Chapter Ichi: Clichéd opening number 42
A butterfly stood on an outstretched blade of grass flexing it's wings in preparation for lift off. Suddenly a foot came down out of nowhere crushing the small insect underneath. As the foot continued on it's way mindless of what occurred, the butterfly twitched feebly before stilling, never to flap it's wings again.
This was a good thing however. If the butterfly had taken off flying, the minuscule air currents it gave off would have led to one of the greatest hurricanes in recorded history some six weeks later. The resulting devastation would have left most of the eastern seaboard of the United States unrecognizable. This in turn would have led to an economic downturn that the US would never recover from. Even later, the US in an attempt to rebuild it's dying glory would enter into a war over oil rights in the middle east which in turn would escalate into a global war ending in nuclear exchange and the eventual annihilation of the human race.
Ranma, Savior of the world, walked on oblivious to how close to the end of things he had come. He was deep in thought as depression weighed heavily upon him. His father walked along beside him as they followed the guide his Genma had hired to lead them to Jusenkyou. He was a girl, an honest to goodness girl! Granted he could change back with hot water but only until the next time he got wet with cold water. It wasn't fair! He had promised he'd come back to her after this last leg of his training trip. How could he face her when he couldn't even face himself? Ranma caught a glimpse of his, no, her reflection. Fate was cruel. He could never go back to the woman he'd fallen for, had planned to marry one day, yet he was forced to look at her face every time his cursed form saw it's reflection.
The guide's babbling broke Ranma from his introspection and he looked up. Seeing they were coming to a village, Ranma's spirits rose. Maybe these Amazons had a cure like the Guide had led them to believe.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Japan a redheaded girl sneezed violently in her sleep and rolled over ungracefully to lie sprawled on her back, loudly snoring over the sound of her alarm clock.
* * * * * * * * * *
About five months later:
Ranma plopped down tiredly in front of the TV, in girl form. It had been one of the worst weeks in her life and showed no signs of stopping soon. She had just gotten back from one of the worst fights of her life. One where she almost died. One where Akane did die, at least she hadn't been breathing for about a minute. Ranma had killed for her. She didn't know that Saffron would be reborn a few minutes later. In Ranma's mind she had killed for a woman she thought she loved. Everything started looking up afterwards. Akane had stopped hitting her and they had actually gotten along on the trip home. Shampoo and Ryouga had behaved themselves. And as long as Shampoo wasn't glomping Ranma, Mousse was actually a nice guy to have around. Everyone had stayed pretty quiet the whole trip. Mostly in awe of Ranma's power. The battle had been something out of an epic hero tale. When they had finally gotten home, Ranma felt that things had finally settled down. They hadn't discussed it but Ranma felt she and Akane had an understanding about their feelings. Ranma was actually accepting the idea she would become married to Akane eventually. There had been a brief time shortly after her arrival at the Tendo dojo when she had searched for her old girlfriend but after finding she had moved Ranma decided it was probably for the best. She had moved on with her life and it was time Ranma did the same. She briefly wondered sometimes how she would have reacted to the curse. So Ranma had finally come to terms, or so she thought, with her lot in life and what her future held. She would marry Akane and they would carry on the dojo together. It wasn't quite the ending she would have preferred for her heroic epic but it would suffice. Then everything fell apart.
The wedding attempt.
It was bad enough that she'd been knocked unconscious by her own father but Soun had been planning to use a cask of Jusenkyou water to bribe Akane into marrying him. Then there was their fight, followed by the assault on the dojo by all Ranma's fiancés and rivals. Then his own father had the gall to tell him that there wouldn't be another wedding attempt until Ranma had cleaned up his life! It was after that when Akane decided to show Ranma just how upset she was at having her wedding ruined by Ranma's life. Hence the reason she was sitting staring at the TV in her girl form. Akane had thoroughly beat Ranma and left him, her, unconscious in the koi pond. Ranma growled. Akane didn't want to get married, she hated him, she called him names and hit him all the time yet she was upset about her wedding being ruined. Ranma had officially given up trying to understand the girl some time ago but this was a new low. And his father! The nerve of the old bastard acting as if this whole mess was his fault! Other than Shampoo, which Ranma still felt was somewhat Genma's fault for telling Ranma that the feast was a free buffet, none of Ranma's fiancé problems were his fault. He could accept responsibility for his problems with Ryouga and Kuno and maybe even Kodachi. At least there was no honor involved in him telling Kodachi off.
Realizing she wasn't solving anything by going around and around with her problems she sat back and turned the TV on. At first Ranma thought it was some sort of Sci Fi movie playing before she realized it was a news broadcast. Apparently there had been some sort of alien invasion up at Graviton City. It was a modern city built on the crater of a meteor strike about a hundred kilometers north of Tokyo. It had become some sort of headquarters for the JSDF and apparently they had managed to shoot down the ship after a huge fire fight that had destroyed a good section of town. Ranma shook her head. After having just defeated a self proclaimed god in battle, Ranma was pretty open to the weird these days. She watched as the camera panned over a good deal of the wreckage as the reporter talked at great lengths about the tragedy. The camera zoomed in on a partly demolished school that had a good sized chunk of the space craft sitting next to it. Ranma gasped in surprise at the flash of red hair as a girl crawled out of the wreckage. The camera went in for a close up as the girl stood up and laughed nervously with a hand bashfully behind her head. He recognized that gesture, he'd learned it from her after all. Sitting back with a dazed expression she couldn't tear her eyes from the TV.
"A-chan..."
* * * * * * * * * *
Akane was pissed. Ranma had disappeared the night of the wedding and even with the whole of the Nerima Wrecking Crew no one could find a trace of him. It had been five annoying days of searching without a clue. How dare he humiliate her again like this! If he had just accepted the stupid engagement and gotten married then things would have settled down. She was sure Ranma had taken off to learn some new technique or to seduce some new fiancé. That was just like him. She had accepted the fact that her soon to be husband was a pervert and a womanizer the likes the world hadn't seen since Happosai was a kid. She just wanted to get the marriage out of the way so she could fulfill her family's honor and force Ranma to divorce her and commit Seppuku or renounce his name the first time she caught him cheating on her. After all, her honor was at stake, as well as her need to win the fiancé race.
She stomped up the stairs to her room, shaking the whole house in her wake. Akane sighed as she opened her door and went in her room. Sometimes, just sometimes, she wished Ranma wasn't so much of a perverted jerk. He could be nice if he tried. And he was good looking. Akane blushed at that, ideas of what her wedding night could have been like. Of course thinking of the wedding brought back her familiar anger. He irritated her to no end. If only Ranma would act like a man instead of a little boy! Maybe that was the answer. Nodoka Saotome could make Ranma be more of a man. The threat of her katana always kept him in line when she visited. Then she remembered the Saotome matriarch had funny ideas of manliness. Well, she would get married as her father had asked and honor would be fulfilled. As to whether it would last, Akane would leave that up to Ranma and his behaviour.
