Chapter 4
Cat Calls at Furinkan Part 2
Disclaimer: I don't own this series or any other series. I am just floating an idea. I am making no money, nor plan to, off this venture. If you think of suing me over this, then grow up.
I would like to first personally thank all of those reviewing my stories. I enjoy reading your comments, and try to correct the grammatical errors I miss with my final read-through as well as my spell checkers. The suggestions you all make will help make this story better for everyone to enjoy, as well as allow my to fix some plot holes I may unintentionally leave. If you find any, let me know, and I will correct them and repost the chapters.
I find that if I let thinks sit for a while in my head; I can play them out farther. Plus by trying and keeping my chapters between 2500 and 3000 words, it helps keep me from making the story slide out of control, turning a diamond to a pile of shit.
Please feel free to review, and make comments. If you find a spelling or wordage mistake, feel free to let me know. Thank you.
Also, please check out my other stories. I try to keep a constant level of dedication to all of them.
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Ranma's attacks:
Due to his doubly cursed nature, Ranma is unable to utilize such chi based moves as the Möko Takabisha. Instead, Cologne has taught him to utilize pure ki attacks. There are as follows:
HEAVEN'S LIGHT CANNON: a continuous shot of pure positive ki.
HEAVEN'S LIGHT CHARGE: a quick shot of positive ki
HELL'S FURY CANNON: a continuous shot of negative ki
HELL'S FURY CHARGE: a quick shot of negative ki
BIPOLAR SHOT: a quick shot combining positive and negative ki, each generated by a different hand
BIPLOAR CANNON: a continuous shot combining positive and negative ki, each generated by a different hand
This is due to both the dual nature of Ranma's Jusenkyo curses as well as the personality of Ranko disrupting his ability to try and channel emotion based chi attacks. However, such moves as the Hiryü Shöten Ha and the Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken work as they require ki to enhance as well as perform; pure ki to enhance the speed as well as the conflict between hot and cold ki. The next chapter will go into more detail about this subject.
Dreamscape: a false world created by Ranma in his mind with the help of Cologne. Its purpose is to both provide a training ground for Ranma where time is not an option (weeks of dreaming can be fit into a single night's sleep), as well as a place for Ranko to exist without being alone or locked away in Ranma's mind. Though he may perfect training methods in the dreamscape, he will only acquire the ki aspects of them. He will need to practice in reality to gain the physical aspects of this training. As a result, dreamscape training in the Bakusai Tenketsu will only help Ranma see the breaking points, but will not help him earn the toughness also acquired with the training for this technique
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Here are the results of the vote so far.
Akane - 5
Hotaru - 21
Setsuna - 16
Nabiki - 8
Kasumi - 9
Ami - 9
Minako - 7
Ukyo - 0
Ranko - 2
Makato - 5
Rei - 2
Luna - 1
Natsune or Kurumi - 1
All Senshi - 1
Anyone but Akane - 1
Sailor Past - 2
No past - 4
Child of Artimis and Luna: Artemis and Luna had a child that died in the attack on the Moon. Covers Ranma's survival of the Neko-ken and allows him a chance for a more human form later.
Love Triangle - 7
So as you can see, it overwhelming appears that Hotaru will win. Right now, Ukyo is crying because no one loves her, some Senshi are mad that some people feel Ranma should have all of them (while Nodoka is dancing in the hallway talking about all of the cute grandchildren her manly son will have and planning on going to a local Net-Café to up those votes), Akane is upset that Nabiki and Kasumi have a better chance with Ranma than her (the mallet has tried to strike him quite often, saying Ranma obviously paid people to make his perverted dreams come true), everyone is a little confused about the Ranma love triangle (but Queen Serenity is saying something about the manly cat-person being perfect for all the Senshi so they don't have to be lonely or date guys who can't fight Tuxedo Mask is crying in a corner now, claiming he can too fight and she is currently dancing with Nodoka, which in itself is quite confusing and disturbing how much the two are like; I won't even go into details about the Royal Order for the multiple marriages of one Ranma Saotome, they are currently writing), and Ranma himself is trying to outrun Ranko, who thinks two votes are enough for her to act like she is in heat crossed with Shampoo-style glomps, yelling they must "save the species". Hotaru is happy that she is so popular while Setsuna is currently drinking, muttering something about wondering how hard up she must be to even consider dating Ranma. Soun Tendo and Genma are crying about the schools not being joined. As you can see, our poor aqua-transsexual cat-person is having a rough day. But the story must go on. So please, continue the votes and the ideas for Ranma: Take 2 ideas for a fight between Akane and Nabiki.
But anyway, on with the story.
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"What makes you think I am Sailor Pluto Mr. Saotome?" To say Setsuna was shocked was an understatement. No one had ever seen past a Sailor disguise in over 12,000 years. And now, this cat-person, Ranma Saotome, had seen past it in a matter of seconds. It just wasn't possible, and now she was extremely afraid.
Ranma just smiled. "Magic maybe able to hide your physical appearance, and perhaps even your aura, but your scent stays the same. Now, would you please cut the formalities and simply tell me what you're here for. And if it is another dousing of myself with water, then I am afraid they will have to be looking for another Sailor Pluto really soon." Ranma emphasized his point by removing his gloves and cracking his knuckles, a habit from his human days that had not been rendered useless by his cat transformation.
