-patchmonkey
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2, Aa! Megami-sama, and associated properties are used in a derivative work without permission. Scenes a faire, character placement and wording, changes in personality, and specific situations as they differ from any extant work are non-infringing uses and are held with rights reserved to this author. Republishing of this work, without permission from the original authors or the derivative author is strictly prohibited.
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Getting Home Wednesday
Exordium: Genma's Friend
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The fact was, Genma believed that his son was going to be greater than him in the Art one day, and he was proud of that. Of course, that didn't stop him from trying harder. Not much could actually stop Genma at this point, save for food or possibly Happosai, who thankfully, was buried under a whole bunch of rubble.
The boy had been acting strangely lately, he thought, ever since June, he had seemed much calmer and in tune with his emotions. His ability in the art had grown by leaps and bounds, and he supposed it was the new, calmer nature of the boy that did it. He had heard that many of the greatest masters could display that sort of control, and if it made Ranma better, terrific! Nodoka would surely think that he fulfilled the contract when Ranma and he returned.
Now if he could only get him to leave without that Ukyo girl, but it looked like it was going to be more trouble than he first thought.
"So, Ranma, which do you like more? Okonomiyaki or Ukyo?" asked Genma.
Ranma looked up from where he was practicing a new kata that involved elements of Ukyo's style. It was a melding of both Arts, but one that took the greatest strengths of both to create a stronger form. "Well, pops, is there really any choice? I've been thinking about that since you asked me yesterday, and I choose Ucchan. She's really a good cook, and I like Okonomiyaki too," replied Ranma.
"You knew she was a girl, boy? I thought you thought she was a boy!"
"How could I think that? I can feel her aura is that of a girl."
Genma groaned. He forgot about the other talents Ranma had been displaying.
"Very well then, boy. We leave tomorrow, you, me, and Ukyo."
"Yippee! I'm gonna go tell her now...and I'm awfully hungry too!"
Things were not at all going to plan, but now Genma had a chance to train two youngsters in the Art. It can't be that bad, Genma. At least the master is still sealed in that cave, and the boy still respects you! You're the man!
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Marller walked around the small village, bored out of her mind. "Swell. Stuck here, on Midgard, with nothing to do, and no place to go, since I haveto find this moron and convince him that he gets a wish. Whoopteedoo," she mumbled to herself.
Boredom never lasts too long when you involve Ranma, his dad, and his adopted sister.
"Boy, you must learn the Neko-ken! How can you ever expect to become a true martial artist without suffering for the art! Now get back in there, and make sure those cats teach you something this time!"
"Pops, it ain't my fault that they won't attack me! Every time, they just sit there, and the old one comes over, licks me, and slowly peels all the fish sausage off me. It's just like they won't attack."
"Well, figure it out and learn the Neko-ken now, boy!"
"Old man, are you sure that's a good idea? What if the cats try and get him this time?" queried Ukyo.
"Shush."
Ranma went back in, and the cats just stared at him. Then, just as every previous time, the leader, a white cat with a tint of goldish fur on his face, would cheerfully peel the fish sausage off, meow, and bring it back to the other cats. Not at all interesting, unless you count the fact that the cats recognized divinity.
"Hey. You, in the gi. What in hell's your name?" asked the leather-clad blonde girl as she approached Genma.
"Genma Saotome, Master of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts. Can you leave us alone? This is a very delicate training exercise."
"You're Genma? Great. I'll just wait here till you're done. What is it you're doing, anyway?"
"I'm trying to teach my son the Neko-ken, but the stupid cats never attack him."
"Wow. He really does deserve a demonic wish," thought Mahler.
"Anyway, look here. I'm sure this is all fascinating for all involved, but I'm here to tell you that my people have granted you a wish. Whatever you want. No strings attached. No worries, just wish for whatever the hell you want, and it's yours!"
"Um..."
"Oh, so you want credentials. Name's Mahler. Demoness Second Class, Limited. So you got a wish yet?"
"This doesn't involve me going to any of the Hells, or losing my soul, does it?" asked Genma.
"Genma, you got nothin' to worry about there," chuckled Mahler.
"Hmm...fine. I got one. I wish that Ranma would be above any other man...that he'd be the best he could be, so that Nodoka doesn't follow through with that contract."
"Great. That's a great wish. You're a real nice guy there, Genma," intoned Mahler as the wind began to pick up and leaves swirled around the two of them. Well, I'll be going now. Enjoy your wish, have fun with your kids, and keep robbing shrines. Later!"
Genma just kept looking for the hidden camera in the woods.
Ranma began screaming.
The boy's finally learning the Neko-ken! Yes! thought Genma, as Ukyo ran over.
"Hey, old man, what does it mean when it says that whomever learns this technique goes insane?"
"Uh..."
Meanwhile, inside the pit, a young boy was frightened by the sudden change in the cats attitude. Even more frightening to him was the fact that he could now understand the lead cat.
"What arrrrre you, not-human-god-demon? You werrrren't like this before...now you arrre differrrent."
"I don't know. Why can you guys all of a sudden talk to me?"
"We could beforrre, not-human-god-demon. You just didn't listen. Why arrre you herrre?"
"My pop's making me the worlds best martial artist. I'm trying to learn the Neko-ken so I can become the greatest!"
All the cats turned to face Ranma. "The Neko-ken, not-human-god-demon? Does he not know of the dangerrrs?" asked the leader.
"He always says that we must face great dangers for the Art."
"Yourrrr fatherrr is an idiot, not-human-god-demon. The Neko-ken will drrrive any who learrrrrn it imprrrroperrrrly insane, and we arrre not permitted to teach it to you. Come closer to me, and I will marrrk you with the cat's sign. One day, though you do not need it, the Lady might seek you now that you will be marked."
The cat clawed a v-shaped mark into Ranma's left hand, and Ranma screamed.
"Quiet, not-human-god-demon! You arrrrre not hurrrrrt, it is in your mind!" scolded the white cat with gold markings.
"You surrre? Huh? Why'd that happen?"
"Don't worrrry, not-human-god-demon. It's a little trrrick on yourrrr fatherrrr. He'll think you learned the Neko-ken. It will go away in a turrrrning of the Earrrth. You should leave now. We might meet again, not-human-god-demon."
"'Bye, cat."
(End Exordium, Version 1.0.)