Ranma alternate fanfic
Started - 15 October 2003 Completed – pending
Last revised - 18 June 2004 Reason – new chapter added
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and all associated characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and are used without permission. This fan-fiction isn't intended for commercial use but is rather a tribute to the Ranma ½ universe.
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Lonely Match by Cloud Dreamer
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Chapter Four – A party
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Ranma took one look at the repressed rage on Ryouga's face as the 'lost boy' glanced between him and his pandaified father and guessed that the jig was up. "Ah," he hesitantly began, "Sorry about . . ."
Ranma got no further as Ryouga charged him . . . until he reached the end of his leash and was jerked to a stop that landed him on his rear. Ami was a LOT stronger than she looked. "Ryouga! Behave!" she snapped.
Blushing nearly crimson, Ryouga could only stutter, "Yes momma," even as he continued to glare at Ranma.
Ranma sighed and to the surprise of all present, knelt beside Ryouga so that he could softly speak without being overheard, "Yeah, me and 'Genma' are responsible for knocking you in a cursed pool, though it's your own fault that you were even there. I didn't say anything before 'cause I don't know how you could forgive me." Ranma's face showed both anger, sadness and a bit of helplessness as he added, "Kami knows I can't forgive the old bastard that shoved me in even after he knew it was cursed so I don't see how you can forgive me even if it was an accident." He paused and then sadly added, "I don't got too many friends and somehow 'Genma' always makes sure I lose them while making it my fault too." He sighed as he stood, "Sorry."
The lost and lonely boy wasn't sure how to react and before he could respond his mother jerked on his leash to get his attention and instructed him, "Ryouga, I remember Ranma now from last year. I don't want you boys to get in another of your roughhousing moods and spoil the party. So you two behave today, hear me?"
"Yes mom," sighed Ryouga.
"Sure thing Mrs. Hibiki," grinned Ranma.
Ami was a little uncertain about also celebrating Ranma's birthday too until she learned that not only had he never had a party before (that he could remember at least) but that until a few hours ago, he didn't even know what his birth date was. That was enough to earn him her motherly concern as well.
It wasn't until the cake for their combined birthday was brought out that a small difference was realized.
"Hummm," said Ami, "needs another candle. Ryouga is now 18, not 17."
Ranma paused, "You mean Ryouga's almost a year older than me?"
"Yep," nodded Ami, "we lost him for almost five months when he was due to start school, so we ended up starting him the next year instead."
Nabiki grinned and she slyly remarked, "You know Kasumi, that makes him only one year younger than you." Seeing her elder sister's panicked eyes on her she continued, "And he's well traveled too." She paused and then added carefully while trying to keep a straight face, "Though I do see how you could think of him as a bit of a 'little boar' at times."
Kasumi blushed while Ranma actually tittered momentarily before catching himself. Ryouga on the other hand blanched and nervously glanced at his mother.
Akane was dithering, on one hand, she wanted to tease Kasumi too, but on the other hand, this was that perverted boy who had snuggled against her boobs and then flashed her. So she just glared at him but she did slyly remark, "Humm, you know, Ranma's your age now, Nabiki."
Ami grinned at Kasumi, making her a bit more nervous. Ami glanced at Ranma and remarked, "You know Ranma, last year when I met you; your last name didn't quite connect for me. But about a month after you left, your mother showed up at my house."
"Mom?" responded a surprised Ranma even as a certain panda froze.
"Yep," sighed Ami, "turns out that your mother and I were best girl friends even before we started school together. It's just that after she got married, we sort of lost track of each other. I didn't remember her married name until she showed up looking for you." She chuckled, "The two of us even pledged when we were in high school together to have our children marry if they were of the opposite sex." She sighed, "Too bad you didn't turn out to be a girl; she and I could have shared grandchildren then."
Akane carefully put the water pistol she had been toying with underneath the short table and out of sight. She was tempted, but that would mean violating a part of the challenge and her sister's tears from last night were too fresh in her mind for her to cause the pair of perverts any more problems even if they both probably deserved it.
Ryouga very carefully drank the glass of water in his hand instead of doing what he had been contemplating before his mother had spoken. 'Him marry Ranma? Over both their dead bodies first!'
It was a very interesting party. Ranma was avoiding liquids like they were lethal. Kasumi was trying to dodge Ami while being the correct hostess at the same time; Ryouga wanting desperately to get lost and failing repeatedly. Soun and 'panda' had tried to vanish after a short performance, but Ami had cornered Soun to ask about Kasumi's availability which had initiated the waterworks. Fortunately (I guess?) Ami just thought it was part of the act; 'Weepy' indeed.
Nabiki was mesmerized by the various threads of the soap opera playing out before her while Akane was torn between which pervert to glare at and which sister to tease.
Eventually it ended but not before Ami had managed to arrange a date between Kasumi and Ryouga for the following Friday. Ami promised to bring her 'manly son' over personally so as to make sure he didn't accidentally stand Kasumi up.
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Akane had just changed out of her school uniform and into a set of comfortable sweats when she remembered something. She quickly dropped to her knees and peered under her bed. Seeing the unfamiliar box, she pulled it out and grinned broadly upon seeing the racked Tendou school scrolls. She carefully opened the first and began reading; homework and training forgotten for the moment. Besides she figured she had a little time as Ranma and Nabiki had decided to get some ice cream on the way home.