"Ranma, I am here as a friend. There is no need to get defensive."
Ranma was smiling inwardly. It was nice to catch someone else who had a secret to hide, even if it was the Sailor Senshi. After dealing with two rose-throwing idiots in less than twelve hours, anyone would be on edge. And from what Ranma had heard in the rumor mill, a naked Kuno made people sick. He would have to remember that fact before anymore people were traumatized by seeing such a thing. And if the stick-boy is that stupid to attack me again, I better warn people before the clothes fall off. I would hate to hear of anyone committing suicide in hopes of getting such a horrible image out of their heads.
"Fine then, so what do you want." Ranma at down in the chair offered, careful not to lean on his tail to cause any pain, a subject he had to also learn quickly in the Amazon village.
"First off, I am here to give you this." She produced the watch that Ami had made for him. "I have been assured it will work and keep itself hidden from making itself obvious."
Ranma just smirked as he put the watch on. "Not like anyone will be looking at my furry arm." He reached into his pocket, pulling out the compact and sliding it across the table. "I can definitely say that I am glad to be getting rid of that."
Setsuna merely palmed the compact and placed it in her coat pocket. "I am also curious Ranma, as to why you have decided to help us. From all I have been able to learn about you, I would think you would prefer the privacy of life here in Nerima or even the Amazon Village to helping in Juuban." She was hoping to get a surprised look from Ranma as payback for the look he got from her when he revealed he knew who she was.
She didn't get it.
"My pops said it was important to come here, so I came. He said it is my responsibility to join the two schools of Anything Goes Martial Arts, but I gave the possible brides a way out since forcing someone to marry me is something I am definitely against, considering I'm not even the same species anymore. I was upset with the way my day was going when I ran across the demon, and decided to help you out, despite that one girl's comment that I was a freak. Yes, I heard you guys after you thought I left. But the real reason I am helping, not for some higher purpose, but because it gives me something to do. Besides, I am hoping to face some stronger demons than that idiot you guys faced yesterday."
Setsuna shook her head. This guy had obviously changed in the last few months from the guy the Time Gates indicated he would be. This child was headstrong but determined, willing to listen and hear things out instead of charging in first; an aftereffect of his teachings from the Amazon Elders and his being cursed. He obviously would suffer from some mental stresses, as to be expected from his curses turning into the very thing he feared the most, as well as the feline instincts trying for dominance in his mind. The incidents shown to her made her desire to simply kill his father, but killing a human went against the Senshi code.
Though she could simply claim Genma was the exception to the rule. There was always an exception to the rule.
"I must admit Ranma; you have certainly acted differently than I expected you to, and given everything that has happened to you."
Ranma just stayed focused on her eyes, trying to appear both dominant in the conversation as well as uncaring. "Just because you have access to whatever allowed you to learn about me doesn't mean I don't have secrets even you can't find out about. What, did you expect me to jump up and down like a giddy school girl about being offered a chance to fight alongside you and the others? Ain't going to happen lady. I do what I want, when I want, and for whatever reasons I may have."
Setsuna leaned back in her chair, using the same eye trick Ranma was to try and take control over the conversation. "Does that mean we shouldn't count on your help?"
Ranma smiled. "I promised to help you, but you better be damn certain that my help was required. Let's be clear; I am doing this for the challenge, not for any other purpose. It allows me to fight outside of this cloak, it allows me to be out in the open without everyone wanting to remove my head, and it allows me to grow in skill."
"So you are basically a mercenary?"
"If that is what you think so be it. I really don't care either way."
"Don't you want friends Ranma?"
"Friends are something I have enough of. I don't need visual friends who only treat me with respect while I am in their sight every few days, or false friends who use me until I no longer suit their needs."
"You can always use more friends."
Ranma's fist pounded the desk. "You mean I need people for friends who only want me because I can help them. And in my opinion, that's exactly what you are your little group are doing."
Setsuna broke her stare pondering Ranma's words. "There are things at stake bigger than either my group or your problems Ranma. These things have taken notice of your talents as well. They will either try and gain your help, or remove you as a potential threat."
"What do you plan to do if I walk away?"
"Nothing. We offered you this hoping that you would help us stand against this new darkness. If you wish to break any ties with us, we will understand and let you go, no strings attached. But I promise you Ranma; this battle will eventually either come to Nerima after you when it finishes with us, or try and force you to fight for its cause. Now which would you rather have in truth? Besides, not all the Senshi wish for you to be their friend simply because of what you can do."
"I know a few that will hate me when they realize who I used to be." Ranma cast his head to the floor, recalling one Senshi in particular.
"What does that mean?"
"Let's just say that in her old days, Sailor V and I had a few run-ins. I didn't have the best attitude towards people at the time thanks to my pops, but I didn't mean to bruise her ego, I just was scared of being stuck there without the only family I'd known. Tell her to feel free to beat up Genma's ass if she wants. Hell, I'll tie the dumb panda up to make certain he doesn't run."
