Weapon X Japan 07
Standard Disclaimer... I don't own Ranma 1/2, Marvel, Rifts, TSR or any other works of fantasy/fiction or published works that appear in this fanfiction. I do this for no profit and only for the enjoyment of writing and sharing these stories with other fans.
( ) Thoughts
# # Telepathy
( ) Chinese due to those ever loved Amazons
Machine Language no not binary, machine people, it explains in the fic
#( )# Demongogian
/" "/ Recorded or replayed conversation.
Authors description/explanation/notes I like to ramble sometimes
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Author's Pre-amble
Well here is another installment of Weapon X Japan. Or should it be More Original Characters than you can shake a stick at? Several of the non-Ranma characters in this fic are OC's. Though they are OC's they are not the God-awful Powerhouses that are found in many of the other Fanfictions out there. I challenge my readers to figure out which Non-Ranmaverse characters are Original, and which are either Cameo's or Crossover Characters. (Here's a guess, there are currently more than 4 OC's.)
Also I've been challenged to make a Ranma / Cologne hookup. Actually that's already been done. It was also written in the way that I would do it. If you wish to read the fic (and bug Felix to finish it) it's on , title: Cologne for Teens by Felix Webster.
Another challenge that has been posted was a Ranma / Kasumi / Akane. Sorry folks not this fic. Though a different one that I was not going to Crossover with any others will have that match up. It'll be called Namban Disaster, expect the first few chapters to be posted sometime this summer (Provided that I don't get to busy in life) However my first fanfic goal is Weapon X Japan, and until I either get up to around 100,000 words or chapter 20. I'm not going to put to much effort into my other fanfictions.
I am also looking for a board to post this fiction that will allow me to post pictures as well (for free is my choice) once I get that I'll be including a link to it in every chapter. After all I'd love for people to see the pictures that have inspired my writing, especially since many of them are very well done, and may inspire other authors to write some more as well.
Well, on with the fic.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ranma-chan was sitting on her rear where she landed in the park. Around her was the falling dust and debris that had been kicked up when she plowed into the ground from what felt like a high altitude. As she got up off of the ground Ranma-chan phased to allow the dirt and grime to fall through her body rather than dust it off. Regaining her solidity the red haired girl turned to look at the tree that she had been rebounded off a few seconds earlier.
"Good Job Ranma. You're getting better at using your powers." Came Happosai's voice from behind her. "Next time though, don't allow the water to touch you when you phase through a fire hydrant." The old master said as he threw something at the girl.
Ranma-chan absent-mindedly caught the container and opened it up to spill the hot water over her form so that she could regain her male form. Once the change was complete Ranma stood there and turned to face the grand master of Anything Goes martial arts. "Master Happosai, why haven't I been training as a girl as much as training as a boy?"
Happosai walked over to a large rock nearby and sat down before answering. "Because you are much slower as a boy Ranma. You need to retrain yourself in speed before you can train in power. If you've noticed when you train in a weak area in a form that the effects carry almost exponentially to your other form?"
"Well, yah I have noticed." He answered looking a little confused. "But these speed exercises you are having me do would be easier in my female form"
"Ranma my boy, don't ever take the easy path. That's what my previous two students always took. And after a while it was much easier to be the master that they expected to keep them in line, rather than the master that I should have been. Don't waste your youth like your father did. You have too much talent." As he said this Happosai lit up his ever-present pipe. "Besides, I can't wait to see the face on your father when he finds out how good you really can be."
"Ok master Happosai, what's next then?" Ranma asked Happosai, serious but a bit confused.
"Next, you need to run. Fast as you can, and don't use your phase powers to go through buildings this time. I'll meet you at your house." Happosai vanished in a blur of motion that left Ranma standing in the clearing in the park.
"But home is on the other side of Tokyo..." Ranma muttered quietly. "Oh well, time to retrain some reflexes I guess." With that Ranma nearly blurred from sight as well.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The house was quite at this time of day. Nobody really coming or going, the chores done, the fathers quietly playing a game of Shogi on the porch, the sun gently bathed the house in a soft golden hue.
Yet Kasumi was far from serene. Inside she fumed about the injustice of it all. Ranma was gone, their trouble should have been over. Genma should have left after his son had disappeared. Especially since in all appearance Ranma had disappeared by his own choice.
And yet her father played his never ending game with Genma. Nabiki was still neck deep in her schemes, as she followed one nefarious mercenary plan to another. Akane still complained about Ranma, always muttering something about how she'll show him who's the best. Muttering about how she had figured out how the idiot had cheated all the time.
Kasumi just wished that things would become calm again. Calm like they were before the year started. Before the idiot named Kuno had made his initial proclamation that caused Akane's life to spiral downwards so fast that she hadn't been prepared for a boy like Ranma. Yet things weren't calm. Ranma's friends, the Amazons, had been making a lot of trouble for her family recently. Akane had barely survived her latest encounter with Shampoo, she still had a small wound on her upper arm because of it. The only good to come of her endangerment was that Father had decided to release the seal on an ancient training Dogi for Akane to wear at all times.