Thirty minutes later an irritated Ranma briefly knocked on Akane's door before entering, Nabiki following closely behind with three mummies it seemed.
"Eeep," shrieked Akane as she quickly stuffed the open scroll under the bed next to its box. "Jerk," she yelled, "wait until I answer before barging into my room. I could have been getting dressed or something."
Ranma-chan blushed at that thought and blurted, "Yeah, like ya got something worth seeing."
Akane ground her teeth but relented when Nabiki whapped the back of the pervert's head, "Ranma, you promised not to tease Akane. Now knock it off."
"Sorry, Akane," sighed Ranma, "Sometimes, my mouth gets ahead of me and I say things I don't really mean."
"Sometimes, my butt," grumbled Akane. She glanced up at the three bandaged girls that stood in the hallway behind Nabiki. "Oh, hi," she waved at them from her seat on the floor. She paused and then added, "I think I know you, aren't you three from the rhythmic gymnastics team? What in the world happened to you?"
"We were ambushed," the three wailed in unison.
"Kodachi Kuno," Nabiki clarified. "She's the captain of the St. Hebereke rhythmic gymnastics team. She has this habit of taking out the opposing team before a match." She shrugged, "That's why her team is undefeated."
"Kuno?" hesitantly repeated Akane.
"Yeah, Kuno," confirmed Nabiki, "as in the True Blunder's younger sister."
The three bandaged girls giggled at Nabiki's version of Tatewaki's name.
"So why are you here?" asked Akane.
The three teammates looked between each other for a moment and then hesitantly asked, "We wanted to ask you or maybe Ranma, if one of you would be willing to join the school's rhythmic gymnastics team." She sighed, "It would be nice to defeat her. She shouldn't be allowed to win like this." She gestured to herself and her teammates, "We're too injured to compete, but one of you could do it for us."
"You want Ranma or me?" asked Akane a bit puzzled.
"Yeah," the three said in unison, before the leader added, "She was awesome. She kicked that psycho's butt to save us from being hurt further."
That evening marked a temporary change in their evening practice. Each of the three bandaged girls became a coach for one of the other three girls. Ranma had insisted that Nabiki participate in practice along with her and Akane not only as a potential sparing partner but to expand her skill base by learning a divergent art.
This did frustrate some of Akane's plans though. She was compelled to delay some of the training she had planned for Ranma-chan.
Most of it anyway; let's just say that a new dress code was set that same evening when Nabiki and Akane confronted their sensei concerning proper attire.
"Ranma!" Seeing she had Ranma's attention, Akane handed her a sports bra and panties. "Here," she said, "you need to be wearing these to give you proper support as a girl while we train."
"What! No way in hell am I wearing that junk just because ya say so," yelled Ranma at her fiancée.
"So," asked Nabiki quietly, "You're surrendering the challenge then?"
"Bu . . . but."
"This," giggled Akane, "is part of learning how to be a girl. Either wear it when you are training as a girl or admit you can't hack the training."
Ranma gulped, "Just when I'm training?" she asked.
Nabiki and Akane glanced at each other, Nabiki nodded and Akane confirmed, "Yeah, just during specified times of 'girl' training like here in the dojo. Nabiki and I both agree that having you wear it to school wouldn't work since you always start off toward school as a guy plus there is no way to make sure you wouldn't get hit with hot water at the wrong time. A guy in panties and bra is not something I want to see at school."
Nabiki added a moment later, "Ranma, it probably would be a good idea though if you would start wearing a thick undershirt to school from now on." She blushed and added, "Your 'endowments' are a little bit too prominent to hide under just a shirt." Akane nodded in agreement and Ranma sighed in reluctant acceptance.
They also delayed exploration of the Tendou scrolls for the time being too. All three of the young martial artists had glanced over them and jointly decided to wait until the deal with Kodachi was done before proceeding further. Akane stored them in a fold space inside her closet.
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As soon as she had time, Nabiki corralled Ranma and showed him what she'd discovered from her internet searches. Ranma had blanched and then looked apologetically at Nabiki, "Ah, sorry?"
"Not your fault," she responded, "besides, it turns out that my father is no saint either." She rubbed her forehead before quietly asking, "What do you think about the various engagements?"
"Heh, heh;" Ranma nervously responded. He paused as he studied the unhappy girl before he seemed to collapse on himself from the helplessness he felt. "Sorry, Nabiki; I ain't happy about it that's for sure." He pointed to one of them; "I ain't as good with numbers and stuff as you, but I know I'm worth more than a bowl of rice and two fish; a lot more."
A smile flickered across Nabiki's face, "No argument there." Her thoughtful look kept Ranma from saying anything. "You know Ranma," she finally said, "my family actually offers more than that to wandering martial artist who stop here. If we just consider that what they offered was misunderstood charity, then all these engagements become invalid!" she happily concluded.
Ranma's answering grin signaled his agreement. Then it faded as he opened up one particular file and reread it. "Yeah, I could see that for all of them except for this one," he said.
Nabiki glanced over at it and sighed, "Oh, yes; since there was a dowry involved then I guess that one would be different." She studied the pain showing on Ranma's face. She hesitantly asked, "Is this one special in another way too?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I remember Ucchan."
"Ucchan?"
