Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi is the sole creator of Ranma ½ and all character therein. But the plot is mine!
Next of Kin
2: The Name
He was standing at the alter. It was a western style wedding. His bride, Akane, was covered with a lace veil. He was nervous. This was it. He turned to the minister...Happosai?! That couldn't be right. Ranma looked again, but it was true.
"...Speak now or forever hold you peace."
Ranma turned and faced the crowd. There was his father and his mother, both looking proud. He could see Soun, Nabiki, and Kasumi Tendo. Shampoo and Ukyo were there as well. Ryoga even managed to make it on time, and with a date no less. But who was she? Ranma squinted his eyes. Short blue hair, a boyish attitude...she looked like Akane. But that couldn't be right, for Akane was here, next to him.
"...may now kiss the bride."
Ranma smiled, lifting the veil. His blushing bride...had long hair? Perplexed, Ranma threw the veil over the girl to reveal Happosai's niece?! Grinning like an idiot, her braces caught the light and shined into his face. Her thick glasses slid down her nose,
only to have her push them up again. Snorting, she made a kissy face.
"Kiss me RAN-ma! Hah hah hah snort "
Ranma woke with a start, panting hard. What a horrible nightmare. Ranma shook his head as if to clear the memory completely. Marrying an un-cute girl was one thing, but marrying ugly chick was a completely different story.
Ranma looked over at the sleeping panda that was his father. Today was the day that she was suppose to arrive. Ranma could still hear his father's voice yelling at him that there was no way that he could break the engagement with Akane. Rolling his eyes, he went back to sleep.
"Ranma come visit Shampoo?"
Ranma looked up from the ground to realize that he was standing in front of the Cat Café. He had been a daze ever since he had that dream earlier. The idea that he was destined to be related to Happosai was more than he could handle. Shampoo pounced on him and wrapped him in a big hug before noticing Akane fuming besides him. She gave Akane a smirk and squeezed the poor boy tighter. "Ranma leave un-cute girl for Shampoo. Romantic. We go on date now?"
Akane crossed her arms. "Ranma, we need to get to the store. So stop feeling up Shampoo in public and let's GO."
Ranma, who was trying to pry off Shampoo, look at Akane and scowled. "I am NOT feeling up Shampoo. Are you blind?! She grabbed onto me!"
"Oh sure."
"Ranma love Shampoo. You leave now." Shampoo stuck out her tongue. Akane twitched. Ranma looked from one girl to the next, before a sly grin graced his lips. "What's wrong Akane? Jealous?"
Akane looked at Ranma and growled. Grabbing a glass of water from the café, she poured it over the couple. Ranma blinked, standing in wet clothes. Akane glared. "I'm going to the store. You two LOVEBIRDS can stay and play all you want."
Ranma watched Akane storm off in confusion. Rolling her eyes, Ranma sighed.
"Meow."
Ranma's eyes popped and slowly turned her head to see kitty Shampoo attached to her shoulder.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Crying, Ranma broke out into a sprint, flailing her arms. Shampoo dug her nails tighter into Ranma's shoulder, mewing for dear life. As she ran down the street, people stopped to stare.
"Help me, help me help me!" screamed Ranma, before crashing into someone. Falling over, she lay on the ground in a daze. Shampoo, who had the sense to let go and land gracefully on her feet, stood over the poor girl and began to lick Ranma's face.
"Why, if it isn't the pig-tailed girl!"
Ranma groaned as she recognized the owner's voice. Kuno. Great.
"Mew."
Kuno grinned as he found his love in his arms. Never mind that she was foaming at the mouth and trembling like a leaf. "I knew you cared for me! Now let's go on a date."
Ranma pushed herself away only to find that he wouldn't let her go. "Let go of me you big oaf!"
"Is this man bothering you?"
Ranma turned her head to find a most peculiar sight. A man, wearing what looked like a kimono underneath armor stood tall in his 6'1" frame. Ranma's eyes widened at the sight of a sword tucked into his belt. His hair, a blue-green, was long and pulled back into a ponytail. Shampoo was nowhere in sight. Ranma opened her mouth, but Kuno beat her to the punch.
"Fiend, why are you talking to my pig-tailed goddess?" Kuno glared at the stranger, pulling out his katana and pointing it at the tall male. The man merely glanced at the weapon with a raised brow. "Careful young man, for someday that attitude will get you in trouble."
"I, Tatewaki Kuno, will cut down your insolence." Ranma rolled her eyes and started to push away from him.
"What's going on here?" Ranma, Kuno, and the stranger turned to see Akane standing there with groceries, looking confused. "Ranma, do you know this person?"
The said man glanced at Akane. She said that the redheaded girl was Ranma. Interesting.
"Akane!" Kuno forgot all sense of battle as he looked at the girl. Akane sweatdropped and waved weakly. Ranma took advantage of Kuno's distracted state to escape from his grasp. The stranger nodded towards Ranma and took his leave, as mysteriously as he came. Akane and Ranma watched his retreating form.
"Ranma, who was that?"
"No idea," replied Ranma, before knocking the ogling Kuno unconscious. Akane shrugged and started walking home, with Ranma trailing behind her.
"...Akane?"
"Yeah?"
"Want me to carry a few bags? They look heavy..."
"..." Akane blushed, holding out the heaviest bags. Ranma took them, staring at her face. "What's wrong with your face?"
Akane's mood immediately changed, as she hit Ranma with a bag. "Ow!"
"Idiot..." mumbled Akane.
Happosai paced back and forth, upset. Where was she? It was nighttime, and he was tired of waiting outside on the deck to great her. Happosai took another look at the picture of her. This niece of his; this ugly, retched, backwater girl. Had he really promised to train her? It was hard to recall everything he had done in his lifetime. Was she strong? Could she fight? Or would she bring shame to him, and his dojo?
"Would Happosai like some tea?" said Kasumi, holding a cup. She was dressed for bed, he noticed.
Happosai nodded, accepting the small gift from the girl. True, he would rather it had been sake, and Kasumi a girl a bit more loose. "Don't worry, I'm sure she just got caught up in traveling. I'm sure she's safe."
Happosai sat and drank his tea. Kasumi nodded, and took her leave. Now everything was quiet again. Leaning back against the wall, Happosai cradled his tea and pondered Kasumi's words of comfort...
"Uncle ...Happosai?" Happosai could hear a voice floating through the air. It was soft. Pleasant...
"Happosai!" The man awoke with a start. Had he been sleeping? Happosai rubbed his bleary eyes and looked up. A shadow of a woman. Could it be...
"...Anko?"
Author's Note: Second chapter, YAY! Sorry it's still pretty short. Anyway, I hope you all review with comments or suggestions. They'd be really appreciated. This is the first fic I've posted so be kind!
TopQuark – Can do! I hope you find this chapter as interesting as the last!
AozoraMika – Thank you so much! I think you'll enjoy what happens in Ranma's love life. Don't we all?
Hououza – You're right! Tee-hee. Did you expect the reactions as they were?
Cloud – Awh, thanks! Don't worry, the main category is humor, and I won't reveal my secret romance category just yet.
Taka – Why, thank you. I plan to get out as much as this untold tale as possible. I hope I don't get flames but- it can't be helped. At least I can refer to your wonderful review as comfort! Thanks for the Character comment. I had to read a lot of Ranma ½, let me tell you...
Queen of the Paperclips – I shall try my best!
Vipercobra – Thanks, hope you enjoyed chapter two!