Having worked out a solution to her current problem, Akane finally noticed the ornate envelope lying on her desk. It hadn't been there earlier when she had left. Picking it up she saw her name written in flowing calligraphy. Opening it, she wondered who could have left it. After all, Ranma didn't have that neat of handwriting.
Akane: You are invited to attend Cha-No-Yu in the Tendo dojo at nine o'clock am on Saturday the sixteenth of this month. Formal Kimono Required. Ranma Saotome.
Frowning, Akane set the letter back down on the desk. Saturday meant tomorrow. Whatever was going on was serious. Tea ceremony wasn't to be taken lightly. She was positive now that Ranma wasn't behind this. The baka didn't know the first thing about being polite or honorable. This was probably another weird fiancé come to try and take Ranma away again. She got up to go see if Nabiki had found any trace of Ranma yet when there was a knock at her door and Nabiki came in with a similar envelope to the one she had just opened.
"Ah, I see you got one too." She commented.
Akane nodded, "It's probably just another challenge for Ranma. This new fiancé is just being more formal than usual."
"It's signed 'Ranma Saotome'."
"You know Ranma's handwriting stinks." Akane replied.
Nabiki shrugged, "Well, anyway... if this will all be cleared up tomorrow then I'll call off the bloodhounds. No use wasting money looking for Ranma if he's going to be here in the morning." She turned and left Akane alone to ponder just what was going to happen.
* * * * * * * * * *
Nabiki fidgeted in her dress kimono remembering sullenly the last time she had worn it. It had been the day Ranma arrived in their lives. She idly wondered the significance of that. Would Ranma be leaving today? She had to admit that Ranma had freaked her out that first day they had met, it was one of the reasons Akane had ended up being engaged to him even though Nabiki had been more than willing to go along with the idea of an arranged marriage. Her prospects at Furinkan were slim at best and dating had been none at all, unless you counted all the times she scammed Kuno for food. After getting to know Ranma, Nabiki had realized she'd made a mistake about the roguish martial artist. It was too late now she realized. Especially after the debacle with her taking over the engagement from Akane that one time. She had pushed him away with her schemes and tricks. At best Ranma would never be more than a brother to her and Nabiki had accepted that.
She had been hoping that Ranma and Akane would eventually get along and finally realize they were in love so she could at last have the brother Ranma had become in her eyes. That was one of the reasons she had sabotaged the wedding. Ranma and Akane were nowhere near to confessing their feelings yet and a marriage would have ended in a messy divorce shortly afterwards. She was worried though. Akane had been more and more open with her feelings towards Ranma and they weren't what Nabiki had originally thought they were. Akane had become obsessed with Ranma and saw him as a prize, possibly more so than the other fiancés. She was determined to win him and prove she was the best. Afterwards, well, Nabiki thought Ranma would stay with Akane as a matter of honor no matter how much abuse the violent girl heaped on him. If that didn't kill him, Akane would likely get tired of him and divorce him over his imagined affairs and unfaithfulness.
Nabiki shook her head as she headed downstairs. Damn it Akane, can't you see that your own insecurity is pushing away possibly the best thing that could ever happen in your life? She saw the rest of the family standing around the backdoor of the house staring out into the yard. Apparently the whole family had received invitations to the tea ceremony.
There was a knock at the front door and Kasumi went to answer it. She returned a minute later with the entire Nerima Wrecking Crew. The amazons, the okinamiyaki chef, and the Kuno siblings. Ryouga was absent, probably lost again. This tea ceremony must be more important than she had first realized. What are you doing Ranma? Nabiki smirked, Shampoo looked as uncomfortable in her kimono and she felt in hers. She had to keep from laughing at the sight of the Amazon Matriarch in a formal Japanese kimono however and averted her eyes to where the rest of the family was gathered. She went over to see what the big deal was and gasped in awe.
The Tendo yard had been immaculately groomed. Every blade of grass was the same height and looked almost like it had been combed. The flowers and bushes were all trimmed and arranged. Not a rock was out of place and even the koi pond was sparkling clear. She'd never seen the yard look so neat and clean. Then there was the dojo itself. The wood had all been cleaned and either polished or painted where appropriate. The rice paper in the doors had been replaced and had ornate ink splash paintings or kanji on them. And there was a low bar across the main doors to the dojo itself so that a person would have to prostrate themselves in humility in order to enter.
Kasumi broke the silence, "It is time. Shall we go see what this is about?"
There were nods of agreement as the group made their way to the dojo, careful not to disturb the yard.
Akane was barely containing her anger as she approached the doors. It was only her respect for an ancient Japanese tradition that kept her from barging into the dojo and demanding to know where her fiancé was. As it was she was the first to kneel and slide the dojo door open to move inside. There was a figure sitting in the middle of the dojo and it took a moment for Akane's eyes to adjust before she realized who it was.
It was Ranma, in girl form, sitting sieza with various tea implements about her. Akane's anger fled in surprise. She's beautiful! Ranma had her hair down so that it flowed over her shoulders framing her face and bringing attention to her deep blue eyes. She was dressed in an ornate white kimono with sakura petal print. Akane sat sieza in front of Ranma as the others came in and gradually formed a semicircle around the redhead.
"Pigtailed gir..." Kuno started before getting an elbow in the gut from his sister. Kodachi didn't know what the redheaded harlot had planned but as a noblewoman, she respected the tea ceremony.
Once everyone was settled and quiet, Ranma went into motion. With a skill that boggled Akane, Ranma set to making green tea. The movements were exact and showed none of the uncouth, rude boy Akane would have expected. It was done in complete silence aside from the noise of the water or the brush mixing the tea. Ranma began to serve tea starting at her left. Tatewaki Kuno being the first to be served.
His hands trembled as he took the cup and turned it. He couldn't remember if he should turn it clockwise or counterclockwise he was so overcome. Surely the pigtailed girl had called everyone here to publicly announce her intention to wed himself. He took a sip and wiped the edge of the cup before turning it again and handing it back to Ranma.
As the process continued, Nabiki watched everyone's reactions. Akane had the same trouble as Kuno when her turn came. Ukyou seemed to know exactly what she was doing and moved with trained if rusty precision. When her turn came, Nabiki accepted the cup and realized Ranma had made eye contact with her. She hadn't done that with anyone else the entire ceremony. Just what is your game Saotome? She took her drink and went through the motions better than Ukyou had. Just because she wasn't a martial artist didn't mean she didn't study other traditions. Cha-No-Yu was very useful in business transactions. She allowed a small smile to grace her features as she gave the tea cup back to Ranma. To her surprise, Ranma returned it although it was so slight that only her or maybe Cologne would have caught it.