"Yep," affirmed Ranma, "He was my first friend . . . ah, well, I guess that would be 'she' was my first friend." He sighed, "Heck, I didn't even know she was a girl let alone that Genma had engaged me to her."
Nabiki sighed, "Well, I guess we will just have to deal with it when and if it ever comes up. Hopefully they've forgotten all about it by now."
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Kodachi glared as she watched the six girls practice together. "Those cheaters," she muttered. "I shall teach them to lose in all fairness." She watched through a window from the shadows of the wall behind the dojo as she considered each of the new girls in turn as she decided on her first target. "The redhead first," she decided aloud, "Her skill approaches my own and that cannot be tolerated."
Kodachi positioned herself under the eaves above the window of the room in which her target usually slept. She hesitated as she watched the blocky man enter the room and absently scratch himself in several very inappropriate places.
Genma was tired; he lazily poured the water over his head as he stretched and yawned. Kodachi watched in horror as the man poured a glass of water over his head and morphed into a creature of nightmare. Of course, to Kodachi, it appeared that the were-beast was growling at her and threatening her with its outstretched claws. She shrieked as she lost her grip and fell head first onto the ground below the second story window.
Ranma, Nabiki and Akane gathered around Kasumi as she gently treated the paralyzed girl. Nabiki had quickly determined that a paralysis gas bomb of Kodachi's had gone off and resulted in the black leotard clad girl being immobile; not that that stopped her from glaring at the other girls.
"She doesn't seem to be hurt," was Ranma's verdict.
Nabiki just grinned as she absently added, "Yet."
Kasumi arched an eyebrow but recalling the origin of the bandages on the three girls who had been coaching the two sisters and Ranma these past two days, she elected to say nothing. She vanished into the house, allowing the others to take care of this matter.
Nabiki vanished into the home only to reappear a few moments later.
"What are you going to do with those body paints?" a worried Akane asked. She suddenly 'eeped' and quickly told Ranma, "Don't you dare look you pervert!"
"Hunh," responded Ranma. She blushed as she saw what Nabiki was doing and quickly looked away.
"Ranma," said Nabiki, an undercurrent of malevolence in her voice, "I need for you to help me 'deliver' her to her school."
"Ok," hesitantly replied Ranma as he noticed that Nabiki had at least wrapped a blanket around their uninvited guest.
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Yuka paused in disbelief before quickly grabbing her camera and frantically starting to take pictures. Kodachi Kuno was suspended within the archway above the main door to their school building. The arch was three stories high and Kodachi was near the top, gagged, bound hand and foot and upside down. Yuka snickered to herself, 'well, whoever did this at least had the decency to put her in a bikini first.' She frowned and remarked to her friend Kimiko, "You know, that bikini almost looks painted on."
"It is," whispered a vividly blushing Kimiko as she lowered her bird watching binoculars.
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Ranma had taken her station on the roof of the school building and was relaying tactical information to her fiancée. "Yo, tomboy! The archery and sumo clubs are hidden along the south side. I guess you've used that jump point too often recently."
"Listen jerk, you're 'naturally' more of a tomboy than I will ever be, so shut up about it already," Akane yelled.
Ranma shook her head and held the speaker further from her ear. She wasn't sure but she thought she'd actually heard that twice, once from the walkie-talkie and then again directly from Akane despite the distance. She grinned, "Yeah, whatever. Anyway, let's do something different today. How about making a straight run for the front door right through the main gate? I've scoped out the area and the closest group is the chemistry club in the corner about forty meters from the gate. There's nobody in the halls so you should be able to simply outrun anybody who sees you."
A definitely feminine giggle came over the set; "Sounds good to me. See you in class." Ranma grinned at the sound of Akane's good humor. She had to admit that while it took effort to tone down the teasing, moments like this sure made it worth it. It looked like Akane might actually end up being a friend after all.
Ranma quickly went to the other side of the roof and made sure that conditions were unchanged from what she'd reported. She grinned as she watched Akane sprint into the building to the dismay of the boys that had briefly sighted her.
"Pig-tailed one."
"Eeep!" Ranma did a quick spin kick and watched Kuno go sailing off the third story school building roof. One hand over her heart in a distinctly feminine gesture as she regained her equilibrium; she hesitated and then yelled, "That serves you right for sneaking up on me ya pervert!"
Nabiki looked over at the empty desk several meters to the side and front of her. She thought to herself; 'I was sure I spotted Kuno this morning, I wonder where he ended up?'
As the bell signaled the end of first period, Kuno came slowly into the room, a bandage wrapped about his head. Instead of taking his seat he approached Nabiki who was standing by one of the windows. "Mercenary one," he started, "hast thou information of a wondrous fiery haired, pig-tailed warrior maiden?"
Nabiki couldn't talk for a few moments, choking on your gum does that to you. Finally she sighed, "Yes Kuno-baby, I do. But it's going to cost you."
Kuno deftly laid five one-thousand notes on a nearby desk.
Nabiki looked up at him, her eyes narrowed in irritation. His motions said without words that she was easily bought and while it seemed so, it wasn't really true of herself. Information could be bought, but not her.
"Well? Speak woman," demanded Kuno.
"Basic background information costs a million yen," coolly answered Nabiki.
Kuno staggered as if shot. "Zounds, 'tis barefaced robbery. I would know why such a price is demanded of information that is only my just due?"
