Return of the Disclaimer: If you don't get it by now, you never will...anyway, I do NOT own any of the stuff (characters, settings, situations) mentioned in this fanfiction. I am not profiting in any way off this story. I'm sure you've read enough fanfiction to know who Ranma ½ really belongs to, so I won't bother.

AN: The flashbacks and memories in chapter 1 were for the benefit of my prereader(hopefully prereaders in the future) who know nothing of Ranma ½. Sorry to bother ya with stuff you already know, but it's necessary.


Losing Innocence, Finding Self

Chapter 2: Boiling Point


As soon as Ranma stepped through the front door, his danger sense flared to life with a vengeance. 'Damn, I knew it was getting too peaceful around here. Ah, well, it can't be that bad...right?'

Ignoring the voice in the back of his head that sarcastically replied 'Oh, no...it's going to be a LOT worse,' Ranma concentrated and extended his senses throughout the house. 'Hmm...Kasumi's in the kitchen, Nabiki's in the living room with a royally ticked off Akane, and the two idiots are upstairs doing...something. Feh, probably coming up with another stupid scheme to get me to marry Akane...like that'll ever happen.'

Taking a moment to savor the peace that was about to be blown sky high, Ranma breathed in deeply. Exhaling slowly, he mentally braced himself and strode forward into the living room...

...and ducked under the incoming mallet. "RANMA! Where have you been!" screamed a certain tomboy.

Wincing more at the tone than the loudness of the shout, Ranma decided to try and defuse the situation before it spiraled out of control "I was just taking my time getting back here. I was hoping you would've calmed down by now 'cause I don't feel like arguing."

Normally, Ranma's stuttering form of communication could almost be considered a borderline speech impediment. But lately, his mother had taken the time to help him with his academic problems, stating that "A man among men must also be well educated," although she said it in a teasing way.

Of course Akane, who was used to the pigtailed martial artist constantly tripping over his own tongue, didn't know that. Blinking in surprise, she could only collect herself enough to reply "Oh...okay," before she stumbled over to the sofa and plopped down next to Nabiki.

Smirking slightly, and making sure Akane didn't notice, Nabiki shot Ranma a look that said "nice job" before returning her attention to the television once more.

Ranma mentally cheered. For once, he had actually gotten out of a situation with words alone. Internally sighing in relief when Akane's mallet returned to 'stuff space', He was about to head out to the dojo to continue his training where he had left off when Nabiki's voice stopped him "Oh, Ranma, Kasumi told me to tell you that dinner will be ready soon. She said you should hurry up and get yourself ready before your father eats your share."

Turning around slightly so she could see it, Ranma favored Nabiki with a thankful smile. "Thanks Nabiki. If Kasumi asks, I'll be ready in a few minutes."

Nodding in acknowledgement of his thanks, Nabiki glued herself to the television once more as Ranma made his way upstairs to the bathroom in order to wash up.

Five minutes later, Ranma was feeling refreshed as he sat down at his usual place to eat. Smiling happily as Kasumi brought in her latest culinary masterpiece, he complimented her, as usual, wonderful cooking. "Smells great as usual, Kasumi."

Returning his smile with her own, she voiced her appreciation at his praise "Thank you, Ranma. It's always a pleasure to cook for someone who appreciates it as much as you do."

Ranma would have replied, but he was interrupted by a shout of "What a haul! What a haul!"

Holding in a sigh of frustration, he counted the seconds until the shriveled old letch, Grandmaster of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts, Happosai made his appearance at the table. 'Just this once, please don't let that old perv cause me any trouble. Please?'

Sadly, Ranma's pleas fell on deaf ears. 'Hmph, I still need to punish my student for the last time he ruined my fun. How can he expect to be heir of the Anything Goes style if he can't even appreciate the finer aspects of the Art?'

"So m'boy...I saw you out with your cute little Chinese girlfriend earlier today. What was her name? Shampoo, wasn't it? Aaah yes...you are definitely a lucky one. I think if any other guy tried anything THAT fresh with her, she'd break them in half!" Happosai had to suppress an urge laugh when he saw the looks on his student's faces. As angry as they looked, Akane's battle aura was ten times bigger and still growing!