Ranma finally served Cologne who was at the end of the line. Akane let out a frustrated sigh of relief that the preliminaries were done and they could get down to the business Ranma had wasted everyone's time for. She almost screamed as Ranma began the process of cleaning and arranging all the utensils and implements. Finally Ranma finished and sat back and eyed everyone thoughtfully.
"First of all, let me remind you that this is a Cha-No-Yu. There will be no violence in word or action here. I would like you all to listen to what I have to say before you respond. This catastrophe called my life has gone on too long and it is time to settle things for better or worse." Ranma began.
"First things first, Kodachi and Tatewaki Kuno." She looked directly at Kuno, "Do you know what my name is?"
Kuno looked blank for a moment, "Uh... well..."
"Have you ever talked to me? Gotten to know me beyond your declarations of love?" Ranma continued in a low non-threatening tone, "No you haven't. That isn't how you win love. Grabbing women and declaring your love with bad poetry will not get you a date. If you had taken the time to get to know me then you would know that my name is Ranma Saotome." Ranma picked up the remains of the hot water from the tea ceremony and poured it over her head.
Kuno fainted away as Ranma transformed. Kodachi sat with a stunned expression for a moment then seemed to shrug as if it didn't matter.
Ranma seemed a little surprised at the female Kuno's reaction but pressed on, "Kodachi, I know you have feelings for me but I do not wish to have anything more than a friendship with you. I do not love you, but I do like you and if you will be my friend then I will be happy."
There were tears in Kodachi's eyes but she nodded in agreement.
Ranma turned to Ukyou, "Ukyou, Ucchan, You were my best friend at a time when I needed a friend badly. I was still missing my mother and Pops is hardly a loving caring parent." There was a snort from the panda man.
Ranma hung his head, "I honestly thought you were a boy all these years. The differences between boys and girls didn't become apparent to me until I started Junior High School. I'm sorry, but every time I think of you I see my old friend Ucchan, a boy. You will always be my friend but I can't love you the way you want."
"But...my dowry..." She began.
Ranma gulped and seemed to steel himself. The air temperature seemed to drop as Ranma called forth the soul of ice, "Ukyou, you gambled the Yattai away to the gambler king when we were kids. If Genma owes anyone anything, he should repay the Gambler King. I'm sorry."
Ukyou collapsed into tears, sobbing softly.
Ranma turned next to Cologne and the other amazons, "Elder."
"Saotome-san." Cologne replied with a slight bow, "What do you have to offer us?"
Ranma smirked a little, "Can't put anything past you can I? My offer is this, I will not marry Shampoo. My bloodline is what is important to you isn't it? I will give Shampoo one child to raise as an Amazon on the condition that it comes to train with me after it turns sixteen. Also all kisses of death or marriage are null and void."
"And if we refuse this offer?" Cologne asked, testing the waters.
"I defeated Saffron the phoenix god. You figure it out."
Cologne smirked her eyes narrowing a bit, "Very well, we accept you offer on the condition that you will come to the tribe's aid in times of need."
"As long as it's in defense of the tribe there will be no problem. Do not expect my help if you go looking for trouble." Ranma said back.
Cologne nodded and sat back. Akane was barely holding back her anger at Ranma's proposal. He was actually offering to get Shampoo pregnant! It was only Kasumi's hand on her shoulder that kept her from attacking Ranma.
Ranma turned to the assembled Tendo and Saotome clans, "I thought long and hard on what to do about the Saotome, Tendo agreement."
"You will marry Akane." Genma said.
Ranma frowned at Genma's outburst, "If I remember rightly, I was to marry one of the Tendo daughters. Tendo Soun even told me to choose any one I wanted. It was Kasumi and Nabiki who pushed Akane off onto me."
Kasumi was shocked. Was he going to change the engagement to me? I like him but... he's so young! She thought lamely. Her cheeks colored nonetheless.
Nabiki thought back to when she was Ranma's fiancé. Could she make it work this time?
Akane was getting so mad she could hardly think let alone ponder the implications of Ranma's words. She was still obsessing over Ranma's offer to knock up the Chinese Bimbo.
"After the Wedding incident I have realized a few things. First of all, I'm too young to get married. I won't even turn seventeen for another three months. Secondly, I won't be forced into anything against my will. I've decided my honor is my own. For all the dishonor Genma Saotome has done, the multiple engagements and promises he had made in both his and my name he should either commit Seppuku or be cast out of the Saotome clan. I have realized that is unlikely to happen nor is Genma likely to make amends or restitution. I will offer this last chance for honor to be at least partly fulfilled. A way for both clans to save some face in the light of dishonor."
Akane seemed to focus finally on what Ranma was saying. Maybe he'd finally come to his senses and decided to marry Akane after all. Nodoka gave Genma a stern look that promised pain and explanations later.
"From the first day I arrived here to the night of the wedding, I have put up with abuse that probably would have killed others. I have been beat, pummeled, and knocked unconscious almost on a daily basis for five months now. I have tried and tried to make things work. Granted I have an enormous ego and a mouth to match. I will offer the Tendo clan the same offer I gave the Amazons. Or if you like I will train one of Soun Tendo's grandchildren in the Saotome Ryu."
Akane couldn't take it anymore. Ranma had just offered to impregnate her and her sisters too! She had known all along he was a womanizing pervert!
"No! Ranma you Pervert! You will marry me and have my child or I'll kill you myself. I won't let you touch my sisters or that filthy amazon tramp! You're mine do you hear! I fought long and hard and won't be turned away! You were given to me and I own you!" Akane screamed.
It was as if a dam broke. Both the Genma and Soun began shouting how Ranma would marry Akane. Kuno was regaining consciousness from all the shouting, mumbling something about 'foul sorcery'.
Genma stood up and towered over Ranma, "Boy you will marry Akane or I'll have you thrown out of the clan!"
Ranma sighed and stood, picking up the bucket of water from the tea ceremony, "Fine then."
Genma stepped back with a satisfied expression at Ranma's statement.
"I am no longer a Saotome. I hereby renounce my clan, my art, and if need be, my gender." Ranma poured the water over himself, reverting to the smaller redhead. Kuno fainted again.
"Oh no you don't!" Akane yelled. She pulled her mallet and swung.
Ranma wasn't there. Then Akane realized her stomach was hurting badly. She looked down to see Ranma's small fist buried in her gut. Ranma stepped back and let Akane collapse to the floor.