It would appear my study of his life from the Gates of Time is somewhat incomplete. It never showed a run-in with Minako. "I am certain that such events will be forgotten considering what Fate has done to you." Her pep talk was interrupted by the beeping of Ranma's communicator.
Ranma touched a button on the side, creating a small holographic display of Mercury, visor down. "We could really use your help Ranma if you have the time; we got a demon here that won't stay down. I figured you might enjoy the workout. LOOK OUT MOON!"
Ranma sighed, glad that he had at least the privacy of this meeting as well as a Sailor Scout to provide an excuse for his absence, as well as hopefully a way to Juuban. That would take at least twenty minutes, even roof-hopping. "Pluto and I are on our way." Ranma hit the button and rose, beginning to loosen his cloak when a nose from the hallway outside caught his attention.
"Unhand me you lowly peasant. The Gods have declared that I; the noble and undefeated Tatewaki Kuno, must defeat the vile miscreant who has tricked my beloved Akane Tendo into refusing my affections. Ranma Saotome; reveal yourself foul sorcerer, and face defeat at my hands, the hands of the greatest samurai on this world, Tatewaki Kuno!"
"Great, just fucking great," mumbled Ranma. This guy must get some sick pleasure from hearing his own voice. It's the only thing that makes sense.
Soon, Kuno opened the door, his wooden sword drawn. "So here is where you hide coward from the righteous justice of the noble Tatewaki Kuno."
Setsuna stared at him. "Mr. Kuno, you have violated several school policies by barging into my office."
Kuno merely smirked. "When one such as I have been commanded by the very Gods themselves to deliver their divine justice upon those most foul; I humbly must do their works. Such rules as what you lowly peasants use to make your pitiful order is below my meager concerns. Do not fear though; as I am sure my manly presence may overwhelm one of your such beauty, but you must pay heed, for I cannot date thee until I vanquish the enemy of pure women everywhere who seek the love and comfort of my noble self."
"Why are you here Kuno, didn't the beating I gave you this morning get it through your thick head that I don't want to play with you?"
"Foul knave, I do not recall those events. I recall them as you fleeing from my noble presence when confronted about your foul behavior towards the beautiful and pure tigress Akane Tendo. For such actions, I have come to vanquish the foul knave who dared insult my noble honor this morn during the displays of love from the fair Akane Tendo." Kuno then took the classic pose, thunder heard outside. "Is thou ready to face the Blue Thunder you vile cur?"
Ranma answered by delivering a quick punch to the insane boy's face, launching him back into the hallway and into the wall, breaking the plaster and implanting the kendoist in the wall.
"Was that really necessary Mr. Saotome?" asked Setsuna.
"Maybe not, but it was fun. Besides, he deserves it. This is a private session, let him wait his turn." Ranma got up from the seat, headed towards Kuno, who was still unconscious and still in the wall from the impact. Ranma, with his hands still without gloves, approached the ignorant kendoist, making several quick motions with his hand, before turning to the office staff who had gathered at the end of the hallway. "Do you want to see a nude Kuno?"
They nodded no.
"Then run and warn the others NOW!"
A small cloud of was all that remained of their presence.
He made his way back to the office, shutting and locking the door before removing his cloak and laying it against the chair. "I assume you have a way to get there?"
Setsuna smiled, quickly changing to Sailor Pluto, and using the Time Staff to open a portal. "Shall we?"
Ranma followed her through the portal to the fight.
Neither one heard the young man who had entered the office hallway scream.
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AN: Sorry, but this is the perfect place to insert this.
OMAKE OR NOT OMAKE, YOU DECIDE
"Hello, this is Kenji Himata with Channel 7 News. I am currently standing outside of Furinkan High, where a major incident has occurred. Earlier today, before classes started, a fight broke out between a student named Tatewaki Kuno and another young man; believed currently to be one Ranma Saotome, whom Tatewaki Kuno challenged. The results were that Kuno ended up severely beaten, nude with his clothes reduced to shreds. This of course is believed to have resulted in several students being sent to the local hospitals for severe mental trauma, as well as to be watched for suicidal tendencies.
"However, later on, Mr. Kuno then appeared to recuperate enough and challenged this boy again inside the school offices, witnesses claiming to hear him say how the 'gods had declared that he must stop the vile Saotome no matter what the cost', the boy Saotome then soundly beat him again and reduced his clothing to tears again, but not before warning the general population. However, this did not stop several foolhardy students from trying to help the now nude boy. Matters were complicated further when medical services and police officers were removing the boy from the building when the sheet covering him was removed.
"From what we now know, the total of students and faculty who have been harmed by this…this sickening incident now totals 437, including several attempted suicides, as well as several girls and boys trying to remove their own eyes. When we first arrived, I heard several girls profess that they were now confirmed lesbians, as well as several boys indicating their anger at how their girlfriends were reacting to them after witnessing the display of the nude Kuno, saying how they would never be able to touch a man again.