'Aw hell' Ranma thought to himself as he felt his pigtail rise and stand on end. Definitely not a good sign.

"Boy! How dare you cheat on your fiance! Don't you have any honor? Oh the shame of raising such a worthless son!" Bemoaned the overweight sometimes panda.

"Son, how can you cheat on your future wife like that! To make it up to her, you must marry her immediately! I'll call a priest! Genma, you beat, er, convince Ranma here to see the error of his ways and marry Akane." commanded the Tendo patriarch.

Hearing that, Akane's battle aura flared up even more. "I don't want to marry that perverted freak! I hate him!" she shouted to deaf ears.

"Do you hear that Soun ol' buddy? True love! They were meant to be together!"

"Quite right Genma, It must surely be a match blessed by the Heavens!"

Now grinning openly, Happosai turned to his 'heir' and stated "Heheh, that'll teach you to ruin an innocent old man's fun. What goes around comes around!"

Only Nabiki and Kasumi noticed that Ranma had refrained from saying anything during the whole exchange. His face was tilted down, his hair casting a shadow over his eyes. They could feel the room suddenly getting colder. In a matter of moments, the area immediately around Ranma felt as cool as ice, encouraging the two elder Tendo daughters to begin backing away from the silent martial artist and out of the room, and hopefully out of the crossfire.

Everyone froze in place when they heard a voice, smooth and cool as a glacier, evenly declare "I will not marry her. It's obvious that she feels nothing but scorn for me, so I have no reason to be with her. And I won't let you control my life anymore."

Slowly, as one, they turned towards the source of the emotionless voice. It had come from Ranma.

"Now see here you ungrateful boy, you-"

"Son, it is a matter of honor that you ma-"

The drinking water in the glasses and pitcher had frozen over, and the soup was starting to approach the freezing point as well.

"Shut up, both of you," Ranma commanded in a frigid and dead tone that brooked no argument, "I will not marry Ukyo or Shampoo. I will not marry Kodachi."

Although his voice was barely above a whisper, it carried throughout the entire house, chilling the air. The two patriarchs of their respective families, at hearing Ranma's last statement, were ready to weep for joy. They never got the chance as that toneless voice cut them off once more.

"And I especially will not marry Akane. Do not make me repeat myself again."

By now, Akane had backed away to the far wall, sensing something was off. The two fathers were too caught up in their scheming to notice, and Happosai believed he could put his upstart heir in his place if he needed to. But she understood now, at last. Ranma had been pushed too far. It was time to push back.

"Very well, boy! If you won't listen to reason, then we will have to put you back on the proper path by force!"

"Son, I don't want to do this, but you leave us no choice. It is for the good of the schools that you MUST marry my daughter!"

The ice cracked, and various glasses and bowls shattered.

Slowly, Ranma raised his head and gazed directly at the duo that presumed to control his life. Genma and Soun involuntarily took a step back at the look he shot at them. There was no anger, no hate, no confusion or sadness. There was nothing. His eyes were like twin pools of ice, threatening to freeze everything in their empty gaze.

"I...have had...enough." Ranma impassively stated as he stood up.

"No more...I won't let anyone control my life anymore." He stood there, motionless, daring them with his soulless stare to make the first move.

Trembling slightly, wether from the cold or fear or both, Genma and Soun each took up an aggressive stance before launching themselves at Ranma.

Realizing the two older martial artists had been training partners for years, Ranma knew that the duo had developed strategies for fighting in tandem over the years. That was the only thing that saved him from a nasty surprise when he ducked Genma's punch only to find himself face to face with Soun's incoming kick. Expecting the pair to attempt such an underhanded feint, Ranma easily caught Soun's leg in one hand while he launched a vicious punch into the elder Saotome's gut, sending the overweight martial artist sprawling backward.

Quickly standing back up, Ranma blocked Soun's axe hand, disrupting the older man's attempt at freeing his leg. Smashing his elbow into Soun's sternum, Ranma grabbed Soun's arm with his free hand and spun him around twice before hurling the makeshift human projectile straight at his father. Just as Genma was regaining his feet, Soun collided with him, sending them both flying through the front door.

