A Ranma/Futaba-kun Change crossover fan fiction
Started - 1 February 2001 Completed – 1 April 2001
Last revised - 10 May 2004 Reason - typos
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and all associated characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. Futaba is also used without permission. This fan-fiction isn't intended for commercial use but is rather a tribute to the 'Ranma-universe' and Futaba ideas.
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Golden Lining by Cloud Dreamer
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Chapter three - Just Passing
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- - - - Four days past Ranma's disappearance:
"Oh that worthless son of mine. To do such a girlish thing as just disappear," lamented Genma to his friend Soun. He had conveniently forgotten the many times he had done the same thing, usually in the middle of the night, oftentimes with something of value.
"Waaa our houses will never be joined now," this from the Tendou patriarch waterworks.
"Husband," a chilly voice asked in measured tones as the schnik of katana being drawn was heard. "Are you saying that the son you raised is not manly?"
- - - - Two weeks past Ranma's disappearance:
Nabiki was furious. Ranma had mailed her a can of yen, of course he had sent it to her 'postage due' and that amount exceeded the total value of the enclosed thousand or so of one-yen coins. And she still had all those damn coins to wrap and get rid of as well.
When she finally got to the last of the yen, she paused and studied the menu she saw laying there on the bottom of the can. Inside it was a napkin with a date and time hand written on it. She set it aside wondering what the significance of those two items was.
'Ah, just wait until I get my hands on him again.' She snarled to herself. She turned back to her computer, checking her e-mail for reports of Ranma 'sightings'. She massaged her temples; she could feel a headache coming on. Too bad that her check of Ryouga's home hadn't panned out. Nothing from the neighbors either, they were all reluctant to talk about the Hibiki's to a total stranger.
She sighed again as she checked the notes of the Hibiki sightings. She groaned, "How can he be positively sighted on opposite sides of the world only hours apart?"
- - - - Somewhere else:
Ryouga looked around the mountain meadow. He was sure he'd been in the desert only a few moments ago. He shrugged and walked past the approaching hiker.
"Hey Ryouga, how's it going!" rang out the girl's cheerful soprano as she casually strode on past him in the opposite direction.
"Ah, epp, do I know you . . . Ranma? RANMA! Where are you? Where am I? I don't remember a jungle being here." Sigh, "Sometimes I hate my life." Ryouga complained.
- - - - Elsewhere:
"Come along Genma, we've waited long enough at the Tendou's for Ranma to return. You've got over ten years of chores waiting for you at our house," Nodoka paused, "not to mention all the repairs from when all those girls visited our place."
"Eeep." Genma looked as if he was about to protest, but . . . Nodoka's eyes narrowed and she shifted her hold on the long wrapped bundle in her arms.
"Yes dear," quavered Genma as he began to hobble after her. He was healing nicely from the beating he'd received at her hands over a week ago. Ten years of anger, she'd finally let it out. And then she'd 'addressed' all the other things he'd done; like the other fiancées, like selling Ranma out not to mention the cat-fist training. As bad as that was, the diet she'd placed him on was hurting him even worse in his opinion.
- - - - KomataneHigh School :
Puzzled, the school secretary looked at the short dark haired girl before her. "I don't seem to have any records for you, do you have any identification?" She studied the two cards the girl laid on the desk before her. "Oh, I think I see the problem now. I wasn't spelling the name correctly, let's see," she murmured as she reentered the data. "Yes, here it is, one 'Hibiki Yoiko', yes I can register you with no problems." She paused, "I don't understand this other card though. It says you're an investigative agent for 'Silver Linings Security Evaluators', humm, their main headquarters is in town, I think. Well, it's against school policy for our students to be working during the school term."
Yoiko shrugged, "Actually, I'm not actively working for them. I'm sort of a trainee and they are also my legal guardians until I turn 18." Yoiko grinned to herself; the Hibiki attorney at the main office had done a good job. He'd even been enthusiastic after he'd heard some of her story. Yoiko was still mulling over some of his suggestions for dealing with Nabiki. She planned on talking with him some more during the coming months while she hid out until she graduated and turned 18.
"Well, ok, I guess that will be alright. It's not usual, but" . . . she returned Yoiko's wide grin. "I won't say anything about it to Principal Hirouin. Come on, let's get you introduced to your new senior year classes." She paused and looked at the schedule, "your homeroom teacher is Sabuyama-sensei." She grinned at the other girl, "at least 'he' won't give a cute girl like you any problems."