Also for some reason her father had set up a meeting between her and some complete stranger. Worse yet, the man had all but demanded of her father that she was to be either a servant or concubine. Kasumi didn't know what to do, the meeting was scheduled for tonight. Nearly a week had passed and they hadn't heard a thing from the strange man. Her father passed it off as the man had forgotten. But Kasumi knew that she wasn't that lucky. Ever since her mother had died she had never been lucky. Forced to be the mother figure for the family she was never able to date in high school. Not having any free time as a teenager because her worthless father refused to do any work. Making end's meet with the meager amount of money in the family trust fund.
"Kasumi dear, could you fetch us some iced tea?" Came Soun's voice from the porch. Kasumi got up from where she sat in the dining room so do as she was told. However her thoughts were vastly different than the vapid expression that was plastered on her face. (One day I'll be free of you father, one day and I'll be rid of your stupid promises and your stupid friends.)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nodoka was raking out the sands of her rock garden when something alighted on the rock directly in front of her. The middle-aged woman nearly jumped out of her skin as the blur resolved itself to be the diminutive master of Anything Goes. "Happosai, so help me, I'll skewer you with my sword next time you do that."
The old man looked up at her, his eyes shimmered with innocence and mild hurt almost as if he were a puppy that just got kicked. "You wouldn't want to do in an old man would you?" He whined.
Nodoka snorted in mild derision as she answered. "Yes I would, if you insist on startling me." Her expression changed to a more introspective and curious one. "How has training my son been going?"
"Well, he takes to the art as a fish would to water. Much better than his father did I might add." Happosai jumped off the rock in the rock garden to the path 10 feet distant. "If only Genma hadn't locked me up in that blasted cave. I would've liked to be involved in his early training." Happosai waived as if in the direction of Ranma. "Perhaps then none of this would have happened."
"But you can't change what my foolish husband has done."
"No."
"Then what will you do now? So much time has been lost because of my husband's pig-headedness. At least I can now watch over my son." Nodoka said in a hopeful voice.
"Actually I'm glad you asked about what I'll do now." Happosai said looking strait at Nodoka. She looked at him curiously in response. "I've been teaching Ranma for a week now. I think that he is skilled enough to go back to school and to start to deal with his past."
"After only a week?" The woman asked with some disbelief evident in her voice.
"Yes, only a week." Happosai answered. "He has retained a lot of muscle memory. I think that he'll be able to defend himself well enough between his martial arts skill and his new powers."
"But what will we do about school? Thanks to the hospital and the JSDF officer Ranma is currently listed as a girl. Every time that he's come by to investigate my husband I've had to have Ranma in his girl form. I'm glad to be able to spend time with my son as well as my daughter now. But shouldn't Ranma have the choice of what gender he'll be in when going through his daily life." A concerned Nodoka said.
Happosai sat on the rock for a minute in contemplation. Just as Nodoka was about to speak he held up one hand to forestall her. "I think it would be best for Ranma to return to Furinken high school as a girl." Happosai held up his hand with only one finger up, he tapped that finger with his pipe held in his other hand. "First, no one at the school really knows about his curse. And his curse is much easier to hide in girl form than guy form." He held up another finger and tapped it with his pipe. "Second, though most of Ranma's suitors know of his curse, most of them treat him better in his girl form." Happosai held up a third finger and tapped that one with his pipe as well. "Third, it will be good training for Ranma, especially if he ever regains his memory. Before his amnesia he was a self centered snot nosed punk, thought too highly of himself; and was far beyond over-confident. He is a better person now. More prone to thinking something through, and better able to deal with life away from martial arts." Happosai held up a fourth finger and tapped it with his pipe. "And fourth, Ranma will probably always have his curse. I don't think that the cures for a Jusenkyo curse will work on him now. So he'll just have to accept it and learn how to live as both a boy and a girl. We can work with him as a boy at home, and allow him to make friends and socialize as a girl at school." Happosai closed his hand and put it down into his lap as he sat and continued to talk to Nodoka. "He will need balance in his life, especially since he will no longer have his fathers teachings to support that ego of his. I'll watch over him at school, and continue his training. You need to be there to support Ranma at home." Happosai finished and then looked just past Nodoka. "Speak of the devil and he will appear." The old man took a quick breath and hollered out. "RANMA! Back yard! And I told you to stay in your male form!"
Ranma-chan came around the corner, her red Chinese shirt was dry but her black silk pants were soaking wet. She twiddled her fingers together a little bit as she answered in an embarrassed voice. "Would you believe that I went through a water truck?"
"Doesn't matter. You should be able to phase through the water like you phase through any solid object." Happosai countered.
"But my curse still activates, and when it activates I loose my concentration." She replied looking over at the aged martial artist with a bit of defiance in her eyes.