"Kuno," shortly replied Nabiki, no honorific nor teasing, "The answer to that question alone will cost ten-thousand."
Kuno clutched his chest as if in mortal pain, but quickly laid down an additional five thousand as Nabiki started to return to her seat.
Nabiki stared at the money before reluctantly picking it up. She looked into Kuno's eyes and softly said, "She is my best friend, perhaps my only friend. Hurt her and I WILL 'break' the Kuno family."
She returned to her seat; a wave of silence spreading across the room at the concept of Nabiki actually having a friend.
= = = = =
Akane was pacing the floor as she watched her eldest sister reluctantly get dressed for a date. Akane paused in thought a moment and then realized guiltily that it had been almost three years since Kasumi had risked leaving the family alone long enough to go on a date. Akane blushed as she recalled that was the time that they had to buy another stove; somehow her brownies had exploded and the shrapnel had destroyed the oven and stove. Of course, they had told the insurance company that it was a gas leak, again.
Seeing Ranma come out of the bathroom shaking his wet hair suddenly gave her an idea. "Ranma, come on. I just had this great idea. We're fiancée's but we haven't even gone on one date yet. I know, let's double date with YOUR (perverted) friend and MY (sweet, innocent) sister."
Ranma heard the emphasis in her voice and despite being rather clueless at most times, he gathered that she really didn't want to go with him as much as she wanted to watch over and interfere with her sister's date.
"Well," stuttered Ranma, "Ah, well, I don't think . . ."
"Kami," hissed Akane, "We KNOW that. Just shut up and get dressed."
"But," protested Ranma weakly; "Eeep," he added as he turned and saw Nabiki who had been watching with a half amused look on her face.
Nabiki slunk toward HER man and when they were nearly nose to nose, she whispered, "It's ok; sis seems to need to do this. But know that it's going to cost you since you are supposed to be my friend." She watched his face blanch and then she added, "One date for her, ice cream for me, got it?"
Ranma grinned back at her and softly replied, "Sure ya won't make it a date instead?" he teased his friend.
Nabiki hiccupped with shock and then gently whapped his head, "Deal!" she grinned.
Ranma paused and then innocently asked, "Which form?"
He dodged her lunge and then closed the new door to his room in her face. He chuckled to himself as he recalled the expression on her face at his question. He was quickly dressed for his first ever date.
Kasumi looked only a little irritated at Akane's idea, in fact she was a whole lot relieved more than anything else. The two sisters nervously whispered together as they waited for the Hibiki's to show up. Ranma gave Nabiki two to one odds that they wouldn't show on time and she laid down a thousand yen bill.
He sighed in disbelief as Ami knocked on the door two minutes till seven and led her son inside the house. He reluctantly handed Nabiki her winnings. She just chuckled before she motioned him to follow her into her room. Nabiki absently commented as she ascended the stairs, "It sure was nice of Mrs. Hibiki to telephone us to say that she was on her way."
Ranma just sighed as he followed her into her room. Even though he now got an allowance from Nabiki from his father's 'job', she managed to make sure that he kept little of it in the end.
"Yah, Nabiki," he drawled. He was a bit confused as to what she wanted since Akane and Kasumi would be ready to leave right away. He froze as Nabiki grabbed both his ears and pulled him down into a brief kiss.
Nabiki smiled up at him as she released him, "Just wanted to make sure that my first kiss was also your first kiss."
"Why?" protested Ranma. "I mean we're friends but not engaged."
She grinned, "Tell you later, now go." With that she pushed him out the door. She mischievously smiled to herself, 'he'll have ME on his mind all night.'
Akane ushered a still dazed Ranma out the door. They joined Kasumi and Ryouga who were just sort of standing on the front walkway wondering what to do next. Nabiki walked over to Kasumi and handed her a cloth bag with a shoulder strap. Curious, Kasumi looked in it to see a couple of thermoses. Her shoulders slumped but she shouldered the bag after putting her purse in it as well.
Ryouga shifted the huge backpack he was toting into a more comfortable position and then hesitantly smiled, "We . . . er, well, maybe we should go?" He then started back toward the house.
With an already tired smile, Ranma grabbed him. As Ryouga's face suffused into instant anger; Ranma asked him, "Want to fight or do you want to have Kasumi enjoy herself?"
Ryouga's anger immediately guttered out.
Ranma nodded, "Then follow Akane and me; we will help you to do right by her sister." Ryouga sighed in relief and quickly nodded.
As Ranma turned back to the sisters he heard Kasumi ask Akane, "Why is he wearing a backpack?"
Ranma answered for his embarrassed sometime friend. "It's because of his family curse. Since they tend to get lost so easy, they have to always be prepared for a long trip to parts unknown."
Kasumi looked at the immense pack and whispered, "Oh." It was pretty obvious that while she accepted the answer, she didn't really understand it. She shrugged and then offered her hand to Ryouga with a bright smile, "Well, shall we go?"
Ranma and Akane carefully led the way to local sushi bar that also offered dancing on a brightly lit floor. Akane had insisted on it since she wanted to be able to keep an eye on her sister at all times and darkened corners etc were on her 'out' list.
Ryouga parked his backpack at the table they had selected and noticing Kasumi's wistful expression as she watched the laughing dancers, hesitantly asked her if she wanted to dance. Her bright smile almost overwhelmed him and he hardly noticed as she led him onto the floor. He ignored everything else about him and just responded to her and the music, barely noticing that he was actually dancing rather well. He just absorbed her laughter as if it was the rarest thing in the world.