"As a result of the appearances of Mr. Kuno, the school board has closed the school for the next three days and offered counseling sessions for all those affected. Mr. Kuno, upon once again awakening, has been placed in the psychiatric ward of Nerima General Hospital, and is awaiting tests to see how mentally disturbed he is. It was revealed he was the one who removed the sheet covering his nude form as they were taking him from the school, proclaiming that he would defeat the 'vile sorcerer Ranma Saotome', and striking a pose, which of course led to the increased damage to the student populace.
"By Kami, there…there just are no words to describe the devastation this Kuno character has wrought. It is just…just…words fail to describe this level of carnage.
"If you would like to help these students, or if you have seen the Kuno and would like to inquire how to receive help, please call…"
Kasumi wrote down the number, as it would be necessary, judging by how Nabiki and Akane were acting when they returned home just a few minutes ago. Their father was most upset when Akane declared herself a lesbian, saying that after seeing Kuno naked, she would never be able to stand the touch of a man again. Nabiki had just sat there, the "thousand yard stare" in her eyes, constantly muttering about the horror, constantly shivering for no reason.
As Kasumi left to prepare lunch, she was thankful that she no longer attended school, but knew she would have to admonish Ranma for exposing people to that poor Kuno boy's nude body.
END
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"You brought me here for this?!"
Ranma and Sailor Pluto had arrived in a dark alley, Ranma quickly having left his cloak in her locked office, so as to not have it ruined during his fight. He crept to the opening of the alley, watching as the other eight Senshi fought what looked like a cross between a giant slug and a human. To be fair, it more resembled a giant blob with arms and a face.
He watched as the Senshi continued to blast it with their attacks, trying to destroy the creature. But Ranma noticed every time they blew something off of it, it just regrew.
"Mercury, where is this thing's weak spot?"
"It has a core center that we have to destroy Jupiter, but every time we get close, that goop just regrows and covers the spot again."
"CAT FIST VACUUM BLADES!" The ten tracks of red ki flew from the alley, cutting off the monster's outstretched arms, as well as making several large cuts into its body, which quickly rehealed themselves.
"DEAD SCREAM!" Pluto's blast struck the creature as it began to reform, further reducing its mass, but only buying them time to reach the other girls.
"About time you two got here," said Neptune. "This thing is taking all our best shots, and ignoring them."
Ranma wasn't bothering to listen to her, just staring at the creature while it was reforming, looking for that center that Mercury was talking about. He knew if he placed most of his ki into his blades, they would easily go through that thing, but if he couldn't find the center, he was just wasting energy.
But where was it getting the energy to regenerate?
"What the hell?"
Sailor Venus said it best. The creature was now taking on a new shape. They watched as the green blob reformed, dropping its melted human look and forming into a humanoid shape, towering at least two meters tall (about 6'6"). It then made a crude smile at Ranma, beckoning him with an outstretched hand to face him.
Ranma, smiling and baring his fangs, leapt at him. Channeling ki into his claws, he attacked the creature in a blind fury, speed beyond which the Senshi could follow.
More amazing was the fact that the former slug monster was keeping up with Ranma.
"Mercury, quickly, where is that thing getting energy from?"
Mercury stared at her visor. "I don't know. I'm not finding any power from an outside source being sent to it, so where it got the massive power boost from is beyond me. But to be honest, I think it may have been waiting for Ranma to show up. It didn't bother directly attacking any of us until he showed up, and it never changed form until it saw him."
Moon appeared shocked. "You mean it was just playing with us until it got Ranma here? Why, why didn't it just destroy us?"
Meanwhile, Ranma was having both the time of his life and the fight of his life. The monster was matching him in speed and strength. It had the advantage in the fact that Ranma had to pull back his punches and kicks as soon as they made contact with the monster, as it would use its body to grab him, hold the attacking limb, remold itself so it was holding the limb, and throw him.
A quick punch from the monster sent Ranma flying back. He quickly deployed the ki claws in his feet and slowed his speed until he stopped. He had little time to congratulate himself for his quick thinking, when he saw the monster launch an energy blast at him, only to be barely avoided by Ranma's quick dodge.
The blast however made Mercury turn white. "It…it…it is not possible!"
"What!?" came the chorus of Senshi.
"If my scan was correct, that blast from the monster had energy from Pluto, Jupiter, and Venus."
"That just isn't possible. How can a monster use Silver Millennium energy?" Jupiter cast her gaze back at the monster.
Ranma however, understood. Not turning his view from the creature, who was now smiling at both Ranma, and the ruble of the building his shot had hit behind him, Ranma yelled at them. "Don't attack it; it can absorb your magic!"
Mars fell to her knees. "That's why it didn't destroy us. It was playing with us to charge itself up so it could finish off Ranma. Since it can absorb our attacks, we can't even help without giving it a free lunch."
"But how can Ranma defeat it. It is actually avoiding his attacks." Saturn looked worriedly at the battle.
Mercury rescanned Ranma. "His ki is a mixture of magic and life force. The monster can't absorb the combination."
"So what do we do now?" said Venus.
Pluto turned grimly to the battle. "We watch and pray that Ranma can win."
"HEAVEN'S LIGHT CHARGE!" A ball of pure white ki shot from Ranma's hands, aimed for the monster. It warped its body to allow a hole to form for the energy to pass, but screamed when the edge of the blast hit its body. "Good, you can't just avoid my blasts. So now we are back to being even."