"Anyone else wish to make a statement?" Ranma asked. Behind her Genma turned around, and promptly collapsed unconscious. Nobody had even seen Ranma strike him.
"If no one else wishes to say anything then I call this Cha-No-Yu over and a failure as well." She turned and walked out, stepping over the bar on the door.
Soun had collapsed next to Akane, bawling that the schools would never be joined. The Amazons took their leave. Cologne planned to talk to Ranma later once things had calmed some. Kodachi lifted her brother over her shoulder and left, leaping over the boundary wall towards her estate. Ukyou managed to pull herself together enough to bow politely and leave.
Nodoka looked at her husband on the floor once, then hurried towards the house to catch up with her son. Kasumi and Nabiki decided to follow. The three women reached the top of the stairs and entered the guest room. Ranma had already changed clothes and was busy packing a backpack.
"Ranma..." Nodoka began.
"I'm sorry mother. I've tried everything else I could think of. The Saotome name has brought me nothing but pain. Living life as a ronin will be tough but not as hard as it was being a Saotome. I don't want you to hate me but I had to do something." Ranma said as she packed.
Nodoka sighed and seemed to fold in on herself, "This is my fault. If I hadn't let Genma take you away from me all those years ago this never would have happened." She sobbed.
Ranma stopped and looked up at his mother. Nabiki and Kasumi stood on both sides of her with looks of concern. Getting up, Ranma went and hugged her mother tightly. She was shocked a moment later when she felt two more people join in.
Finally, Nodoka composed herself. She pulled away and everyone separated.
"Son, I'm going to divorce your father and take back my family name." She said through sniffles. "If you want, you can take that name as well. You won't be ronin."
"If that isn't good enough then Kasumi and I will adopt you as our brother into the Tendo registry." Nabiki said.
Ranma looked at Nabiki as if she'd grown two heads and started sing rowdy bar songs.
Nabiki gave Ranma one of her patented half smiles, "Ranma, Kasumi and I care a lot about you. You've come to be like a brother to us. You would have been one in reality if Akane had bothered to grow up and realize what she was passing up."
"Nabiki's right. You're family to us and as much as we love Akane we realize what she was doing was wrong. We're sorry." Kasumi said, bowing. Nabiki followed suit.
Ranma's brow furrowed in thought for a moment, "I'll consider both your offers. Thank you. Right now though I need to get away for a while so I can think. I also need to see an old friend I thought I'd lost."
Kasumi came forward and gave Ranma a hug, "Hold on a second and I'll get you something to eat on your way." She turned and left the room.
"By the way Ranma, how did you do all that stuff? You know, the invitations, the tea ceremony?" Nabiki asked.
Ranma laughed nervously, scratching behind her head, "Well, you know, martial arts calligraphy and Tea Ceremony. After the first time I had to deal with them I kept practicing, just in case. And well, if it has martial arts in the title..." She trailed off.
Nabiki looked at her 'brother' with newfound respect. She too came forward and gave him a hug. As she pulled away though, Nabiki gave Ranma a full kiss on the lips.
Ranma stepped back and landed on her butt. She stared at Nabiki in confusion.
"Oh, Ranma. If only I hadn't pushed you away that day..." Nabiki shrugged and left as well.
Nodoka looked at her son turned daughter. Even as a girl he's manly! "I will be at our family home when you return son. Take care of yourself and call me often so I don't worry."
Ranma nodded and got up, lifting her pack to her shoulder, "Don't worry mom. I'm the best martial artist ever. I'll be fine."
Nodoka looked at her son sadly, "But you renounced your art."
Ranma's expression dropped, "Oh yeah... that kinda sucks. I wouldn't want to use Pops, I mean Genma's style anyway. It's too dishonorable." Her expression brightened, "I'll just have to create my own style then!"
There was a cough from the window, "No need to do that my boy."
Ranma turned to see Happosai standing on the windowsill smoking his pipe, "It took a lot of guts to do what you did today boy."
"What do you want old man?" Ranma said threateningly.
"Why, is that anyway to talk to your martial arts master?" The miniature lech cackled as he tossed a rolled up piece of paper to Ranma.
"What's this?"
"That my boy is my permission to practice the Anything Goes Style of Martial Arts. Just put your name in the blank when you decide on one."
Ranma frowned, "Why are you doing this?"
"A number of reasons. One, you're one of the best fighters I've ever seen. Not even grown up and already able to take on masters with decades more experience. Two, you've earned it, time and again. And three, because it will annoy the hell out of Soun and Genma." Happosai laughed.
Ranma chuckled a little herself, "Yeah, that last one's a pretty good reason."
"See you around boy. You have great things in store for you and I plan to be there to see it happen." With that the old man leapt out of the window and disappeared.
I guess he's not as bad as I thought. Ranma shrugged and looked over the scroll. It proclaimed him as a master of the school all right. The decorative border around the text however was done in pictures of panties and bras. Then again...
She turned back to her mother, "Looks like I get to practice the art after all. As soon as I decide on a name... What was your maiden name anyway mom?"
Nodoka turned to Ranma, "It was Raynor."
Ranma rolled the unfamiliar word around in his head.
"Your grandfather was an Irishman from America. Didn't you ever wonder why your girl side had red hair?"
Ranma vaguely remembered meeting family from his mother's side when he was real little. She shrugged as if it wasn't that big a deal.
There was a crash outside in the dojo, "I'd better leave now while I still can." Ranma leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek then rushed downstairs. Kasumi was just leaving the kitchen with a wrapped bento as Ranma reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Here Ranma. Please take care of yourself. Call or visit us once you've decided what you're going to do with your life." Kasumi handed the package to Ranma and gave a slight bow.
Ranma took the bento and gave Kasumi one of her trademark smiles, "Sure thing sis! I'll call you once I get to Graviton city. There's a friend there I haven't seen since junior high that I owe some explanations to."
Kasumi blushed at the sister comment and shooed Ranma out the front door. She turned back and moved towards the dojo trying to decide the best way to misdirect the others that would surely try to follow Ranma.
Ranma made her way as far as the canal before she sensed a presence behind her. Turning, she smirked and relaxed her stance, "What can I do for you Elder?" There was a little sarcasm in the word 'Elder'.
"Ranma my boy, how polite you've become." Cologne laughed as she leapt from a nearby wall to balance on her staff near Ranma.
Ranma shrugged, "No reason not to be anymore. I assume you want to discuss our deal?"
"Yes, merely the when and how to contact you. I wouldn't want Shampoo to have to track you down again."
"Hehe, yeah, well as for the when... well, whenever Shampoo is ready I guess. Go talk to Doc Tofu, he has samples..."Ranma blushed heavily, "...prepared. He said he could do an artificial unsem... insimminal... uh you know..."
