanely jealous. After awhile Nabiki interrupted and asked Yosho into teaching her his art. Yosho, Nabiki and Achika went off to practice leaving Dr. Tofu and Kasumi behind.
"My specialty is Jurian sword forms. I take it that is what you want to learn?"
"Before Tsunami became a part of me I had wanted to learn from Ranma and in a way I still do. The danger is not going away and we need to be prepared. As a goddess I never really had much need for martial arts. I would like to learn Jurian sword forms as well though, and well Ranma is a bit busy right now so I thought of you."
"Well its nice to know I was your first choice."
Nabiki picked up the basics right away. In some ways they were extensions of things she already knew from both her earlier martial arts training and her recent refresher.
"Good, at this rate before long you will be able to be Achika's sparring partner."
When everyone returned for lunch, Nabiki caught Dr. Tofu with an arm around Kasumi that he quickly removed. Excellent. About time Doc.
The three returned to training after lunch.
Nabiki concentrated and formed her own energy sword. "Good I was fairly sure I could do it, but its nice to know." She let the sword fade away.
"I thought it was impossible to create an energy sword with Jurian energy without a key."
Nabiki smirked. "I lost much when I finally escaped the prison I accidentally made for myself. I do remember a few things though."
"Can you teach me to do that?" inquired Yosho.
"No, you will have to use the Tenchi-ken. In time, once Funaho has recovered from bonding with her new ship body she will be able to make a new key for Achika."
"Do you mind if I asked why you gave Kasumi such potential? I felt it through Funaho when you did that. It weakened you."
"She is my sister and I love her. I gave her a part of myself so that she would have the potential to truly fulfill her dreams. She will be a great healer one day I think. Yes it weakened me, but in time I will recover. Heck in time I will probably even recover my full powers as a goddess, that is if I can manage not to get killed for a thousand years or so."
"My goddess, you know my sword is ever at your command."
"As is mine, though my skill is poor yet."
"Please, I don't even really think of myself as a goddess anymore. I value your friendship though."
Nabiki stayed and talked with Achika and Yosho awhile longer, while Dr. Tofu and Kasumi made their way home to Nerima. After about twenty minutes Nabiki bid farewell to her friends and teleported to her bedroom. She fetched her camera and found a place to hide that could see the front of the house.
Sure enough Dr. Tofu and Kasumi came walking up a few minutes later. They talked quietly for a few minutes and he leaned over and kissed her hesitantly. After a few moments Kasumi kissed back. This continued for almost a minute until they heard Soun walking around inside the house.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Kasumi gave him one last hug. "I'll be waiting."
Nabiki put her camera in her purse and walked casually in the house.
Ryoga Hibiki was lost and depressed. He had been trying to get back to Nerima to make Ranma pay since that night. Being lost and depressed is of course nothing new for Ryoga.
He never saw the person who shot him with the odd green colored beam. Nor did he see the cloaked figure that carried him off to parts unknown.
Elsewhere Shampoo had completed another torturous day of Cologne's training.
"You do know that even if you win Ranma is unlikely to marry you."
Shampoo gave no answer.
2006-02-01