The monster returned to an angry expression, its major advantage now beginning to be cut away, and with the Senshi no longer likely to provide it energy should it begin to run low, it began to attack Ranma with everything it had.
Despite all of his speed training, as well as the toughening up with the Bakusai Tenketsu, Ranma was unable to get off another ki blast, as well as receive a vicious punch from the monster, slamming him into the side of a bus, giving the bus enough momentum to slide back forty yards.
Ranma was out cold.
Sailor Moon thought quickly. "Neptune, hit Ranma with a light Deep Submerge. It should be enough to wake him up. Just make certain you avoid the monster."
Neptune moved quickly to the side of the street, aiming her mirror at Ranma, who was fortunately still far enough away from the monster, who was now taking his time to reach and finish off his prey.
The water shot was not enough to hurt Ranma, but it was like a bucket of cold water hitting him. It triggered the curse, changing the black panther-boy into the red tiger-girl.
The monster didn't even bother to look back at the Senshi, or even absorb the blast, as it was too weak to be any use to him. He then smirked as Ranma slowly stood up, her tail now waging back and forth, indicating her mood. Slowly, she raised her head, opening her eyes and focusing on the monster. She began to yell. "For hurting my Ranma, you must now DIE! HELLS' FURY CHARGE!"
The blast struck where the monster had been standing, the monster now had jumped into the air, expecting Ranma to rush him.
He didn't expect the tiger-woman to stay where she was, a ball of black ki in her left hand and a ball of white ki in her right hand. "NOW DIE! BIPOLAR CANNON!" She brought the two balls together, sending out a continuous stream of grey ki energy, which struck the monster. The Senshi cringed as they heard it scream, Mercury watching as the monster's humungous energy signature slowly disappeared, until it was gone. The other girls had then followed the path of the blast, noticing it had removed the top portion of a transmitter tower.
"Way to go Ranma!" shouted Sailor Moon.
"BIPOLAR SHOT!" A quick burst of grey energy came out, slamming into Uranus and knocking her into the side of a car. Before anyone knew what was happening, they saw Ranma standing in front of the downed Senshi, red ki extending from the hand she had raised above Uranus. "Now what was that about Ranma being a freak?"
Uranus looked into Ranma's eyes, now completely red, instead of the usual blue she had seen the last time he had changed. The smirk on her face indicated she was enjoying this.
But then the ki disappeared from her hand, and the cat woman took three steps back, grabbing her head and howling in pain. When she raised it again, Uranus saw that the eyes had returned to blue. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Ranma then jumped onto one of the neighboring buildings and disappeared.
By now the other Senshi had awaken from their stupor at seeing Ranma attack Uranus, and ran to their friend. Saturn and Moon immediately began to heal her, while the others began to wonder what had happened. Jupiter turned to Pluto. "Pluto, what the hell was that about?"
Pluto turned back towards the roof Ranma had leapt towards. "I don't know; there wasn't anything in the Gates of Time about that. But I will find out."
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Ranma stayed in the fetal position on the roof, several miles from the battle, her body making odd twitching movements, her eyes looking at nothing in particular, as if focusing on a point light years away.
Her mind was a different story.
Inside her mind was currently represented by a forest. Ranma, in male form, stood between several large trees. "Damn it Ranko, come out here now!"
But the forest stayed silent, Ranma stood fuming at what his "other self" had nearly done to Sailor Uranus. He had hoped to keep Ranko away from them, keep her existence a secret. But that wasn't possible anymore. He knew they would search for him now, perhaps call him on that communicator thing they had given him, they would want answers; answers he wasn't sure how to give, let alone explain.
He strained his senses to their max and beyond, an easy trick in this pseudo-landscape, trying to locate her with no avail. When Cologne had first began to train him, she helped create this place, so that he could practice in the dreamscape, grow stronger and faster with practice of years being done while in a single meditation session or a night's sleep.
He had designed this world, bit by bit, to be the perfect place for him to run to when he needed to be alone.
That was when the only place she could be in this world hit him.
Taking off through the woods, he knew where Ranko would be now.
He found her where he knew she would be, the same place he would go when he had something disturbing happen to him, the shore along a large lake. She was there, tossing stones into the water, watching them skip across to the other side, before closing her eyes, summoning the stone back into her hands through will, and repeating.
"Ranko."
She turned, seeing him, the anger in his eyes. She immediately got to her feet in a cat stance; slowly backing away, fear strongly showing itself in her eyes. "Please don't hurt me, please don't lock me away, I'll be good, just don't make me be alone anymore."
Ranma's anger softened, but not by much. "Stop moving and come here NOW!"
She slowly stood up, her face lowering to the ground, tears beginning to fall. She made her way over to him, standing in front of him, waiting for the yelling, waiting to be sent back into her prison.
"Ranko, why'd you attack Uranus?"
"She called you a freak."
"That was no reason to attack her. You saved our lives when you destroyed that demon, but still, there was no reason to attack her." Ranma thought he heard her mumble something, and decided he was tired of her games. "Listen, if you have something to say, SAY IT! I am tired of feeling like you are more unstable than me."