"Then you need better concentration. Meditation practice tonight. Go sit in the glade, I'll be with you shortly." Happosai turned to Nodoka, while Ranma-chan groaned as she turned around and left the rock garden. "Nodoka, do you have two hoses and some moving or rotating sprinkler heads?"
Nodoka looked at Happosai with a questioning expression. "I need them to activate Ranma's curse while he meditates. One is for hot water the other for cold. It should help him overcome his inability to phase through water."
"Yes I have what you need. Mind if I watch?"
"By all means." Happosai answered with a mischievous grin on his face.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ranma entered the house with a grumpy expression and a bright red flush on his face. He was completely soaked with water, much of it dripping onto the floor where he stood. Behind him his mother entered the house and walked around him, an amused smirk plastered on her face. Happosai entered right behind her with a sever fit of the giggles.
"You two don't have to laugh so much." Ranma grumped as he folded his arms over his chest.
Nodoka answered, laughter threatening to break out. "But you're just so cute like that."
"It's not my fault that my clothes would do that." Ranma grumped again.
Happosai did his best to talk while nearly bowled over with laughter. "You need to concentrate better." He laughed a bit and recomposed himself before continuing. "You were changing forms so quickly that you only concentrated on the water. Forgetting your clothes." As Ranma blushed again, this time unable to meet anyone's eyes, Happosai burst out into a fresh bout of laughter.
Nodoka laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You'll figure it out eventually. At least we now know that your girl form is a natural red head." She added as her smirk almost turned into another fit of giggles.
Ranma, on the other hand, turned a fire engine red and disappeared in a blur that flickered up the stairs. Nodoka was left there blinking and holding her son's red shirt in her hand. She looked down at his pants that were on the floor lying below his shirt, and then over to meet the gaze of the old martial arts master as they both broke out in fresh peals of laughter.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The home was quiet as Akane lounged in the living room, she sullenly stared at the TV as she watched a program that was very boring to her. She raised her arm, palm pointed towards the television and flexed her arm slightly. A thin silvery line shot out from her palm and tapped the power button on the TV. As the screen flickered off Akane grinned to herself watching the line disappear back into her palm. Akane pointed her arm towards the kitchen and flicked the line out again though this time she twisted her arm quickly and the silvery line did a 90-degree turn as it shot towards the table in the dining room. Akane twisted her arm back and forth in rapid succession and then flinched her forearm in a different manner. The thin cord retracted into her arm in a blink and a mangled loaf of bread dropped into her lap. She frowned at the loaf, which was pinched in the middle and had plastic sticking into it as if someone had attempted to cut into it with a dull knife.
"You just need more practice." Came Ryoga's voice from behind her.
Startled Akane jumped back, with a quick flip in the air she brought her arms up and flicked both her palms at Ryoga. The silvery shimmering line shot at Ryoga while he brought his arms up to block. The second they touched an arc of electricity covered the distance between her and the boy, instantly burning the sleeves of his coat away and scorching the air into a nice fresh ozone scent. Before the girl could retract her cords Ryoga's metallic arms reformed themselves into broad shields in front of him and both folded downward, each one enclosing on a cord. "Don't be so jumpy Akane. Save your aggression for Ranma."
Akane looked mildly abashed as she lowered her arms. "Sorry, I'm still getting used to this power, as well as this Dogi." She said motioning her head towards her arms that were encased an almost Chinese designed outfit. It had a leotard like body, a metal belt with a kanji symbol on the buckle, long sleeves and slacks that fitted to her form, black and white trim as well as other fine cloth that made up the rest of the material.
"Then let's practice. School starts tomorrow, and I'd like to join you. But you need to control yourself so that you can focus on the Amazons and Ranma." Ryoga said to placate her while he thought to himself. (With both of us enhanced, Ranma won't stand a chance. I'll finally be able to have my revenge.) He looked over at Akane's backside in admiration as she walked towards the dojo (My revenge and his girl. Life is sweet.)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Genma stepped around the corner of the living room at the Tendo house just seconds after Ryoga and Akane left. He tapped his finger to his chin in contemplation for a second before he turned to leave the way he entered.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cologne wasn't sure that this was the best way to do things. But who was she to question the elders. Especially when they asked the Powers that be for guidance. She took out the artifact that arrived with their answer. "XIAN PU!" she cried out.
"Yes great grandmother?" Came the bubbly reply from below.
"Come here Xian Pu." Cologne called down to Shampoo as she hopped around the room preparing the ceremonial ritual.
"I'm here great grandmother. What you need?" She asked with a vacant expression.
(Chinese for now Xian Pu. Use Chinese.) Cologne said.
(Thank you honored Elder. I still cannot understand everything even I say in that tongue.) Shampoo said in relief.
(No one can understand you in that tongue Xian Pu. They underestimate you when you talk, it was once an advantage. Now it is a hindrance.) Cologne stated as she drew a line on the floor with her finger. Finished with her tracery the Amazon Elder stood up and chanted in an arcane language.
#(Spirits of the Ancients, Laying undisturbed for centuries unknown)# Cologne lowered her hands down to her waist area, palms pointed downward.