Cologne almost fell off her staff, "Oh my... Shampoo is going to be so disappointed to hear she won't get to bed you." She cackled for a few minutes before finally regaining her breath, "Oh child, I've never had so much fun. You make these old bones feel young again. If you were a real girl I'd have adopted you ages ago."
Ranma wasn't sure how to take that comment but decided it would be best to leave the Amazon elder on good terms, "Heh, thanks I guess. I don't know yet where I'll be staying but get a hold of my mom later. I promised I'd let her know where I'll be. Good enough?"
The ancient woman nodded, "Yes boy that's fine. Now off with you."
Ranma bowed with a bit of humor and took off once again. Cologne watched the boy turned girl disappear over a rooftop. I wonder if I should have told him that his child, being an amazon, would make him an amazon as well? Oh well, time enough to tell my heir later. She cackled again scaring some nearby pedestrians as she took to the rooftops herself, heading back to the Nekokatten.
Ranma continued on, she knew she had to head north, it was just a matter of how. Thinking of her meager savings she doubted she could afford a train to Graviton City. She vaguely wondered how she'd be able to afford to eat tomorrow. She honestly hadn't thought that far ahead and she cursed under her breath. She had planned this in case the Tea Ceremony had failed, it was her way out of all the conflicting obligations on her honor. She had planned to go to Graviton City either way but had yet to figure out how to do so. Shrugging her shoulders she figured it would take a couple of days but she could walk the distance. Food however could be a problem, she wouldn't lower herself to her father's method of ration requisition.
"Planning on leaving without saying goodbye?" a female voice said behind her.
Ranma cursed herself for becoming so distracted that she didn't feel the other person approach. She turned around to see Kodachi standing behind her with a strange smile on her face.
"Ah, he he, hello Kodachi."
Kodachi walked up to Ranma and looked her over, "You really are him, aren't you? What is it, some kind of spell?"
Ranma sighed, "Yes, it's me. I picked up a curse in China when I was training with my father. And before you ask, I'm really a guy."
Kodachi stepped back and nodded thoughtfully, "And your offer at the Cha-No- Yu?"
Ranma looked a little nervous, "About being your friend? I always thought you needed one."
"I would like that. Being your friend that is." There was silence for a moment, "So you're leaving?"
"Yeah, I kinda need to get away. Breaking an engagement and disowning your family kinda makes things a little tough to hang around at the moment." Ranma replied.
"I couldn't even begin to imagine renouncing my family. That was incredibly brave of you." Kodachi continued.
"Yeah, I guess it was a little. So why are you acting so nice, so..."
"Sane?" She finished for Ranma, "You might say that your presentation a while ago shocked me into Sanity. I realized if you could take back your life and live on your own terms then so could I. I've been living with two lunatics for so long I kind of became one myself. Then of course there is the loneliness from being more privileged than most. It's hard to make friends when you're raised to be a stuck up snob. You were one of the first people I've met who didn't care whether I had money or not."
Ranma shrugged, "'bout all money's good for is buyin' food. Or paying off Nabiki." She smiled.
Kodachi laughed but it was good natured without the hint of madness usually associated with it, "So where will you go?" she asked after a moment to calm down.
"I have something I need to deal with in Graviton City. I don't know how long I'll be but I'll let you know through my mother what I plan to do after when I figure that out. You remember where my mother's house is right?"
Kodachi blushed in embarrassment, "I apologize for my part in demolishing your mother's home."
"It's in the past. Don't worry about it." Ranma waved it off.
Kodachi let it go for now, "If you're heading north do you have enough money for a train?"
"No, not really. I was going to walk it. Shouldn't take too long for me."
Kodachi reached into her purse and pulled out a small clip that she tossed to Ranma. He caught it easily, then almost dropped it.
"There must be over a hundred thousand yen here! I-I can't accept this." Ranma held the money clip back to Kodachi.
Kodachi glared at her, "Take it or I'll shove it down your throat. You're my friend Ranma and friends help each other right?" there was a small nod from the redhead, "You helped me see my life from a different perspective today and you offered friendship which means more to me than you can imagine. Besides, that's just what's left over from this week's allowance. I'll get more tomorrow."
"Ok Kodachi." There was a loud explosion in the distance coming from the direction of the Tendo dojo. Ranma recognized the trademark sound of the Happo-daikiren and realized Happosai must be distracting everyone from following him, "I should be going before they catch up with me."
Kodachi grinned, "I expect you come back soon and tell me personally about all your adventures."
"I'd like that, See ya around Ko-chan!" Ranma turned and made a beeline for the train depot.
Kodachi turned back towards the Kuno mansion with a lightness to her steps, "Oh brother dear, I shall have so much fun tormenting you over Ranma's curse." She entered the main gates with thoughts of shopping or maybe training with her new friend.
An hour Later Ranma was finally on a train headed to Graviton City. No one would think she'd be able to afford the trip and would assume she'd left on foot. Even if they knew where she was going, she'd have a two day head start on them. She sat back and picked at the bento Kasumi had packed, savoring the food, realizing it would be the last of her food for a while. Her mind turned to A-chan and what she'd say to her when Ranma finally found her again.
* * * * * * * * * *
Author's Useless Crap here:
Muhahahaha! Once again I start another fic before finishing the others! P#33R mY L337 F4|\| F1K 5K1LLZ. Truthfully, Even as busy as I am with school, I am almost ready with another chapter of Ah, My Akane and am Just about finished with the next chapter of Ranko's curse. Element of Shadows is going under a minor rewrite (Who knew Tanuki were real critters?) The other fics are on hold (Except City of dreams) until I can actually come up with a plot for them :P
I seem to be addicted to comments and reviews to the point where none of my original fiction is being worked on. I should check out fictionpress.net and see what kind of system they having for feeding my need for other peoples opinions. Anyway, enjoy and happy readings.
PS. I'm thinking of doing a COPs in Tokyo using the two girls from Your Under Arrest and having them deal with all the different violent Anime genera from Ranma to Sailor Moon. What do you think?
A butterfly stood on an outstretched blade of grass flexing it's wings in preparation for lift off. Suddenly a foot came down out of nowhere crushing the small insect underneath. As the foot continued on it's way mindless of what occurred, the butterfly twitched feebly before stilling, never to flap it's wings again.
This was a good thing however. If the butterfly had taken off flying, the minuscule air currents it gave off would have led to one of the greatest hurricanes in recorded history some six weeks later. The resulting devastation would have left most of the eastern seaboard of the United States unrecognizable. This in turn would have led to an economic downturn that the US would never recover from. Even later, the US in an attempt to rebuild it's dying glory would enter into a war over oil rights in the middle east which in turn would escalate into a global war ending in nuclear exchange and the eventual annihilation of the human race.