Yoiko's answering grin was hesitant and puzzled. She had no idea what the school secretary was alluding too. She'd later have given a lot to have continued to remain ignorant of what the secretary was talking about.
"Class, this is Hibiki Yoiko, as she is new both to our school and community, she probably doesn't know anybody either. Unfortunately, she's also a bit behind in her school work since the school term has already started, so some of you may need to help her out." Sabuyama-sensei paused and pointed to a group of empty chairs surrounding a tall dark blue haired girl. "Take a seat next to Shimeru Futana, she's a teacher's aid from Komatane college."
Yoiko hesitantly returned Futana's grin. She wondered why all the empty seats were clustered about this girl. She also wondered why the girl's grin looked . . . hungry?
Yoiko couldn't understand why everybody else stayed sort of distant from Futana. She had helped Yoiko a lot, even stayed in at lunch and done a little tutoring. Yoiko sighed; being on her own had given her a different view of school, not to mention being a girl. Yoiko thought back to yesterday when she had tried to rent a studio apartment.
- - - - Yesterday:
Yoiko was starting to get pissed; this jerk just wouldn't let up.
"You know for a cute girl like you, the rent is actually half what's advertised. Of course, you have to be extra nice to me, heh heh, if you know what I mean." The slightly overweight agent chuckled nervously.
Yoiko turned to him, her battle aura becoming visible even to him. "One, I do not like being hit on outside my own species." She grabbed him by his shirt and easily lifted his mass into the air as she snarled into his frightened face, "two, I will be extra nice by leaving you as a male." She paused, "for now anyway. You did say this apartment was for rent to me at half price did you not?"
At his frantic nod, she released him. Shortly thereafter she had her first apartment. It was empty, but it was hers.
As she relived yesterday's events, Yoiko massaged her temples trying to head off a headache. 'Gah, and she'd thought being chased as a guy was bad,' she grimaced to herself. She turned her attention back to class as she waited for school to get a little closer to ending for the day. Her shoulders were really tense with worry for her last class of the day. Today, she'd get by since she didn't have gym clothes, she'd be able to avoid the locker room. But that wouldn't last she knew.
She sat with Futana as they watched the other girls play volleyball. Apparently Futana was bared from participating in any strenuous sports. At least it gave her someone else to talk to until she had a uniform and was allowed to join in the class activities. 'If only there was way out of gym,' she thought.
She became aware that Futana had asked her something, "huh, didja say something? I was distracted for a moment."
"Yeah, tell me about yourself." Futana urged
"Sorry, not much to tell." She shrugged as she once again performed her practiced lie. "I'm an orphan, I've moved from place to place most of my life. End of story." She grinned at the other girl, "your turn."
"I've lived here my whole life. I'm a freshman at Komatane college, and I spend one day a week here as a teacher's aid. I also have a younger brother. His name is Futaba and he's on the wrestling team" she replied.
"Wrestling team! Any good?" asked Yoiko.
"My brother or the team?" responded Futana.
Yoiko blushed, "I'm not looking for anybody so cut it out. It's just that I've done some martial arts and anything like it interests me."
Futana's gay laughter echoed, "oh you'd like this team then. They even have a couple of girls on the team. In fact one of them is my brother's girlfriend Shima Misaki and the other girl has the same name as my brother, Shimeru Futaba. I think that one of the reasons they joined the team is so they could get out of gym class," she added.
Yoiko's head immediately swiveled toward her. "They get out of gym by being on the wrestling team?" At the other girl's confirming nod, she smiled and rose to her feet. "Meet the newest member of the wrestling team" she snickered as she walked over to tell the class sensei of her decision.
Futana had taken Yoiko to meet the wrestling team, as they met the same time as her regular gym class. Yoiko met Futana's brother and his girlfriend. She also met the rest of the team whom she immediately classified as jerks.
"So you think you can be a wrestler?" sneered the club president and team captain Motomura. In reply, Yoiko walked over to him before suddenly straight-arming him in the chest with an open palm. She walked over to where he was now sprawled, picked him up and proceeded to body-slam him into the hardwood floor a half dozen times.
She looked at the rest of the team with a smirk, "any other questions?"
- - - - About a week later at the Tendou's.
Akane stormed into Nabiki's room. "I can't believe that . . . that MAN." At Nabiki's slightly raised eyebrow, she continued. "Tofu, this is the third week in a row that he's been too busy to spend any time with me when I go to visit him. I'm getting so, so FRUSTRATED," she nearly screamed but held it down to bearable limits.