She looked at him, rage now playing across her face. "What gives you the right to judge me!? You can't even make up your own fucking mind about what you are and what you will be!"
"EXCUSE ME!"
"You still think you are completely human, you still think you are Ranma Saotome, son of Genma and Nodoka Saotome. You still think you're human. Well guess what, you aren't human anymore. I'm not human anymore. You still think you can be that egotistical, arrogant teen that you were before Jusenkyo; you still think we have a chance to be human again. Well wise up, Jusenkyo can't touch us anymore, Cologne said so. We are locked as cat-people from here till eternity. The best we can hope for are separate bodies. I don't give a damn about being a cat-girl; I don't care if I was created because of magic. All I care about is life; about living outside this dream world you keep locking me in, about having my own future.
"What are you anyway? You insist on living in the human world, you insist on following their laws, their honor. Well, that doesn't stop you from denying my existence, my right to live. It sure as hell doesn't stop you from denying your feline side, from hiding in the shadows, afraid of what people will think. You only reveal yourself when the need is too great for a cloaked figure to do the job.
"You want to know the real reason why you can't seem to be stable, why you are always acting weird. It isn't because of me, it's because of YOU! It's because you keep denying yourself, you keep denying who and what we are, you keep fighting a side of yourself you can never defeat, always struggling against it until one day it will overwhelm you and devour you, until one day the cat instincts grow too strong and you cease even being human in mind, just a cat with human attributes.
"Then you know what, you'll be locked that way, never coming back. You'll just be a mindless beast until someone kills you. You'll be gone, and I…I…I'll be all alone again. I'll lose my brother and I will be all alone and I don't want to be alone anymore brother, I don't want to lose you to the madness, I don't want to lose the only family I have, the only person who cares about me. I don't want to lose what little I have."
She rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him, crying her eyes out. She had always hid her feelings, hid her views of their life, always afraid that if she told him any of it, he would just lock her up longer, refuse to speak to her in his meditations or his dreams. She was afraid he would leave her alone forever.
Until she felt him wrap his arms around her. "I'm sorry Ranko, but I've been human all my life. Neither of us have much of an idea of what you would have looked like as a human, let alone whether or not you would even exist without the curses. That is not to say I hate you little sister, but I am worried about you. Can you honestly say that you have enough control over your instincts not to attack and try to kill the next person who calls us freaks, who insult us for being different?"
Ranko meekly gave a small no.
"You have to remember sis, this is a human world, and we have to act like them."
"But why can't you accept that we are not human?"
"I do."
"No you don't, you constantly hide behind that cloak, always afraid to tell people the truth. You only revealed yourself to the Tendo girls because you wanted them to reject you; you wanted them to want nothing to do with you. You only revealed yourself to the Senshi because you only wanted to fight that demon, you didn't care what they thought, and part of you wanted them to reject you as well. The only time you even acted happy while in daylight and not hiding was with the Amazons, and that was only because they knew of Jusenkyo's magic. Face it; you are as happy as I've ever known you to be fighting those monsters, running across the rooftops at night. Being at peace with yourself makes you happy, so why do you hide when you can be happy?"
"I don't know."
"I do. It's because you are afraid that if they see you, they'll act like those people we ran across in China and on the way here. You're afraid they will see you as a demon and attack, and that you might have to hurt them. Well guess what, we shouldn't care. They take every chance to kill us, and our cat sides demand vengeance. If they attack, we simply hurt them so they don't do it again. If they try and attack with innocents about, we eliminate them, since they care no more for our life than that of a bystander."
Ranma tightened his hug. "We can't take a life Ranko, it just isn't right."
"Ranma, if the choice came down to it, you know we would make it, quicker with animal instincts. I accepted that fact. Why can't you?"
"Because I'm not a killer."
"Are you a killer if you kill the person trying to kill you, are you a killer for defending yourself and innocents from a psycho who wants them dead, are you a killer for stopping evil without mercy? No, you merely have to do the right thing."
"Was attacking Uranus the right thing?"
"No, it wasn't. But dealing with emotions in here is easier than out there. You know when I have to take over like that; I end up being more prone to violence than in here. I'm just not use to switching with you for control like that. It's the same reason why you run away the minute you get control back, you're afraid you might not be able to stop hurting them."
Ranma noticed she had stopped crying, her hidden frustrations now gone. He understood her feelings, her reactions, it was a part of them that was always on, always connected, a part he had heard that a few real twins shared.
Cologne had explained the other aspect to him months before. She had explained that if they switched places, if Ranko took control, she would be disorientated, added to the cat instincts, let's just say that an injured animal is truly the most dangerous. When Ranma reasserted himself, he often used all of his will to flee the scene, afraid what he might do as well.
"I forgive you Ranko, Uranus might not, but I do."
He wouldn't lock her away again, but he could only stand her being co-conscious with him for so long, watching his world, talking in his mind.
But for her, those few hours helped her remain sane, remain willing to live.
What right did he have to take them away?
He just hoped Cologne would show up soon with an answer.
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I'm really sorry Ranma. I just didn't want them to hurt you. I always want you to be happy.