#(Powers that Be, called in times of trouble)# She raised her hands from where they were in an arc, palms facing outward until her palms were facing up above her head.
#(Heed my Voice, Heed my Call, And Heed My Spirit)# Cologne then slammed her arms and palms downward, to hit something in mid air above the outermost line that she had been tracing in the floor.
#(Brace this space for ritual, Encase this space for trial, Remake this space for rite.)# A blue shimmer flew from her hands to the construct that was forming beneath her. The lines flowed out from her palms, coalescing into being to form a wide circle filled with runes on the floor, Shampoo in the center of them where she stood. As soon as the blue energy tracery connected on the other side of the circle Cologne stepped back.
#(Eternal Watchers heed my call and release your power upon my heir)# The knee-high wall of energy sprang up to head height before closing in a dome over Shampoos head. Shampoo herself had a blank vacant expression on her face, and a light blue color swirled behind her eyes. A small clatter and a low squawk sounded from somewhere behind Cologne. The old Matriarch paid it no heed as she continued chanting.
#(Coalesce upon this girl the energies from beyond, and fill her with your very essence)# The Amazon matriarch paused in her chant as she backed up. The energy started to spin in a counterclockwise direction while Cologne continued to retreat from the circle. Shampoo became less and less visible as the energy spun to become less translucent to an opaque consistency.
#(PERVADE, INSTILL, IMBUE!!!)# Cologne shouted, as the energy seemed to reach critical mass. The echo of her last shout still moved like a living thing as the energy appeared to shatter reality. Mere moments or eternity after the last voice and energy reverberation cleared the room Cologne collapsed into a heap where she stood. Several old artifacts in the room shattered in sequence. An old trunk imploded in upon itself before a jade figuring next to Cologne ran like wax into the floor. The old woman watched as many prized artifacts that she had set out before the ritual became nothingness then stated. "Now I wait, and hope it was worth it."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mouse wasn't sure what to do. After witnessing what had happened to Shampoo he fled from the Amazons. He hid in the park in his cursed form among the ducks as he thought back on what had happened before.
Several weeks ago he had returned to the Nekohauten after mortally wounding Ranma. Mouse had thought that after Ranma disappeared from Nerima that Shampoo might at least notice him, he knew that he may never get her to love him, but he hoped to at least get something more than complete scorn.
However, once Cologne discovered Ranma's disappearance as well as Mouse's inability to talk about it she forbade Mouse from returning home. Stuck at the Nekohauten as Shampoo and Cologne became more and more desperate to find Ranma, Mouse had taken to hiding from them for extended periods of time. He thought to himself about the time when he knew it was truly going south. Shampoo had gone after Akane shortly after Ryoga had turned up bragging about defeating Ranma. Akane had accused Shampoo of sleeping with the pig tailed martial artist and Shampoo nearly lost it. She had attacked Akane mercilessly using killing blows for the first time since coming to Nerima. If Akane hadn't somehow managed to stun Shampoo she would have been killed. Afterwards Ryoga had shown up and retreated with Akane towards the Tendo Dojo. Mouse had taken the senseless Amazon to the Nekohauten for Elder Cologne to attend, after that Cologne had disappeared into her inner room for 2 days. At the end of the second day she had summoned Shampoo and trapped her in a blue hued energy well.
Once he saw the fate that Shampoo had encountered Mouse decided that being an outcast was better than the eternal imprisonment that his fellow Amazon had gone to endure. As he ran through the streets he didn't notice the puddle before he tripped in it. Instantly turned into a duck, Mouse quacked mournfully before someone picked him up. He turned his neck to face his adversary and saw the nozzle of some form of aerosol can.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ranma awoke to a small beeping noise next to his bed. After a couple of minutes he reaches over and shuts it off. After he yawned a bit he went into the furo and cleaned up.
While Ranma was completing his morning routine Nodoka was downstairs cooking breakfast. As she hummed a tune from a TV show she once heard her son came down the stairs and stopped in the kitchen doorway.
"Good Morning Ranma" Nodoka said as she waived towards the kitchen table. "Why don't you sit down and I'll have breakfast ready in a minute."
"Thanks Mom." He said while he sat.
After a couple of minutes Nodoka placed some rice, miso soup, and fried fish in front of her son. "Ranma, are you ready for your first day back at school?" She asked.
Her son looked at her then got up and went to the sink. He splashed himself with cold water quickly and then went to sit back down. "Guess I'll be ready as soon as I get dressed. Not sure I can get used to this though."
Nodoka placed her hand on her son turned daughter's hand and replied. "It should be alright. At least we didn't have any problems with the school administrative board. Though I don't understand what they meant about it being easier now that the principals gone."
Ranma-chan just shrugged and ate her breakfast. After finishing she got up to go and change. She came back down dressed in a Furinken uniform and Nodoka had to suppress a laugh seeing her neo-daughter standing there. "What?" Ranma-chan said after seeing the smirk on her mothers face.