Ranma slowly made his way outside, giving the aging fighters plenty of time to hop over the fence and into the street, hopefully giving them a small advantage as they took up stances on opposite ends of the block.

Approaching warily, mindful of any tricks the two old fools might try to pull, Ranma suddenly blurred forward, smashing his foot up into Soun's chin before he could even react. Soaring backward, the Tendo Patriarch could only angle his body to lessen the impact just before he slammed into the wall of a nearby house, causing several large cracks to spread over the masonry.

Genma, who was in better shape than his old partner, had still barely managed to track his son's rapid charge. Before Soun had even collided with his neighbor's home, the sometimes panda was upon his son, attempting to catch him with a powerful kick to the kidney.

Ranma didn't even bother to turn around and face his old man. He had sensed him coming from a mile away, and simply backflipped over Genma's kick, landing softly behind him. Genma, knowing that he had to react quickly to stand any chance of defeating his wayward son, shifted his weight and twisted around...just in time to hear Ranma call out "KATCHU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!"

Genma felt more than saw hundred of punches impacting his abdomen, periodically causing small sonic booms to resound in his ears. Stumbling backward several feet as the punches finally stopped coming, he was completely unprepared for Ranma's flying kick. Feeling his entire pudgy frame rattle from the force of the kick smashing into his chest, Genma was sent flying into the same wall his friend was currently sitting against, swimming in a state of semi-consciousness.

Standing there impassively, Ranma simply waited as his two opponents began to slowly shake the cobwebs from their heads. He barely had time to dodge out of the way as a small bomb landed in the spot he had been occupying moments previous, heralding the arrival of Happosai.

A slight frown marred Ranma's otherwise blank expression for a moment, nothing more than a slight downward tug at the corner of his mouth. "What do you want, old letch?"

Other than a slight twitch from his eyebrow, Happosai gave no indication that he had even heard the remark. "Come on m'boy, enough of this. Just because my students are incompetent failures does not mean I will stand idly by while you beat away what little dignity they have left. Just turn around and walk back into the house, and we'll forget this ever happened, eh? Otherwise...I will be forced to deal with you myself."

If at all possible, Ranma's visage became even colder. "No."

"No?"

"No. I will not let you or anyone else push me anymore. Ryouga and Mousse have agreed to leave me alone. They even offered to become friends! Even Kuno has begun to mellow out a bit! But you...you just won't let me live the way I want to live. I guess wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age, does it? Your just a perverted old fool. No better than those two," Ranma finished in barely a whisper, gesturing to the two patriarchs, who were just then beginning to stir.

This time, Happosai did react. Scowling deeply, he growled out "Impertinent boy! I am the Grandmaster of Anything Goes Martial Arts! I have over three hundred years of experience in combat! Do you really think that YOU can go against ME!"

Ranma deigned not to reply, simply propelling himself through the air, ricocheting off a streetlight and closing in on Happosai at break neck speeds.

"Hmph. Foolish boy, it's time I put you in your place...permanently!"


AN: Sorry to end it right here but...it just seemed to work out better this way. I hope you guys like this chapter. I'll be working on the next one immediately...well, maybe after a short break. And thank you all for the reviews and especially for the suggestions! I'm trying to get better as a writer, and your helping me tremendously. I guess I'll address some of you individually...sure, why not.

MazokuRanma: Yes, I know what your talking about. Ranma will eventually have to realize that he has made a lot of mistakes as well. And with that realization, he will grow.

Darkepyon: I agree. I can't express it any better than that- I do NOT like Akane being paired with Ranma. And the others- depends on what story I'm reading. Different authors manage to portray them differently, and such.

Renzokuken-Sama: Thank you VERY much. Your comments are definitely helping me to shape the future of my story a bit. If you have any other suggestions, please don't hesitate to make them.

The rest of ya': Well damn...all the positive reviews are doing wonders for my confidence. I hope you enjoy my later chapters. Now I need to take a break...my brain is fried!