Akane turned to go, then paused and picked up something from Nabiki's desk. With quiet intensity, she turned to her sister. "I thought we came to an understanding about you spying on me?" she asked.
Puzzled, Nabiki turned to look at what Akane held in her hand. "Oh that, that's something that Ranma sent me. Is it important?"
Akane opened up the ice cream shop menu and glanced at the numbers written on the napkin within. Written in Ranma's scrawl she realized. "Oh shit!"
"What?" Nabiki was startled to say the least. She was used to Akane's mercurial moods but the swings were getting a little extreme since Ranma had left.
With trembling fingers, Akane handed the papers to Nabiki, "This is the date, time and place where Shampoo, Ukyou and I met almost a month ago to discuss dealing with Ranma. The same day that he disappeared. This means he overheard us and knows everything." She thought for a moment before adding, "We even talked about your plans for him that day" she exclaimed.
"WHAT!" screeched Nabiki; "Do you know how much you may have cost me?"
Akane rubbed her head, "that spying dishonest perverted jerk. I'm going to put him in the hospital when he shows up again." She paused a moment in thought, and jumped to another unsupported conclusion, a strangely accurate one for once. "I bet he even told Ryouga. That's why that pig's been gone for so long."
She walked over and picked up Nabiki's extension phone. "I guess I'd better call an emergency meeting of the 'Ranma Fiancées Club'. We've things to accomplish before Ranma tries to get his revenge by spoiling our plans."
She paused and her face blanched as another possible cause and effect thought connected. "I wonder if he talked to Tofu. That BASTARD! He must have, not only is Tofu's near the ice cream shop, but it's not too far from his folk's house too. It also explains why Tofu won't see me anymore."
"I hate him, I hate him, I HATE HIM!'" she screamed as she sank to her knees sobbing.
- - - - Over in Juuban district at Tofu's :
"Hey doc, how's it going?"
"Ranma? Is that really you? That is probably your best disguise ever," chuckled Tofu as he ran an appreciative eye over the denim clad neo-tomboy.
"Thanks doc. But call me Yoiko, Hibiki Yoiko would you please; just in case we get overheard." Yoiko asked.
"Yoiko?" repeated Tofu.
"Yeah, it was the name I used when I pretended to be Ryouga's sister that one time. Since Ryouga is letting me use his family name, I thought I'd use Yoiko as well." She paused and added; "besides I've used Ranko too often. If Nabiki heard it, she'd catch on in a heartbeat."
"I'm glad you stopped by" Tofu confided. "Your folks are back at their old home only about eight blocks away so I wanted to warn you of that change. Plus, I was just plain concerned about how you were doing."
He studied her healthy appearance and new wardrobe style. "Nabiki will never find you in that disguise and I must say you really look as if you are doing very well on your own."
"I'm doing fine doc. I wanted to give you my new address and phone, ah, could you put it in a folder under my new name though. Not that I believe Nabiki would ever look at your records, but I wouldn't put it past her either." She paused, "Doc, can we talk about Kasumi?"
"Ka, Kasumi," spaced out the good doctor.
A few moments later Yoiko sighed and remarked to herself as she watched the dancing doc. "this may take a little longer than I anticipated." She dodged him as he passed and then hit one of the few pressure points she knew and froze him in place momentarily.
When it passed, he was himself again. "Thanks Yoiko." He sighed, "it's hopeless, no matter how much I care for her, it won't work."
Yoiko thought about it for a few moments, "Well, we can at least try." She gestured for Tofu to follow her out the back door. "Doc, you remember that 'rising dragon ascension' chi technique Cologne taught me?" At his nod, she continued. "The key to the technique is the 'soul of ice' discipline that goes with it." She paused, "I'd like to teach it to you, maybe it will help you with your problem."
A few moments thought and then he nodded; class began.
That weekend Yoiko had planned to visit some of the local thrift stores and parse out her few furniture needs. Too bad she mentioned it to Futana as the other girl invited herself along. Not that Yoiko really minded, at least until Futana informed her that she'd arranged a blind date for Yoiko just before disappearing too fast for Yoiko to protest.