"Ranma, what have I told you about your underwear." Nodoka said trying to keep herself from laughing.
The neo girl blushed at her mothers comment and vanished back up the stairs in a swirl of skirts and crimson hair.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So let me get this strait. You'll offer a duck up for experimentation to get a... now how did you say it? 'Power Up'?" The scientist Gerald Talin asked sardonically. "And what would I need with a 'Duck'?" He continued laying on the sleaze and slime into his last sentence.
Genma sweated a bit under the scientist gaze, then firmed up his backbone a bit and glared back across the table at the man. "He's not just a 'Duck', Gerald. He's Jusenkyo Cursed like me. And I've worked for you in the past." He shot back.
"Yes, you did get us that remarkable plans for building an augmented human. But why do you think that I'd want something so... Mundane... as a Jusenkyo cursed boy?" the seedy man asked as a gleam passed over his glasses.
Genma Saotome thought for a minute and decided to continue. "Because, with both him and myself enhanced we'll be able to capture my worthless son. Then I'll be able to continue what I started with him, while you are able to continue your experiments. So what do you say?" The martial artist said while leaning forward.
"Very well, but I will take the lad one way or another." Dr. Tarant stated as he leaned back in his seat.
"Fine take the duck. But what will you be doing to me?"
Dr. Gerald Tarant just grinned and looked at Genma like he was a slab of meat.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ranma-chan entered the school lot without a lot of fanfare. Actually no one really noticed her. She went up to the administrative offices and talked to the secretary. After she handed the note to the school secretary the older woman sat back at her computer and started to type for a couple of minutes. Once she finished she looked at Ranma-chan who was still standing in front of her desk. "Ranma Saotome?" She said as she looked up from her computer.
"Yes Ma'am?" Ranma-chan replied.
"Hmm... Funny," The secretary said while looking at her computer monitor again. "Any relation to a Male Ranma Saotome?" She asked.
"Not really, I'm the only Ranma Saotome I know." Ranma-chan answered, not really happy about skirting the edge of truth that she and her mother had decided upon incase a question like this came up.
"Never mind then. Here's your homeroom and study schedule. A set of textbooks are over there. Please sign for them here." The secretary said pointing first to some books at the side of the room, and next to a form in front of her. "Have a good time Miss Saotome. And welcome to Furinken High."
Ranma-chan gathered up the textbooks after signing the form and hurried to her class. Entering the classroom sedately she walked to the teacher and handed him a slip from the school secretary. The teacher interrupted his lesson to read her message and then turned to the class. "Sorry to interrupt you, but I have a transfer student here that just started today." He turned to Ranma-chan and continued. "Please introduce yourself."
Ranma-chan bowed to the class "I'm Ranma Saotome, sorry to interrupt your class." She said being careful to use the feminine speech patterns her mother had been drilling into her.
On the other side of the classroom Ukyo was sitting in her boy's school uniform and trying to figure out what had happened to her fiancé Ranma when one of the guys turned and poked her in the side. "Psst... Hey Ukyo. You know her?" The boy whispered into the cross dressers ear.
The Okonomiaki chef quickly shook her head and looked at the young red haired girl trying to place the youth with what she knew of her Ranma. She quieted down before the teacher could notice her talking with some of the guys next to her. Determined to find out what has happened to Ranma Ukyo decides to corner the boy turned girl at lunch.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As soon as the Lunch bell rang Ranma-chan jumped up and ran out of the classroom. She quickly ran to the restroom and jumped strait up phasing through the ceiling. Once up on the roof she sat down and ate her lunch in solitude.
Meanwhile down in the schoolyard Ukyo was looking for the wayward pig tailed girl. (Funny, I could have sworn that Ranchan would be down here during lunch) she thought as she went to the tree that Ranma would usually sit under during lunch. (Akane's gone today, Ranchan's in girl form and seems to be registered as a girl) She continued in her line of thought while looking around for her fiancée. (Something's defiantly going on.)
So lost in thought and search for her as she sought out her wayward fiancée the chef missed someone calling her name till a girl stepped directly in front of her and waived her hand in Ukyo's face. "Ukyo..." She said while looking directly into the chef's eyes.
Ukyo, meanwhile, backpedaled in startlement as a person seemingly appeared out of nowhere in front of her. "Wha.." She said, so befuddled for a second that the other girl was able to take advantage of her silence to ask a question. "Do you know that Ranma? She looks something like the other Ranma Saotome. Are they cousins?" The girl blurted out quickly.
Ukyo thought for a second and then answered. "I don't know. I would like to find that out myself." While she added in thought to herself (And I wonder why he's at school in girl form too.)
Ukyo continued to look for Ranma-chan till near the end of lunch. As she had no luck the girl quickly went back to her class to eat her lunch before the next bell rang.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nodoka picked up the phone at her house after a few rings. "Yes, can I help you?" She answered into the receiver.
"...."
"Yes, this is Nodoka." She answered to the question on the other line.
"...."
"That would be fine. After school would be great Nabiki. Where would you like to meet?"
