Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and Full Moon o Sagashite are not mine.
Author's foreword: Thanks for the reviews. I really didn't expect so many for the little I had done. I'll do my best to keep you guys entertained.
Crystlshake: Thanks for the corrections.
Reminder here that I wrote this under the assumption that no one here has seen or read what Full Moon o sagashite is. My version of the universe will be drastically different so that the fic itself isn't too large a spoiler.
Fumbling for the Full Moon
By ToastedPine
Chapter 1
Mitsuki snuggled deeper into the thick folds of her kotatsu, letting the heated table's warmth spread. She listened to Ranma talk about everything from far away lands filled with giant monsters to principles of ki manipulation. She had been skeptical at first and didn't understand most of what was said, but demonstrations like floating balls of light, and catching the entire contents of a pencil case in mid air, quickly erased any doubts in her mind.
She wondered what it was like to be as free as him-- unconstrained by the limits of his body, able to do anything he wanted...
"... and that's how I can jump over the wall." Ranma, grinning, plopped down beside her.
Mitsuki blinked, 'he's done?' she thought. "You must be thirsty!" She stood up quickly and bowed, her cheeks bright red. "Wait here okay? I'll get some tea, my apologies for being such a terrible host."
She was about to go to the kitchen to fetch some refreshments when another bout of coughing hit.
Ranma was by her side in an instant. "You okay? You shouldn't push yourself like that while you're sick an' all. I'm not thirsty so you don't have to get me anything." He sat her back down.
Mitsuki squirmed under the intensity of Ranma's gaze while he sat down across from her. "That's not just normal coughing ain't it?" The blue in his eyes seemed to take on a brighter hue.
Mitsuki froze. 'Did he know?' She didn't want to worry him, not while they barely knew each other. "...it's just a normal cough... really..."
"Look, I know there's something wrong with your throat. Tell me what it is, maybe I can help."
"I... have a tumor," she began in a small voice, "but Wakaouji-Sensei's been treating me with medicine, and I know it'll all work out!" Ranma would be her friend despite knowing her problem, she had to have faith.
Ranma hesitate at first then frowned. "There's no way medicine will get rid of that easy unless it's magic."
"I could undergo an operation--"
"Then what're you waiting for? Get the operation right away so you can get better. I'll even carry you to the hospital myself!"
"I won't." She looked straight into his eyes and fused to blink.
"Why? You don't want to end up dead do ya?"
She shook her head. "I'm not afraid of death. The operation, if I get it, will destroy my vocal chords. My deepest fear isn't dying, it's not being able to sing."
Ranma's expression switched from stunned to frustrated, "Crazy girl, what the heck are you talking about!"
"It's my life, I'm the one who will decide how I live it." She placed her hands over her chest and closed her eyes. "Somehow, my heart keeps beating. Music and the rhythm of my heart are one-- so long as one exists, the other will continue." She pulled out a letter from her dresser and showed it to Ranma.
"See?" She held up a sheet of paper like it was the greatest thing in the world, her eyes twinkling with hope. "I passed the initial screening for Seed Record's auditions a month from now."
Ranma's eyebrow arched as he read biographical information, "Says here you're sixteen."
Mitsuki lowered her head. "I'll dress up and put on some make up to make me look older..."
Ranma snorted at her idea, but the smile on his face remained. "Fine, you've won me over. I won't bother you about the operation." He suddenly jumped when he noticed daylight fading. "Aw man, it's getting late. I've got to get back before Pops eats my dinner. See ya later Mitsuki!"
She waved at Ranma as he bounced over the stone wall. She felt all warm inside. He was going to be back.
Dinner had ended by the time Ranma stepped into the house through the yard. The lights were out in the living room, meaning he was extremely late because the family usually sat around and watched TV for about an hour after dinner.
"Oh my, it isn't like you at all to miss dinner Ranma." Kasumi walked in from the hallway, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Ehehe," he scratched the back of his head. "I forgot the time is all." His stomach chose to rumble loudly in protest.
Kasumi giggled. "I saved some dinner for you before Mister Saotome could eat it..." she tilted her head when she noticed his muted expression, "is something wrong?"
"Huh? Nothing Kasumi. Thanks, you're a life saver!" Kasumi nodded, before ducking into the kitchen to warm his meal.
He ate at slowly, and was picking at the fish bones and grains of rise around his bowl when Akane thundered down the stairs. "Ranma, where were you? The whole family was worried sick!"
"Nowhere Akane, just out wandering around." He prodded the remains of his meal.
"...you didn't go visit the floozies?"
"If I had, then I wouldn't be eating dinner here." He responded languidly.
Akane bristled. "Hah! Like them feeding you would actually fill that black hole you call a stomach."
Ranma didn't respond, nor did he bother looking up at his bowl to watch Akane leave, her soft footfalls in stark contrast with how she arrived.
The moon cast its silver beams upon the dojo, creating long shadows of Ranma winding down from a kata. He took a few deep breaths until his mind was clear before assuming the lotus position.
He promised Mitsuki that he wouldn't nag her about getting an operation. That didn't mean he wasn't going to help her. The art had been his constant companion in times of need, and there was no reason it would fail him now.
Ranma searched his mind for techniques that might help, beads of sweat accumulated on his forehead from the strain...
...he fell asleep five minutes later.
Ranma sped through the school halls, ignoring the angry yells of people he ruffled. Soon, he reached the teacher room door. His palms were cold and sweaty and the lump in his throat just wouldn't go away.
He opened the door slowly, grimacing at the blinding light streaming from within. It didn't matter; he knew the person he was looking for sat closest to the door.
Ranma bowed low, she was his only hope. "Please Sensei, let me study your body!"
"Oh Ranma," came an old raspy voice, "I hadn't realized you needed so much education. Don't worry, I'll let you study my body all you want..."
At that point, Ranma's vision adjusted enough to see who he addressed. In front of him was Happosai in all his shriveled glory, wearing a long brown wig and a tight yellow dress, his ancient finger sliding a bra strap off his shoulder.
"Come here sonny," Happosai in drag crooned.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Ranma awoke clawing at his eyes, and was immediately splashed by cold water.
"Ughhh," her bleary eyes found Akane's outline, "thanks, I needed that."
"What were you dreaming about? I haven't seen you that scared since--"
"You don't want to know Akane," Ranma quickly interrupted before she could say the dreaded "C" word, "trust me." She sat up and grimaced at the smell of the water on her. "Geez, you coulda doused me with some clean water."
Akane launched the wooden bucket at Ranma, strinking pigtailed martial artist's head dead on. "Well sorry for caring! Sometimes I don't know why I even bother." She slammed the screen behind her.
Ranma let the droplets fall from her bangs onto her face. That was the last time she would ever let herself think so deeply. The good news was she had found her solution; Hinako's Five-Yen-Satsu technique would be the perfect way to heal Mitsuki and get her looking older at the same time.
First thing's first, she needed a bath. Badly.
Preview:
"This is risky so I'll only teach you the technique if you agree to my conditions-"
"I agree," Mitsuki adopted a sing song tone.
"Listen to me first before agreeing, brat." Ranma attempted his own version of Soun's Demon Head attack. All he managed was an evil looking purple aura, which almost did the trick... almost.
"Kyaaaa! Ranma-san is sooo scary."
Author's Rambling:
I chose to concentrate on characterization instead for this chapter.
Hopefully, you guys found it interesting.
If not, well I'll try to add heartier elements in the future.