Its OK Ranko. But you have to remember, we have to operate by human rules, by human standards. We are too far beyond even those Senshi to not act carefully. I don't care if that blond bitch thinks I am a freak. I don't care if they hate my damn guts. What I do care about is making certain my sister isn't a killer.
I understand brother.
Ranma continued along the road, glad he had hidden another cloak in his personal pocket. I am glad Mousse was able to teach me the basics. If not for that cloak, Ranma would have to be trying to find a way back to Nerima in broad daylight. It is easy to roof-hop in the night, but in the daylight, people tend to look at you.
And if they send a cat-man or cat-woman, they tend to react; they react in bad and very perverse ways.
If we ever find out whoever gave those perverts the idea that my female side was something called a poke-girl, I will beat them to hell and back!
But here she was just walking, in her hands a large beach umbrella she had bought just seven minutes prior, during a lull in the storm that had started as he neared the Juuban Ward border with Nerima. Sure she was female at the moment, but she still wanted to be dry.
It was then that a very strong, very demanding smell caught her feline nose.
It was food.
It was okonomiyaki!
She made her way to the food cart, being attended to by a young woman; scents don't lie, dressed as a man. "Hello sugar, what would you like?"
Ranma got under the overhang on top of the cart, made to keep the patrons dry why they ate. Carefully folding the umbrella, she placed it at the side. "I'll have three house specials and a cup of hot water please?"
"Sure thing sugar. That will be about ¥ 2,000."
Ranma placed the money on the counter, the rest of what she had stored in her emergency cloak, the rest having been spent on her new oversized umbrella. As the cook set out the cup of water, Ranma took it, opened her cloak a little, and poured the water in, changing back into a guy. The cook, who had not seen it, thought that her patron was a little shorter than what he appeared to be now, but dismissed it. "So what are you doing out in the storm sugar? And what is the deal with the cloak and beach umbrella?"
"The cloak is because of a medical condition. The umbrella is because I don't like to get wet. And I am in the storm because I was helping some new friends out, and got caught."
The cook looked at the guy, noticing how sad the voice seemed. He must have had a bad day, especially with whatever medical condition requires him to hide behind a cloak. "Well sugar, my name's Ukyo Kuonji. What's yours?"
Ranma's head shot up. "I knew an Ukyo, but he was a boy I met about a decade ago, not a girl. You any relation? He had a father and they ran a cart just like this one."
The cook finished placing the three okonomiyaki when her head now shot up. "Are you Ranma Saotome?" The look on her face promised pain.
It was something Ranma was used to.
"I once was, but that was another lifetime ago, back when I was still normal."
The girl pulled out a giant spatula from behind her back. "Now, after all these years, I can get my revenge for you leaving me on the side of the road."
Ranma just started to laugh.
"You think this is funny?" Ukyo moved to the other side of the cart, standing to the side of her target, her battle spatula ready to come down on Ranma.
But Ranma just shook his head. "No Ucchan, if my pops screwed you over, then it ain't funny. It's an inside joke really, that you think you can do something to me that will make my life worse. Besides Ucchan, why'd you want to come with us?"
"You expect me to believe you don't know?"
Ranma just stood, scratching his head through the cloak. "Sorry, I ain't got a clue; after all I thought you were a boy not a girl. But believe me, whatever happened to you afterwards, you were way better off."
The rage playing on her face showed, but due to the storm, there was no one in the park to witness this scene save the cloaked figure in front of her. "We were engaged, my father's cart was the dowry. I was supposed to go with you. When you assholes left me behind, my father made me live my life as a boy. I spent ten years looking for you to get my revenge. How could what happened to you be any worse than my hell?"
Ranma placed his hands at his side, quickly closing the distance between him and Ukyo. "You want to see what could have happened to you, what has made my life a hell few can touch and make worse!" Ranma lowered the hood of the cloak, and then removed the black hood that hid his face. He listened as Ukyo gasped and dropped her battle spatula.
"Ranchan…what…how?" Her hands went to his head, feeling for the ears on the side that should have been there, and then feeling the ears on the top of his head that were there. He opened his mouth for her, showing the longer canines.
He touched her hands, lowering them. "Ucchan, shortly after we left you, my pops put me through some training that made me deathly afraid of cats. He sold me more times than I can remember to feed his belly, to appease his own needs while I suffered. Then a few months ago in China, he dragged me to a cursed training ground, where if you fall into a spring, you take on the appearance of whatever drowned in those springs. The first one he knocked me into was the Spring of Drowned Girl, so whenever I come into contact with cold water. Then the idiot knocked me into the Spring of Drowned Cat. If you're wet from one spring and fall into another, it mixes with both forms. You can imagine how close I came to permanently being insane thanks to both my fear of cats and being turned into a cat-man or cat-woman depending on the water around me."
Ukyo could only look on as Ranma released her hands.
"Ucchan, the last few months truly have been hell for me. Every time someone would see me and not know about the curses, they would chase me down to kill me, thinking I was a demon or worse. Is that the type of life you wanted to lead? Do you want to be constantly looked at as a freak of nature, as something someone should fear at any cost? Trust me, living as a boy was a small price to pay, but at least you are still human, at least you still have a chance to live a normal life, assuming you don't let your father ruin it like mine did."