"...."
Nodoka nodded to herself after hearing what the other person had to say. "That would be great. I'll see you then." She hung up the phone then turned to ask Happosai something but stopped seeing him bound out the door dressed in an odd outfit of dark purple with a hankercheif over his head and face carrying a empty sack over his shoulder. "That was weird." She said to herself as she closed the front door following the diminutive old master outside.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ranma-chan was sitting in the locker room at the end of gym class. All had gone well so far for the amnesiac girl, the school day was coming to an end, her curse hadn't been activated, and no one had really bothered her. Maybe things would turn out for the best.
While Ranma-chan was changing there was an altercation happening at the entrance to the girls locker room. One of the boys in Ranma-chans class was having an argument with one of the girls in the same class.
After some heated words between the two of them she slapped him, which knocked him into the door right as a fully dressed Ranma-chan exited. The boy cursed, something about un-cute tomboys, as he quickly got out of the locker room before some other girl could hit him. All the other girls in the area just snickered and went about their business, however a cord had been struck in Ranma-chans memory. Flashes of other times that she had heard or uttered that same phrase. As well as memories of being the recipient of a slap similar to what that hapless guy had received.
After a bit, a slightly dazed and thoughtful Ranma-chan made her way back home. Unaware that her stride had changed from the feminine posture that her mother had been drilling into her into the gait that she used to use as a guy over a month ago.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
She was lost in thought on her way home. The girl turned a corner still thinking on what had happened after gym this afternoon, (un-cute? Why would he say that?) She thought while she turned down another street. (even so, why did she hit him?) So lost in thought was the crimson haired girl that she missed that she had picked up a person following her discretely behind. (I mean, he didn't do anything wrong, except insult her a bit.) Her pursuer continued to close on the distracted girl. (Oh well. Guess that there's nothing I can do.) As she thought that last thought she came back to her senses and looked around her. The first thing that she noticed was that the street was vacant. And someone was running up directly behind her.
"Wha..?!" She exclaimed as the guy brought up both his hands and pointed his fingers at her. Not quite sure what was happening Ranma-chan watched as the fingers turned slightly silvery and seemed to elongate towards her. The boy got to within 5 feet of her and then his silver fingers elongated further and spiked towards the unwary girl. At the last instant Ranma-chan ducked down and to the side flinging her book bag towards the wall she was next to. She thought that she was free and clear untill the silver streaks above her slashed downward and sliced into her clothes and through her. Feeling a little bit of pain along her skin where the metal passed and a bit of breeze as the right side of her uniform came clear of her shoulder Ranma-chan decided to retreat for now. As soon as she made her decision she turned slightly translucent and phased into the ground below her.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ryoga transversed the streets of Nerima as he tryed to find his long time rival. Not sure where the pig-tailed youth had disappeared to he fell back on one of his oldest and best truisms on how to find Ranma: Wander around blaming the youth for all of his problems untill he caught up with the student of Anything Goes Martial Arts.
After most of the day wandering around he finally found his rival, but noticed something amiss. Ranma was in girl form and wearing a girl's uniform. Confused about his enemy Ryoga decided to follow her to determine if Ranma was getting ready to lay a trap for him, or perhaps to try to trick him like she had done many times before. After a few turns in the street following Ranma-chan from a distance Ryoga decided just to take her out and worry about what might be happening later. However now that he was sure that he was superior to her he decided to just end it now.
Ryoga lifted his arms and concentrated to bring out the liquid metal that now composed his limbs and blood. As he willed his power to come forth Ranma-chan turned around and spotted him. He thought his chance lost for a quick death so Ryoga shot his fingers forward. Elongating the silvery metal like digits untill they would pierce her heart. Before they could reach her though she dropped down to the ground flinging her bag to the side. Immediately Ryoga brought his fingers down, turning the downward side to a blade as they went. He felt them bite into Ranma-chans clothing, and even saw them cut through her. But somehow she survived even as she started to shimmer and become translucent, almost like a ghost. She narrowed her eyes as she sank into the earth right in front of him.
Disbelief flowed through the vengeful martial artist as his nemesis disappeared into the ground. Growling in rage Ryoga stormed over to where she had sunk. Instead of withdrawing his fingers back into their normal shape, he turned them into a rough spade shovelhead and started to bash into the street. After a minute or two though he had to give up and accept defeat. As quickly as he was digging it was nowhere near as quick as his foe had sunk into the earth. Since Ranma could be anywhere by now Ryoga decided to just leave and try to catch her some other time.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lt. Kojira sat in his unmarked utility van near the Tendo residence in Nerima. He had just arrived to set up his surveillance equipment to try to observe Genma Saotome either entering or leaving the area. Kojira walked to the back of his van where an advanced computer set up lined one side, and a frame holding several parts that appeared to be armor or attachments of some sort. After he set up the systems and passive visual and audio sensors the JSDF Lt. got up and left the van out the back. He turned around and shut the door, then slid up his left sleeve and looked down at a small computer screen on a forearm bracer. Seeing that the display showed the Tendo household on one side and different characters and touch sensitive buttons on the other, Kojira pulled down the sleeve to conceal the console again and went down the street.