Yoiko wanted to just run, but she was shocked, frozen immobile long enough for the jerk to show up. She just knew he was a jerk; any guy that hit on her automatically fell in that classification. She started a slow burn at first but then got herself under control as she remembered that Futana was currently her only friend, and perhaps she needed to not kill the jerk to stay on her new friend's good side.
Her glare slowly subsided to a neutral expression as the guy walked up to her. At least she assumed it was him, he did have blond hair like Futana said.
"Hi, I'm Futana's friend, you must be Yoiko. I hope you don't think this is weird or something but Futana and I have the same name." He smiled disarmingly, a very practiced smile.
Yoiko grimaced at him, "nah, I don't think anything of it or you. Goodbye." With that she grabbed the few purchases that were not going to be delivered, leapt to the rooftops and effectively vanished.
Futana took a few moments to pick himself up off the sidewalk. "This is going to be a challenge" he chuckled in a whisper.
Yoiko was wakened the next morning to the sound of someone knocking on her door and calling "delivery for Hibiki Yoiko." Yoiko yawned and opened the door to both good news and bad news. The good news was that the few bits of furniture she'd bought had all arrived. The bad news was that Futana-kun accompanied them. The really bad news was the half dozen red roses he waved under Yoiko's nose.
Unfortunately, Yoiko immediately associated roses with Kuno, which reminded her of a certain dream involving said person the evening he had proclaimed his love for her. This dream had quickly attained nightmare status its first screening and each subsequent screaming thereafter.
Having stuffed the roses down Futana's throat and tossed the body in the nearest dumpster, Yoiko proceeded to move her furniture into her apartment, humming a merry tune all the while. Meanwhile, her landlord reconsidered his newly re-gained backbone and vowed to never even think of approaching her again.
It was Monday and Futana was there in class again. She spent much of her free time getting Yoiko caught up with her class work, once the two of them had gotten the preliminaries out of the way.
When Yoiko had first seen Futana, she'd immediately asked, "Where did the bruises come from? That bastard with your same name didn't work you over did he?" She'd asked this as she idly started popping her knuckles.
Futana chuckled, "you're half right. It was a love interest of mine but definitely not Futana." She grinned, "I'm really, really interested in this new person I met . . . but let's say my interest is not reciprocated just yet."
"Ah come on Futana, any guy that treats you like that isn't worth anything. Find someone better" pleaded Yoiko.
"Nope, not going to; I like a challenge, even if it hurts." She added with a slight whimper.
Yoiko paused, perplexed and worried about her friend. "Can't convince you?"
Futana studied the smaller girl and then nodded. "I'll really think about it, IF . . . you go out with my friend."
"Ah come on that ain't fair," snorted Yoiko.
"Tell me about it, my life hasn't had a whole lot of fairness in it since I was born" somberly replied Futana.
Futana watched as Yoiko showed the girl Futaba some martial arts moves that she could incorporate into her wrestling throws. Afterwards, the two of them sat and watched as the girl with the pale green hair tossed the other members of the wrestling team around.
"Futana, I like Futaba, both of them. They somehow make me think of a kid sister or brother. But I don't understand all this name confusion. You say she has the same name as your brother and this jerk that's been bugging me has the same name as you. How did that come to pass?" asked Yoiko.
"Coincidence I guess," she shrugged. "There are two Shimeru families in the area. Both named their eldest Futana and the second kid was named Futaba. Only difference was the gender of the kids. No big deal, I mean everybody is used to dealing with it around here."
So this jerk Futana-kun is Fubata's brother?" questioned Yoiko hesitantly as she pointed to the green-haired girl.
"Yeah" sighed Futana.
"You'll get away from who ever gave you those bruises if I just go on 'one' date with the jerk?" tentatively asked Yoiko.
"I promise I won't be bruised anymore if you go on a date and are nice to Futana," she swore.
"Alright; I don't like it. But you've been a friend and you've helped me a lot. I'll give the jerk a try." Yoiko paused in thought, 'gah, but she hated doing this. Of course she'd done it before, both to Kuno and Ryouga and for a lot less honorable cause.' "Well, ok, just once though. Have him call me Friday and we'll set something up for Saturday.
Futana's grin was ear to ear even though she tried to hide it. 'ALRIGHT' she thought.
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Author's note: Additional Ranma fan-fiction can be found on my Web Pages.
C & C to cloud (underscore) dreamer2000 (at) yahoo.com
Web-page - www.geocities.com (slash) cloud (underscore) dreamer2000
And - mysite.verizon.net (slash) cloud-dreamer/index.html
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