Akane listened to her sister laugh and her face softened with love. She sighed and softly said, "I can't remember the last time I really heard Kasumi laugh. She giggles and stuff, but laugh . . . not since momma left."
Ranma nodded and said, "Yeah, it's a real nice sound, sort of like shrine bells or something in a way." He then helped himself to the buffet. He grinned to himself as he thought 'All ya can eat! Alright!'
Kasumi finally came back to the table after a quick stop with Ryouga at the buffet. She shooed Ranma and Akane out onto the dance floor with a promise that she wouldn't move while they were gone.
Akane and Ranma awkwardly danced, seems that neither of them were particularly skilled in this type social event. Akane ignored him for the most part, instead keeping her sister in eyesight while she absently went through the motions.
Ranma finally called a halt after his toes were crushed for the eighth time. "Jeesh tomboy, learn to dance before we do this again."
She snarled at him, "Watch it Ranma! You have no room to talk, bad as I'm doing; I'm still doing better than you."
Ranma sighed, "Yeah, I guess you're right there. Come on, let's quit this. I'm still hungry anyway."
An hour later a pair of hefty bouncers led the embarrassed pair of couples to the door. The manager angrily handed them back their cover charge and told Ranma, "I don't ever want to see you anywhere near my place again. Now git!"
Ranma sheepishly pulled at his pigtail as the other three glared at him, "Hey, I was hungry; alright?"
"Ranma!" Angrily snarled Akane, "You had twenty-three helpings! They had to restock the entire buffet twice. Honestly," she grumbled, "sometimes I think you're no better than your old man."
Ranma blanched and he hesitantly asked, "You don't mean that do you?"
Akane glanced up at the worried tone and immediately relented, "No Ranma, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. It's just that I wish you would think beyond your appetite sometimes."
"Yeah, maybe you're right," was Ranma's embarrassed reply. "Sorry," he added.
Kasumi giggled, "Oh don't worry about it Ranma. At least we got to eat and dance for free." She glanced into Ryouga's face and asked excitedly, "That was fun; what shall we do next?"
Ryouga blushed incandescent and froze in place. Ranma sighed and suggested, "How about a movie?"
Akane glanced at her sister and thoughtfully suggested, "How about that movie by Tolkien. I think it's still playing even though it's been out for four months. It has elves and such and I hear that the scenery is just awesome. Something about it being filmed in the mountains and parks of New Zealand I think."
Shortly thereafter, the four of them found seats together in the theater just in time for the opening credits. The two sisters sat together with their guys beside them. The movie was just as incredible as she'd heard, but Akane had to admit that Ryouga's occasional comment of "I've been there!" and Kasumi's wistful response of "Oh, my, I wish I could have seen it," was beginning to get on her nerves with repetition.
They made their way out of the theater finally. Akane tiredly stretched and remarked, "Sis, it's nearly midnight. Time for us to call it a night I think."
Not hearing a response, she looked around but only saw Ranma a couple of feet behind her. No sign of her sister or Ryouga anywhere. "RANMA!" She screeched, "Ryouga has kidnapped Kasumi!"
Ranma quickly scanned the crowds; quickly determining that Ryouga was nowhere in sight since the towering backpack was easily spotted.
"Nah," quickly disagreed Ranma, "Ryouga would never do that. It's more likely that he's gotten lost. Hopefully it's just him. Come on let's look around and see if we can spot Kasumi."
It was two in the morning before they finally made their way home again. After they found that Kasumi hadn't shown up at home either, Nabiki angrily confronted Ami who had stayed at the Tendou home expecting to lead her son back home. "What has your son done with my sister?"
Ami sighed and awkwardly replied, "Probably gotten lost." She shrugged and helplessly added, "It's not intentional; he just can't help it."
= = = = =
Kasumi's eyes were wide with shock as she stared at the gigantic waterfalls; she thought that these falls were located in Africa but she knew that wasn't possible as they had just gotten out of the movie an hour ago.
She glanced at the sun that was obviously just starting to set and reconsidered that just maybe it was true after all. Frightened, she began to shake and started to wildly look about her. The only thing she saw that was at all familiar was Ryouga. She stepped over to him and buried her face into his chest and began to softly cry.
Her need shorted out all his habitual responses. He awkwardly embraced her and hesitantly patted her back. "It's ok, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
She cried a few moments more before hesitantly asking, "How can this be?" as she waved one of her arms at the scenery while she clutched him with the other.
Ryouga was confused, "Isn't this one of the parks outside of Tokyo?"
Startled she glanced into his innocent and clueless face. It was just so very improbable that she couldn't help her response; she giggled.
He blushed and hung his head. He surveyed their surroundings and estimated the remaining daylight before coming to a decision. "I think that maybe we should just set up camp here until we can figure out where home is."
Kasumi hesitantly nodded, camping was something she hadn't done in a long time but it wasn't totally unfamiliar either. She blushed and said, "I don't have any camping gear."
Ryouga smiled at her, "Not to worry, you can use my stuff."
The eldest Tendou watched as Ryouga swiftly began to empty his backpack. Noticing that he seemed confused, she asked, "Ryouga, is everything alright?"