Ranma, Savior of the world, walked on oblivious to how close to the end of things he had come. He was deep in thought as depression weighed heavily upon him. His father walked along beside him as they followed the guide his Genma had hired to lead them to Jusenkyou. He was a girl, an honest to goodness girl! Granted he could change back with hot water but only until the next time he got wet with cold water. It wasn't fair! He had promised he'd come back to her after this last leg of his training trip. How could he face her when he couldn't even face himself? Ranma caught a glimpse of his, no, her reflection. Fate was cruel. He could never go back to the woman he'd fallen for, had planned to marry one day, yet he was forced to look at her face every time his cursed form saw it's reflection.
The guide's babbling broke Ranma from his introspection and he looked up. Seeing they were coming to a village, Ranma's spirits rose. Maybe these Amazons had a cure like the Guide had led them to believe.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Japan a redheaded girl sneezed violently in her sleep and rolled over ungracefully to lie sprawled on her back, loudly snoring over the sound of her alarm clock.
* * * * * * * * * *
About five months later:
Ranma plopped down tiredly in front of the TV, in girl form. It had been one of the worst weeks in her life and showed no signs of stopping soon. She had just gotten back from one of the worst fights of her life. One where she almost died. One where Akane did die, at least she hadn't been breathing for about a minute. Ranma had killed for her. She didn't know that Saffron would be reborn a few minutes later. In Ranma's mind she had killed for a woman she thought she loved. Everything started looking up afterwards. Akane had stopped hitting her and they had actually gotten along on the trip home. Shampoo and Ryouga had behaved themselves. And as long as Shampoo wasn't glomping Ranma, Mousse was actually a nice guy to have around. Everyone had stayed pretty quiet the whole trip. Mostly in awe of Ranma's power. The battle had been something out of an epic hero tale. When they had finally gotten home, Ranma felt that things had finally settled down. They hadn't discussed it but Ranma felt she and Akane had an understanding about their feelings. Ranma was actually accepting the idea she would become married to Akane eventually. There had been a brief time shortly after her arrival at the Tendo dojo when she had searched for her old girlfriend but after finding she had moved Ranma decided it was probably for the best. She had moved on with her life and it was time Ranma did the same. She briefly wondered sometimes how she would have reacted to the curse. So Ranma had finally come to terms, or so she thought, with her lot in life and what her future held. She would marry Akane and they would carry on the dojo together. It wasn't quite the ending she would have preferred for her heroic epic but it would suffice. Then everything fell apart.
The wedding attempt.
It was bad enough that she'd been knocked unconscious by her own father but Soun had been planning to use a cask of Jusenkyou water to bribe Akane into marrying him. Then there was their fight, followed by the assault on the dojo by all Ranma's fiancés and rivals. Then his own father had the gall to tell him that there wouldn't be another wedding attempt until Ranma had cleaned up his life! It was after that when Akane decided to show Ranma just how upset she was at having her wedding ruined by Ranma's life. Hence the reason she was sitting staring at the TV in her girl form. Akane had thoroughly beat Ranma and left him, her, unconscious in the koi pond. Ranma growled. Akane didn't want to get married, she hated him, she called him names and hit him all the time yet she was upset about her wedding being ruined. Ranma had officially given up trying to understand the girl some time ago but this was a new low. And his father! The nerve of the old bastard acting as if this whole mess was his fault! Other than Shampoo, which Ranma still felt was somewhat Genma's fault for telling Ranma that the feast was a free buffet, none of Ranma's fiancé problems were his fault. He could accept responsibility for his problems with Ryouga and Kuno and maybe even Kodachi. At least there was no honor involved in him telling Kodachi off.
Realizing she wasn't solving anything by going around and around with her problems she sat back and turned the TV on. At first Ranma thought it was some sort of Sci Fi movie playing before she realized it was a news broadcast. Apparently there had been some sort of alien invasion up at Graviton City. It was a modern city built on the crater of a meteor strike about a hundred kilometers north of Tokyo. It had become some sort of headquarters for the JSDF and apparently they had managed to shoot down the ship after a huge fire fight that had destroyed a good section of town. Ranma shook her head. After having just defeated a self proclaimed god in battle, Ranma was pretty open to the weird these days. She watched as the camera panned over a good deal of the wreckage as the reporter talked at great lengths about the tragedy. The camera zoomed in on a partly demolished school that had a good sized chunk of the space craft sitting next to it. Ranma gasped in surprise at the flash of red hair as a girl crawled out of the wreckage. The camera went in for a close up as the girl stood up and laughed nervously with a hand bashfully behind her head. He recognized that gesture, he'd learned it from her after all. Sitting back with a dazed expression she couldn't tear her eyes from the TV.
"A-chan..."
* * * * * * * * * *
Akane was pissed. Ranma had disappeared the night of the wedding and even with the whole of the Nerima Wrecking Crew no one could find a trace of him. It had been five annoying days of searching without a clue. How dare he humiliate her again like this! If he had just accepted the stupid engagement and gotten married then things would have settled down. She was sure Ranma had taken off to learn some new technique or to seduce some new fiancé. That was just like him. She had accepted the fact that her soon to be husband was a pervert and a womanizer the likes the world hadn't seen since Happosai was a kid. She just wanted to get the marriage out of the way so she could fulfill her family's honor and force Ranma to divorce her and commit Seppuku or renounce his name the first time she caught him cheating on her. After all, her honor was at stake, as well as her need to win the fiancé race.
She stomped up the stairs to her room, shaking the whole house in her wake. Akane sighed as she opened her door and went in her room. Sometimes, just sometimes, she wished Ranma wasn't so much of a perverted jerk. He could be nice if he tried. And he was good looking. Akane blushed at that, ideas of what her wedding night could have been like. Of course thinking of the wedding brought back her familiar anger. He irritated her to no end. If only Ranma would act like a man instead of a little boy! Maybe that was the answer. Nodoka Saotome could make Ranma be more of a man. The threat of her katana always kept him in line when she visited. Then she remembered the Saotome matriarch had funny ideas of manliness. Well, she would get married as her father had asked and honor would be fulfilled. As to whether it would last, Akane would leave that up to Ranma and his behaviour.
Having worked out a solution to her current problem, Akane finally noticed the ornate envelope lying on her desk. It hadn't been there earlier when she had left. Picking it up she saw her name written in flowing calligraphy. Opening it, she wondered who could have left it. After all, Ranma didn't have that neat of handwriting.
Akane: You are invited to attend Cha-No-Yu in the Tendo dojo at nine o'clock am on Saturday the sixteenth of this month. Formal Kimono Required. Ranma Saotome.