Ukyo did the only thing her mind would allow her to do.
She hugged her old friend for all he was worth.
"Ucchan…need…air…dying…now…bright light."
Ukyo immediately released him and helped him back to his seat, she herself running quickly behind the counter to make him another special. "Ranchan, I can't say I know what to do now. My father told me I couldn't come back unless I killed you and Genma or unless I became a Saotome."
Ranma just shook his head, eating the food quickly before replacing the facial mask and the hood. "Well, I am as good as dead, though I would let you kill the stupid panda. I guess I can adopt you as a sister, so that way the idiot couldn't sell you like he did me. That would make you a Saotome."
Ukyo was about to ask about the panda remarks, but was more distracted with Ranma's last remark. "But only a clan head could officially adopt me."
"I will be the head when we kill the panda, not like my mother is still alive. You want to come over tonight and help me with it; it can be a brother/sister bonding activity."
She couldn't say no to that idea. Ranma gave Ukyo the address to the Tendo Dojo, and told her he would head home and prepare for her arrival, indicating he wanted to hear all about her life, though she admitted his stories would be much more interesting.
Grabbing his umbrella and taking a quick look around to make certain that there was no one watching, he lifted up his facial mask quickly to give Ukyo a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you tonight little sister."
And with that, Ranma left her again. But this time, she knew she was going to see him again.
But even the promise of having her become a sister did not stop her from blushing, or wondering how he had cut through her anger so quickly.
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Ranma continued to walk down the street, towards one of the many parks in Nerima. Back now in male form thanks to the hot water from Ucchan, he was feeling better, but still upset at himself, and not only for his small part apparently in causing Ukyo to lose so much. He knew it wasn't Ranko's fault she was so overprotective. He knew she cared for him, at the very least like a sister for a brother, at the very most in ways that even now made the cat-man blush redder than the hair of his female side.
But this war was continuing. He knew that Cologne had promised to find a way to separate the two sides, an odd request from him, especially when she had confirmed that the curse had actually seemed to create a separate personality.
But was Ranko just a personality?
Maybe she was more; maybe she even had a soul?
But without a way to separate her, without a way to make certain that he was retained in the male body and she was retained in the female body such options and thoughts made no sense to have.
So for now, he was forced to cage her, keep her under wraps, keep her hidden in his mind, until he could free her.
But the main reason; he had to make sure she was ready to not kill those who provoked her. She needed to learn how to act with kindness.
But then what? Would she actually enjoy living as a cat-girl? Sure, she would only have the fleeting image of what her human body would have looked like; the last thing Ranma saw before his pops knocked him into the Spring of Drowned Cat, his own reflection. For her, a body of her own would be heaven, even if it wasn't completely human.
Not that that was an option for him. Even without the female body, his body would always be that, his body. He knew he would never again look 100 human. That wasn't to say he was upset with his new body, at least it was close to human. It just hurt to even look in a mirror, to be reminded of what he would never see again.
So Ranma continued on, ignoring the stares of people seeing a man in a full body cloak carrying a six foot beach umbrella during a rain storm, with one hand.
"Bwee bwee."
"Meow."
Ranma stopped and turned; his eyes catching a backpack that was propped up against some rocks. Underneath it, protected somewhat from the rain, was a small black pig with a yellow tiger bandana and a purple haired cat with small bells hanging from her fur, both soaked from apparently being caught in the rain. As he walked over and his umbrella covered the pack, the two animals walked out, looking at the person who had come to assist them. He bent down, looking at them. "You two really shouldn't be out in this weather. It ain't safe." With that, he noticed a large blue umbrella on the backpack. That's weird, I wonder if whoever left it here is planning on coming back to get it. Trying to lift it, Ranma immediately realized who had made it. "Well, I guess Ryoga did need a new one after her gave me his red one at Jusenkyo."
Upon hearing this, the black piglet jumped onto the backpack, constantly making noise until Ranma picked him up. "What's the matter little one?" It wasn't until the wind shifted slightly that Ranma caught a whiff of the pig's scent. At first, the smell of the wet piglet blocked out any others, but then Ranma caught something that made his mouth drop open; not that one could tell due to the cloth covering all but his eyes. "RYOGA?!"
The piglet merely nodded its head. "Bwee bwee bwee bwee bwee bwee bwee bwee bwee bwee bwee!"
"Ryoga, you do realize I can't understand a word you are saying?"
The pig looked down. "Bwee."
The cat hoped up next, allowing Ranma to catch its scent. "Shampoo, why are you a cat?"
"Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow."
"Shampoo, I don't understand cat either."
"Meow," the cat said in a sad tone.
Ranma quickly put the backpack on, glad that his cloak would keep it from soaking through and turning him back into a girl, the Jusenkyo animals nestled in his free arm which held them against his chest, he took off towards the dojo, hoping to get his friends some hot water, and hear how someone he kept from getting cursed once ended up doing it again.
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If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.
Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.
Also, if you have any suggestions for how this should go, let me know. My own imagination, while vast, always enjoys a new thought. Also, catch me if you don't think I am making the characters true to form, or a way to make them better.