"Hee, hee," nervously chuckled the lost boy, "Yeah, I think so. It's just that my mother must have added some stuff to my pack without me noticing." He gestured to the tent, sleeping bag and small backpack to one side. The three items all looked new. "There is a second tent and sleeping bag and the backpack even has your name on it."
= = = = =
Nabiki looked at the pair of cell phone numbers that Ami had written down for her. "You mean you knew that this would happen?"
"No," Ami denied, "I hoped it wouldn't, but I prepared in case it happened. I put a new tent and sleeping bag for Kasumi inside my son's backpack." She sighed as she once again had to deal with her own portion of the Hibiki curse. "I hate that my men folk get lost, but I cope with it as best I can. In this case I did what I could do to protect Kasumi. In the backpack that I gave her, there are several complete changes of outdoor clothing with extra underwear and hiking shoes and a coat. In addition, I included prepaid cell phones for both her and Ryouga."
Nabiki was already dialing the first cell phone number even before she had finished her explanation. A frustrated ten minutes later, Nabiki concluded, "Well, either they have both turned off their phones or they are outside any covered calling area."
= = = = =
The next morning was rather slow for Nabiki; it was nearly noon before she finally decided to get out of bed. She absently waved 'hi' to Ami who had ended up spending the night in Kasumi's room. However, this was enough to jump start her brain and she started to panic, "Party! Good grief, Kasumi isn't here and there was a party scheduled for 10 am. Gah, what are we going to do?"
"It's ok sis," Nabiki heard Akane say behind her, "Ranma-chan took care of it just like you did the one last night so Kasumi could go out." She sighed, "There are two more today and four on Sunday; you up to handling your share?"
Nabiki sighed, "Yeah, I guess so. It's too bad we can't trust the old farts to do this alone. Kami knows we would never see the checks if one of us didn't go with them."
Ami wistfully sighed, "Is there anything I can do to help?" She wondered if perhaps she had made a mistake when both sisters turned speculative eyes toward her before they grinned in unison.
She need not have worried, it turned out that she really did enjoy children's birthday parties. The three teens were worried but homework and training helped them to pass the hours that weekend. Fortunately, there were no parties scheduled the rest of the week until Friday evening and Ami had deferentially asked if she could do that one for them as well.
Ranma grimaced as she worked in the kitchen. Akane had volunteered to help the first day but had changed her mind after being informed that she would be required to taste test all her own cooking first. Kasumi being gone was really putting a strain on the family. Soun and Genma had been abandoned to their own devices when it came to meals when the three teens were in school, but Nabiki and Ranma had ended up splitting the daily cooking meals. By default, Ranma took breakfast since Nabiki could barely mange to brush her teeth in the morning without poking one of her own eyes out. Akane had taken over the laundry and all three helped with straightening out the daily mess. It left little time for any extra activities outside of training for the upcoming match and homework.
Ranma usually helped Nabiki a little bit fixing the evening meal. The mercenary girl had initially scowled when entering the kitchen to cook, but a little bit of cajoling on Ranma's part usually had her giggling eventually; especially when it came to making dessert which they both loved.
= = = = =
Kasumi had found the cell phones but was frustrated that neither one seemed to work for some reason. Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen any sign of civilization for the past three days. On the other hand, she'd seen awesome natural vistas. The only drawback was having to keep the pair of thermoses filled for when Ryouga managed to get splashed; usually a couple of times a day so far.
Of course there had to be some accommodations made. "Ryouga!" she yelled, "Don't you dare move without your leash."
Ryouga froze in place. He hesitantly looked at Kasumi and noticed the faint signs of fear in her face. He looked at the desert around them with only the huge red rock rising nearby and nodded in understanding. She was afraid of being really lost, lost without a means of getting back and without his protection. He reluctantly opened his pack and found the leash his mother had packed. Unlike the steel mesh leash one his mother used on him, this one was made of black nylon. He put it on and waited for Kasumi to grasp the end with a loop.
Kasumi smiled at him as she thrust her hand through the loop and then grasped his hand allowing the leash to dangle loosely from her forearm. "I'm ready," she said with a bright smile, "let's go."
Ryouga blushed and confidently strode off . . . somewhere else.
= = = = =
Kuno watched the short but buxom redhead from the top of the clock tower as she rapidly ran from one side of the school roof to each of the others in turn as she talked on a child's toy. "Sasuke," he thundered.
The diminutive ninja was instantly at his side. "Yes master."
"Tell me what she is doing!" he demanded.
"Yes master," he said as he handed Kuno a professional handheld unit he had brought from the Kuno grounds. "She is giving information to Miss Akane Tendou as to how to avoid a confrontation this morning just as she has done the past three weeks."
Kuno listened to the conversation a bit before bellowing into the unit. "How dare you interfere in this glorious pursuit of the fair Akane?" Nobody noticed since he hadn't pressed the transmit button and Ranma was already in class by that time.
= = = = =
Kasumi was loosely holding onto the leash and following Ryouga as she tried to call home one more time. She had given up trying to pay attention to her surroundings most of the time. It was nearing evening and she was ecstatic when her home phone finally began to ring. She pulled back on the leash and yelled to Ryouga excitedly, "Stop, Ryouga; the phone connection is finally going through."
Nabiki answered the phone; after all, it was usually for her anyway. Her yell of: "Kasumi! Where are you?" quickly brought the rest of the family around her.