After not even two blocks a small beep beep sounded from his left arm. The JSDF officer stopped and stepped to the wall while he pulled his sleeve up on his jacket again to look at his display. Several characters were flashing on the left side of it while the right side showed everything as normal. He briefly touched several of the buttons in rapid succession and the scene switched to the interior of his van. Nothing seemed remiss until he observed that the back was open. After several other keys were tapped the scene switched from normal view to something akin to heat or infravision. In the center of the van sat the slightly plump form of a middle-aged man sporting a malevolent grin.
"Breaker take me for a fool!!" The JSDF Officer cursed as he turned and ran back to the van. On his way back he turned a dial on his belt and pulled out a large bore matte black gun out of his jacket holster and carried it in his right hand. He ran around the corner with his gun held to the ready, still cursing himself under his breath. He saw that there wasn't anything out of place at first other than the back of the van was slightly open. Once he was beside the vehicle he quickly turned his vision to the screen on his forearm.
No one was in the vehicle when he looked on it.
Before Kojira could look anywhere a voice boomed from behind him. "Thought to take me by surprise?" Instead of turning around, Kojira dove forward and came to a kneeling position after a rolling somersault on the ground. Before he could train his gun on Genma's position something hit his right shoulder in a corona of energy that washed about one inch over his form. He gasped to himself as he jumped strait up into the air when another wave of force came crashing through where he had been kneeling not a minute earlier. In mid arch through the air Kojira pulled the trigger on his gun and a pulse of searing plasma tore out of the gun barrel shooting forward much faster than a bullet towards where Genma had been standing.
Genma was taken by surprise by the speed of the plasma bolt and took it in the gut, grunting out in pain as the plasma burnt his chest. Kojira landed from his jump and then walked over to where Genma was slumped down with a hand over the burn wound.
Lt. Kojira loomed over the fallen martial artist for a minute before saying. "Genma Saotome, for your many crimes you shall pay. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Genma looked up at the smug officer and grinned again. "Think you're so smug. Pretty pleased?" Then he coughed up a small bit of blood. "Don't think you've won yet." He finished with a snarl. As Kojira tried to figure out what Genma had said the middle-aged martial artist's skin started to quake and tremble.Having decided not to wait for what ever Genma was going to turn into Lt. Kojira turned and slapped a device on his belt. In response a panel on the roof of his van shot off in a small explosion and a silver cylinder shot up into the air and moved in a low ballistic course to the north. As soon as the cylinder shot off Kojira ran towards the direction that it shot too.
The JSDF Officer gasped for breath as soon as he caught up with his package and opened up the side of the container to reveal pieces of armor. He rapidly donned the armor, and was eventually encased in a set of powered battle armor, he now stood 8 feet tall, with a matt gray armored shell around him. A featureless faceplate scanned the area around him as he brought a much larger version of his plasma gun up at the ready. On his back was a small pair of wings with thruster nozzles on the tips, and a pair of much heavier thrusters on the back of the unit.
Satisfied that there was nothing in that direction LT. Kojira turned around only to come face to face with a demonic looking Panda. The creature stood just over ten feet tall, and had incredibly muscular arms and legs. Its torso was much less round than a Panda's as well, and the fur was more sparse. But probably the most frightening thing about the creature was the near humanoid features on its face. The muzzle broke into a terrifying snarl as the thing spoke in a guttural Japanese. "Thought you could get away this time... DIE!!!" The thing that used to be Genma Saotome yelled as it lunged for the powered armor.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The house was empty
when Ranma-chan returned home. After she called out to see if anyone
was there and received no replies the small girl jumped strait up and
phased through the ceiling. A couple of moments passed and then she
phases back through the floor wearing a dark colored robe.
Ranma-chan then goes to the kitchen and hooks up the garden
hose lying next to the sink. She turned it on and looked out the
window where the hose continued onto the lawn. Ranma-chan grinned a
bit as she saw that one of the sprinklers was on before she turned
and headed outside.
Once outside she turned on the other hose and went over to where the two streams overlapped. As she rapidly changed from one form to another the boy/girl sat down in the streams of water and shut his/her eyes After a few moments of concentration the amnesiac boy/girl started to shimmer a bit, seaming to fade slightly out of reality to a ghost like state. While in this state Ranma stopped shifting from boy to girl and back and remained as a boy. However he didn't notice that his robe had fallen through his ghostlike form to pool on the grass underneath him.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Two women were sitting down in an outdoor café, the older one wore a traditional Kimono while the younger one was dressed in a professional business skirt and blouse combo.
"Nodoka, I've uncovered some disturbing news about your wayward husband. The information is in this portfolio" Nabiki said as she slid the thick portfolio marked Genma across the table to the older woman. Nodoka picked up the folder and started to read the materials inside as Nabiki continued.