Frowning, Akane set the letter back down on the desk. Saturday meant tomorrow. Whatever was going on was serious. Tea ceremony wasn't to be taken lightly. She was positive now that Ranma wasn't behind this. The baka didn't know the first thing about being polite or honorable. This was probably another weird fiancé come to try and take Ranma away again. She got up to go see if Nabiki had found any trace of Ranma yet when there was a knock at her door and Nabiki came in with a similar envelope to the one she had just opened.
"Ah, I see you got one too." She commented.
Akane nodded, "It's probably just another challenge for Ranma. This new fiancé is just being more formal than usual."
"It's signed 'Ranma Saotome'."
"You know Ranma's handwriting stinks." Akane replied.
Nabiki shrugged, "Well, anyway... if this will all be cleared up tomorrow then I'll call off the bloodhounds. No use wasting money looking for Ranma if he's going to be here in the morning." She turned and left Akane alone to ponder just what was going to happen.
* * * * * * * * * *
Nabiki fidgeted in her dress kimono remembering sullenly the last time she had worn it. It had been the day Ranma arrived in their lives. She idly wondered the significance of that. Would Ranma be leaving today? She had to admit that Ranma had freaked her out that first day they had met, it was one of the reasons Akane had ended up being engaged to him even though Nabiki had been more than willing to go along with the idea of an arranged marriage. Her prospects at Furinkan were slim at best and dating had been none at all, unless you counted all the times she scammed Kuno for food. After getting to know Ranma, Nabiki had realized she'd made a mistake about the roguish martial artist. It was too late now she realized. Especially after the debacle with her taking over the engagement from Akane that one time. She had pushed him away with her schemes and tricks. At best Ranma would never be more than a brother to her and Nabiki had accepted that.
She had been hoping that Ranma and Akane would eventually get along and finally realize they were in love so she could at last have the brother Ranma had become in her eyes. That was one of the reasons she had sabotaged the wedding. Ranma and Akane were nowhere near to confessing their feelings yet and a marriage would have ended in a messy divorce shortly afterwards. She was worried though. Akane had been more and more open with her feelings towards Ranma and they weren't what Nabiki had originally thought they were. Akane had become obsessed with Ranma and saw him as a prize, possibly more so than the other fiancés. She was determined to win him and prove she was the best. Afterwards, well, Nabiki thought Ranma would stay with Akane as a matter of honor no matter how much abuse the violent girl heaped on him. If that didn't kill him, Akane would likely get tired of him and divorce him over his imagined affairs and unfaithfulness.
Nabiki shook her head as she headed downstairs. Damn it Akane, can't you see that your own insecurity is pushing away possibly the best thing that could ever happen in your life? She saw the rest of the family standing around the backdoor of the house staring out into the yard. Apparently the whole family had received invitations to the tea ceremony.
There was a knock at the front door and Kasumi went to answer it. She returned a minute later with the entire Nerima Wrecking Crew. The amazons, the okinamiyaki chef, and the Kuno siblings. Ryouga was absent, probably lost again. This tea ceremony must be more important than she had first realized. What are you doing Ranma? Nabiki smirked, Shampoo looked as uncomfortable in her kimono and she felt in hers. She had to keep from laughing at the sight of the Amazon Matriarch in a formal Japanese kimono however and averted her eyes to where the rest of the family was gathered. She went over to see what the big deal was and gasped in awe.
The Tendo yard had been immaculately groomed. Every blade of grass was the same height and looked almost like it had been combed. The flowers and bushes were all trimmed and arranged. Not a rock was out of place and even the koi pond was sparkling clear. She'd never seen the yard look so neat and clean. Then there was the dojo itself. The wood had all been cleaned and either polished or painted where appropriate. The rice paper in the doors had been replaced and had ornate ink splash paintings or kanji on them. And there was a low bar across the main doors to the dojo itself so that a person would have to prostrate themselves in humility in order to enter.
Kasumi broke the silence, "It is time. Shall we go see what this is about?"
There were nods of agreement as the group made their way to the dojo, careful not to disturb the yard.
Akane was barely containing her anger as she approached the doors. It was only her respect for an ancient Japanese tradition that kept her from barging into the dojo and demanding to know where her fiancé was. As it was she was the first to kneel and slide the dojo door open to move inside. There was a figure sitting in the middle of the dojo and it took a moment for Akane's eyes to adjust before she realized who it was.
It was Ranma, in girl form, sitting sieza with various tea implements about her. Akane's anger fled in surprise. She's beautiful! Ranma had her hair down so that it flowed over her shoulders framing her face and bringing attention to her deep blue eyes. She was dressed in an ornate white kimono with sakura petal print. Akane sat sieza in front of Ranma as the others came in and gradually formed a semicircle around the redhead.
"Pigtailed gir..." Kuno started before getting an elbow in the gut from his sister. Kodachi didn't know what the redheaded harlot had planned but as a noblewoman, she respected the tea ceremony.
Once everyone was settled and quiet, Ranma went into motion. With a skill that boggled Akane, Ranma set to making green tea. The movements were exact and showed none of the uncouth, rude boy Akane would have expected. It was done in complete silence aside from the noise of the water or the brush mixing the tea. Ranma began to serve tea starting at her left. Tatewaki Kuno being the first to be served.
His hands trembled as he took the cup and turned it. He couldn't remember if he should turn it clockwise or counterclockwise he was so overcome. Surely the pigtailed girl had called everyone here to publicly announce her intention to wed himself. He took a sip and wiped the edge of the cup before turning it again and handing it back to Ranma.
As the process continued, Nabiki watched everyone's reactions. Akane had the same trouble as Kuno when her turn came. Ukyou seemed to know exactly what she was doing and moved with trained if rusty precision. When her turn came, Nabiki accepted the cup and realized Ranma had made eye contact with her. She hadn't done that with anyone else the entire ceremony. Just what is your game Saotome? She took her drink and went through the motions better than Ukyou had. Just because she wasn't a martial artist didn't mean she didn't study other traditions. Cha-No-Yu was very useful in business transactions. She allowed a small smile to grace her features as she gave the tea cup back to Ranma. To her surprise, Ranma returned it although it was so slight that only her or maybe Cologne would have caught it.
Ranma finally served Cologne who was at the end of the line. Akane let out a frustrated sigh of relief that the preliminaries were done and they could get down to the business Ranma had wasted everyone's time for. She almost screamed as Ranma began the process of cleaning and arranging all the utensils and implements. Finally Ranma finished and sat back and eyed everyone thoughtfully.