Kasumi looked in disbelief at the sign in front of her and then slowly answered, "I'm at the front gate, oh my," she mumbled before fainting in shock.
Nabiki dropped the phone and raced out the front door and slammed open the front gate. She arrived just in time to see the frantic Ryouga pick up her older sister and glance worried about himself as if wondering where to go next. She stomped on the leash end on the ground and snarled angrily at him, "Freeze you bastard."
Ryouga froze in place and blanched as he noticed Nabiki glaring at him. He noticed the odd auras dancing around both Akane and Ranma as both of them absently cracked their knuckles. Meanwhile the TPW had already yielded one panda and had the glimmerings of a 'demon-head' in the making.
Akane came and took Kasumi out of his arms just as she was starting to wake.
Kasumi smiled wearily at her family and whispered, "Wow, that was some date; a world tour." She added, "Please don't hurt him, he was a perfect gentleman."
Everybody else just sighed, who could refuse Kasumi, certainly not them. They were so glad to see her back safe with her family. Ranma grabbed Ryouga's leash and hauled him into the dojo where Nabiki later tried to 'debrief' him. Not that her efforts made any headway as Ryouga had no idea of where he and Kasumi had been.
= = = = =
"Worthless servant," hissed Kuno angrily at Sasuke. It seems the diminutive ninja had once again failed to find out anything about the redheaded goddess other than she seemed to reside at the Tendou home.
For some unknown reason, Sasuke was unable to penetrate that dwelling. He grimaced; it seemed there was no help for it.
Actually there was a reason that Sasuke always failed in his efforts to glean information or pictures at the Tendou home. Kasumi somehow always detected him and cheerfully would ask him to share tea and cookies with her. This flustered him so much that he always forgot why he was there.
The next morning, Kuno stalked up to Nabiki, he glowered at her and then handed her a certified check for a million yen (about $10,000).
Nabiki sighed and reluctantly said, "Kuno, meet me at lunch time at that small restaurant just opposite the school gate, your treat of course."
Kuno nodded, "Of course, how could it be otherwise."
= = = = =
Nabiki felt a headache coming on as noontime approached. If she hadn't already cleared all of this Ranma, it would have been worse; but she knew how Kuno operated and dreaded feeding his obsessions using her friend. Unfortunately she was aware of his tenaciousness and couldn't justify throwing away so much money on something she was powerless to prevent in any case.
"Kuno," Nabiki reluctantly began as she handed him a single portrait type photo, "Her name is Ranma Saotome, she just turned 17 and she is living at my house for awhile. She is the heir to the other half of the Anything Goes School that Akane and I practice. Her father and my father trained together in their youth and decided to merge the two family schools by having her teach Akane and I her art while Akane teaches her the Tendou School. She hesitated and repeated, "She is my best friend and I will do whatever it takes to protect her or avenge her. You have been warned."
Kuno laughed, "And what has the noble house of Kuno to fear from a poor and weak mercenary?" He chuckled magnanimously and asked, "Come, tell me more of her. What does she like? Hath she sent a message of love to me that I have yet to receive?"
Nabiki chuckled in her turn. It was however a cold sound, "Yes, she actually has said something about you." She waited until Kuno's ego was fully engaged and distinctly said, "She said her brief meeting with you was enough to convince her that she detests you and would gladly become a lesbian if you were her only choice in a man."
She grinned as Kuno stormed out of the small café, cutting short the interview he'd paid for.
= = = = =
Nabiki tiredly made her way home after depositing the large check from Kuno. Normally she would have been in high spirits after such a killing but somehow it just depressed her even though Ranma had backed her all the way.
She softly called out, "I'm home," only to be greeted by Kasumi's giggles from the front room. Nabiki wandered into the room just in time to see Kasumi open another envelope of developed pictures. The table was covered in photos and Kasumi, Ami and Ryouga were sitting together on one side of the table looking at them.
Nabiki was obscurely pleased to note that Ami was between the other two; somehow the middle sister was still feeling protective of her older sister. Nabiki hesitated as she wondered why Ami was there before she recalled that Ami had volunteered to cover the party for her this Friday, tonight she realized.
She leaned over and kissed Kasumi on the cheek and asked, "I see you got your pictures developed, want to tell me about them?"
Kasumi grinned up at her sister, she was so glad that Nabiki was starting to open up. She then giggled and responded, "I have a better idea, let's see if you can guess where the pictures are from?"
Nabiki grinned back, accepting the challenge and then scanned the photos laid out on the table. "Let's see," she froze in disbelief as she hesitantly continued, "This looks like Ayer's Rock in Australia. Humm, I think this is The Grand Canyon in the States." She paused and audibly swallowed, "No mistaking the Pyramids or the Great Wall is there?" Her brow creased as she looked at the photos in Kasumi hands, "I think that this is Yellowstone in the States too." Sweat was beading her brow as she said, "I have no idea on the mountain or the waterfall though." She was sure however, that neither existed in this hemisphere. She was also sure the pictures were real too as many of them included Kasumi in the foreground.
Kasumi pointed to the waterfall and announced, "We spent the first night at Victoria Falls I think and our last night out was near Kilimanjaro I suspect." She needlessly added, "Both are in Africa as I recall."
Nabiki bonelessly fainted.