"So far as I've been able to determine, Genma has been acting as a industrial spy and saboteur for the last decade or so. Along with the schemes that I've personally seen I would say that he's a class one thief and a very good con artist. Nothing like the petty criminal I first took him to be."
Nodoka continued to read, her face got whiter and whiter as she continued on. About halfway through she looked up at Nabiki in a state of mild shock. "How bad is it?" She asked in a whimper.
"Bad Nodoka. Real bad. Some of the companies that he's ripped off are very large multinationals. I mean, he's stolen or destroyed things from companies such as Chronos, Radamu Labs, Noza Co, Genome, the Links Security Company, the WWWA. He's also attacked some government corporations such as the Terrestrial Administration Center, and the Science Garrison of the EDF. There's even a covert ops unit of the JSDF after him right now."
"So what do you suggest?"
"Keeping Ranma away from him. Turning him in to the proper authorities, but with his skill and history he might make a mockery out of any type of government official that tries to tangle with him."
"What do you mean make a mockery out of them?" Nodoka asked, almost afraid of the answer.
"Well, according to one source." Nabiki said as she turned around the portfolio and turned to one of the pages. "Genma had attacked and slaughtered an experiment enhanced warrior in the EDF's main headquarters." She then looked up at Nodoka. "That building reported to have more than 100 armed men in their garrison. Not even some of the best American Special Forces could get in there unscathed. And your husband managed it on his own without backup." Nabiki looked back down at a different page of the portfolio before she continued. "According to this one he had attacked the main arsenal of the WWWA troubleshooting corporation. The 'Lovely Angels', a crack pair of troubleshooters by the way, were sent after him. They never found him or the prototype weapons that he managed to steal. After that he disappeared for a couple of years." The business minded older teenager closed the portfolio and folded her hands over it. "If he is even one tenth the skill necessary to pull off these heists then he's a force to be reckoned with. It might be wise to leave the country if needed."
"Thanks Nabiki. What do I owe you for this information?"
"I'll waive the rest of the fee. Just keep Ranma safe, and tell him I'll miss him."
"Miss him? Does my son mean much to you Nabiki?" Nodoka asked, getting a slight gleam in her eye.
"Yes, he was almost my brother in law. I kinda messed up my chances with him, but still cared for him. I just don't want to see him hurt."
"Well I thank you for your cander. If you'd like I can keep you appraised of his well being wherever we go."
"Thank you Nodoka-san. That would mean a lot to me." The sometime mercurial girl answered.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The diminutive midget master of perversion bounded along merrily atop the rooftops of Nerima while he carried his latest sack of plunder. Everything had gone well and he was on his way home when he saw some battle damage of either Ki or plasma blasts near the Tendo Dojo. He followed the trail down the street where it vanished for a bit only to be picked up again a couple of miles to the north near a warehouse district. He lit down near the crumpled base of one of the buildings near where he sensed a strong life force. It didn't take long for the fallen brick and mortar to start to shake and a very badly battle scarred armored arm cleared some rubble off of the matte gray torso of LT. Kojira's armor. The JSDF Officer took off is helmet to reveal some singed hair and a split lip. He spit out some blood and glanced over at Happosai.
Happosai sat there chuckling for a minute while the other man recuperated a bit. "Tangled with my student again huh? Better equipped than last time though I see." Kojira only nodded to this, still seemingly out of breath. "Looks like you took some licks, underestimated him again did you?" The little old man said with a smirk.
In Response Kojira just grinned a deaths head grin and reached down into the rubble under him and pulled the naked and torn body of Genma Saotome from beneath the brick and mortar. "Who underestimated whom this time?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ranma was finishing up his meditation as he felt an angry presence entering the home. He slowly came out of his trance to see his mother fuming as she entered the back yard and shut off the sprinklers that were dousing him with hot and cold water. He stood up and came out of phase, then he picked up his robe that had fallen off of him and put it on before his mother could see his state of undress. Unfortunately he didn't realize that the robe was soaked and chill so he turned into a girl. Ranma-chan shrugged a bit and tightened the sash around her waist before she went to her mother. "What's wrong Mom?" The red haired girl asked.
"I just found out about your father. As well as his history." Nodoka said as she continued to fume. "After seeing this." This being the portfolio that Nabiki had supplied Nodoka with. "I will not condone any action that your father has done. I am divorcing him and striking him from the family registry."
Ranma-chan was a bit shocked by this but kept it to herself while she watched her mother calm down. "So what now?" She asked after her mother had paced for a few minutes.
"Now we wait, I need to call some people first." Nodoka said then took a look at her daughter. "Ranma, why are you soaking wet."
"I was meditating using Grandmaster Happosai's idea." She said.
"Well, go dry off and get into some clothes. We're going to start the paperwork to finalize the separation of Genma from our clan." The Saotome Matriarch stated with fire in her eyes.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Authors Notes.
Sorry bout the long wait guys. Life kinda happened to me over the course of the spring and summer. But I've had this one waiting for my days to calm down for a bit till I can write again.