= = = = =
Ranma had been selected by the others to face Kodachi and the battle was pretty much as expected. Though there were a few unexpected surprises.
Ranma glared at the small black pig chained to her arm. "You cause me any trouble and Kasumi hears about it. Got it?"
The pig frantically nodded. Ranma grinned a bit malevolently (she'd been taking lessons from Nabiki) and said, "Brace yourself with your ki as this is going to hurt . . . I hope."
Ranma had caught the razor hoop by spinning it around her forearm bracers that she'd elected to wear with the leotard before rifling it back at Kodachi and shearing her ponytail as she had frantically dodged. The girl had been so stunned that she'd actually dropped her spiked clubs on her own foot.
As Kodachi began spinning her ribbon, Ranma had flexed her pig chain and overpowered the Black Rose, sending her into a high arc out of the ring, or so she'd thought at the time. Kodachi had blown on a whistle and the ring had moved to catch her.
Just as Kodachi had landed triumphantly, Ranma had unerringly thrown a club, the results were not quite like she or anyone else expected.
Kodachi had opened her mouth to crow when it was suddenly filled. She crossed her eyes and saw the top of a club protruding from her mouth. She frantically tried to pull it out; slowly turning blue in the process.
Ranma sighed, walked behind the now scared girl and performed the Heimlich procedure as Kodachi struggled to pull the club out of her mouth. Between them, they managed to dislodge it.
Kodachi shakily turned around to face Ranma and the redhead grinned as she noticed Akane and Nabiki take up stations behind Kodachi.
"Guess what Kodachi?" asked Ranma. She gently poked the still recovering Black Rose right between the eyes with the end of a club and sent her staggering backwards, arms wind milling for balance. Right out of the ring as Akane and Nabiki spread the ropes even wider between them.
"I'm not sure if that is legal," began the ref.
She stopped when Ranma began to rapidly pound the ring fabric and drove the rest of the St. Hebereke team out into the open. She gulped nervously when Nabiki pointed out, "Don't recall you saying anything about THEM."
The referee then nodded and raising Ranma's arm, proclaimed her the winner.
Kodachi sat alone on the floor where she'd fallen from the ring, rubbing her sore throat with one hand while absently toying with her shorn hair with the other; wondering what the heck had gone wrong with her plans.
= = = = =
Nabiki shook her head in disbelief as she walked out of the kitchen. Seeing Ranma's curious eyes on her, she sat down by the young man. "You know how Akane managed to teach Kasumi about fold-space over the past couple of weeks beginning that first night she asked?"
Ranma nodded, he had been surprised at that development. He'd finally figured out that it must be genetic, the ability to use personal ki or environmental chi was part of the reason their families practiced their art he guessed. He'd almost expected Kasumi to show up in the dojo in a gi next but Nabiki had laughed that idea to an early death.
"Well," continued Nabiki, "I just found her using it to store all the fresh foods into kitchen fold spaces that Akane and I can also open, but not anyone else." Seeing the stunned expression on Ranma's face she continued, "It's her answer to 'Genma' scrounging in her kitchen, that's how she stores the leftovers too; but anyway Kasumi did some simple experiments like putting a lit candle and a clock in a fold space and she found that 'time' doesn't pass there." She grinned, "Kasumi even discovered by accident that it's safe for living things as well when she found a bug in one of the stored fresh veggies. It was alright even after being stored a couple of days."
"Hummm," said Ranma as he assimilated the information. 'This could be useful' he thought to himself.
= = = = =
Ranma-chan sat to the side and watched Akane and Nabiki spar. Nabiki had been making incredible progress and while she still could not defeat her younger sister, she was no longer a pushover either.
Ranma frowned as she watched the pair lightly spar going more for the 'moves' of the kata than actual hits. She had just noticed something that was very odd. Both fathers came into the dojo and sat one on either side of her and watched the sparring match as well. Before either of the older masters could say anything, Ranma observed softly; "I can understand that Akane would still be using the Tendou School almost exclusively as we are still working on reinforcing the already learned fundamentals, but I find it outright weird that Nabiki is using the Saotome school more than she uses the Tendou School despite her early training in that school. She seems to have merged them both almost seamlessly."
Soun and Genma looked at Ranma askance; her recently expanded vocabulary was unexpected. She almost sounded like, like . . . a sensei.
Both somberly nodded. This bore considering . . . over several bottles of sake they jointly decided as they hurriedly left.
= = = = =
Ranma glanced at the clock as she waited for the three Tendou sisters to finish getting ready. She was a little irritated that Akane and Nabiki had insisted on cutting Saturday's morning's practice short so that they could go shopping with their older sister between birthday parties, but she really didn't know why they all insisted on Ranma being in girl form too. Ranma had tried to get out of going but the verdict was against her; go Ranma would and go girl as well. She was a little bit nervous as well since all three sisters would glance at her and then giggle a bit. None of them would tell her what was funny either.
Ranma grumbled as weekends were when she usually managed to spend most of the time as a guy. She slumped her shoulders, sighed and morosely thought to herself, 'Oh, well, I'll bet it couldn't get any worse than this.'
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Author's note: Additional Ranma fan-fiction can be found on my Web Pages.
C & C to clouddreamer2000yahoo.com
Main Web-page - www.geocities.com (slash) clouddreamer2000
And alternate - mysite.verizon.net (slash) cloud-dreamer/index.html
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