"First of all, let me remind you that this is a Cha-No-Yu. There will be no violence in word or action here. I would like you all to listen to what I have to say before you respond. This catastrophe called my life has gone on too long and it is time to settle things for better or worse." Ranma began.
"First things first, Kodachi and Tatewaki Kuno." She looked directly at Kuno, "Do you know what my name is?"
Kuno looked blank for a moment, "Uh... well..."
"Have you ever talked to me? Gotten to know me beyond your declarations of love?" Ranma continued in a low non-threatening tone, "No you haven't. That isn't how you win love. Grabbing women and declaring your love with bad poetry will not get you a date. If you had taken the time to get to know me then you would know that my name is Ranma Saotome." Ranma picked up the remains of the hot water from the tea ceremony and poured it over her head.
Kuno fainted away as Ranma transformed. Kodachi sat with a stunned expression for a moment then seemed to shrug as if it didn't matter.
Ranma seemed a little surprised at the female Kuno's reaction but pressed on, "Kodachi, I know you have feelings for me but I do not wish to have anything more than a friendship with you. I do not love you, but I do like you and if you will be my friend then I will be happy."
There were tears in Kodachi's eyes but she nodded in agreement.
Ranma turned to Ukyou, "Ukyou, Ucchan, You were my best friend at a time when I needed a friend badly. I was still missing my mother and Pops is hardly a loving caring parent." There was a snort from the panda man.
Ranma hung his head, "I honestly thought you were a boy all these years. The differences between boys and girls didn't become apparent to me until I started Junior High School. I'm sorry, but every time I think of you I see my old friend Ucchan, a boy. You will always be my friend but I can't love you the way you want."
"But...my dowry..." She began.
Ranma gulped and seemed to steel himself. The air temperature seemed to drop as Ranma called forth the soul of ice, "Ukyou, you gambled the Yattai away to the gambler king when we were kids. If Genma owes anyone anything, he should repay the Gambler King. I'm sorry."
Ukyou collapsed into tears, sobbing softly.
Ranma turned next to Cologne and the other amazons, "Elder."
"Saotome-san." Cologne replied with a slight bow, "What do you have to offer us?"
Ranma smirked a little, "Can't put anything past you can I? My offer is this, I will not marry Shampoo. My bloodline is what is important to you isn't it? I will give Shampoo one child to raise as an Amazon on the condition that it comes to train with me after it turns sixteen. Also all kisses of death or marriage are null and void."
"And if we refuse this offer?" Cologne asked, testing the waters.
"I defeated Saffron the phoenix god. You figure it out."
Cologne smirked her eyes narrowing a bit, "Very well, we accept you offer on the condition that you will come to the tribe's aid in times of need."
"As long as it's in defense of the tribe there will be no problem. Do not expect my help if you go looking for trouble." Ranma said back.
Cologne nodded and sat back. Akane was barely holding back her anger at Ranma's proposal. He was actually offering to get Shampoo pregnant! It was only Kasumi's hand on her shoulder that kept her from attacking Ranma.
Ranma turned to the assembled Tendo and Saotome clans, "I thought long and hard on what to do about the Saotome, Tendo agreement."
"You will marry Akane." Genma said.
Ranma frowned at Genma's outburst, "If I remember rightly, I was to marry one of the Tendo daughters. Tendo Soun even told me to choose any one I wanted. It was Kasumi and Nabiki who pushed Akane off onto me."
Kasumi was shocked. Was he going to change the engagement to me? I like him but... he's so young! She thought lamely. Her cheeks colored nonetheless.
Nabiki thought back to when she was Ranma's fiancé. Could she make it work this time?
Akane was getting so mad she could hardly think let alone ponder the implications of Ranma's words. She was still obsessing over Ranma's offer to knock up the Chinese Bimbo.
"After the Wedding incident I have realized a few things. First of all, I'm too young to get married. I won't even turn seventeen for another three months. Secondly, I won't be forced into anything against my will. I've decided my honor is my own. For all the dishonor Genma Saotome has done, the multiple engagements and promises he had made in both his and my name he should either commit Seppuku or be cast out of the Saotome clan. I have realized that is unlikely to happen nor is Genma likely to make amends or restitution. I will offer this last chance for honor to be at least partly fulfilled. A way for both clans to save some face in the light of dishonor."
Akane seemed to focus finally on what Ranma was saying. Maybe he'd finally come to his senses and decided to marry Akane after all. Nodoka gave Genma a stern look that promised pain and explanations later.
"From the first day I arrived here to the night of the wedding, I have put up with abuse that probably would have killed others. I have been beat, pummeled, and knocked unconscious almost on a daily basis for five months now. I have tried and tried to make things work. Granted I have an enormous ego and a mouth to match. I will offer the Tendo clan the same offer I gave the Amazons. Or if you like I will train one of Soun Tendo's grandchildren in the Saotome Ryu."
Akane couldn't take it anymore. Ranma had just offered to impregnate her and her sisters too! She had known all along he was a womanizing pervert!
"No! Ranma you Pervert! You will marry me and have my child or I'll kill you myself. I won't let you touch my sisters or that filthy amazon tramp! You're mine do you hear! I fought long and hard and won't be turned away! You were given to me and I own you!" Akane screamed.
It was as if a dam broke. Both the Genma and Soun began shouting how Ranma would marry Akane. Kuno was regaining consciousness from all the shouting, mumbling something about 'foul sorcery'.
Genma stood up and towered over Ranma, "Boy you will marry Akane or I'll have you thrown out of the clan!"
Ranma sighed and stood, picking up the bucket of water from the tea ceremony, "Fine then."
Genma stepped back with a satisfied expression at Ranma's statement.
"I am no longer a Saotome. I hereby renounce my clan, my art, and if need be, my gender." Ranma poured the water over himself, reverting to the smaller redhead. Kuno fainted again.
"Oh no you don't!" Akane yelled. She pulled her mallet and swung.
Ranma wasn't there. Then Akane realized her stomach was hurting badly. She looked down to see Ranma's small fist buried in her gut. Ranma stepped back and let Akane collapse to the floor.
"Anyone else wish to make a statement?" Ranma asked. Behind her Genma turned around, and promptly collapsed unconscious. Nobody had even seen Ranma strike him.
"If no one else wishes to say anything then I call this Cha-No-Yu over and a failure as well." She turned and walked out, stepping over the bar on the door.
Soun had collapsed next to Akane, bawling that the schools would never be joined. The Amazons took their leave. Cologne planned to talk to Ranma later once things had calmed some. Kodachi lifted her brother over her shoulder and left, leaping over the boundary wall towards her estate. Ukyou managed to pull herself together enough to bow politely and leave.
Nodoka looked at her husband on the floor once, then hurried towards the house to catch up with her son. Kasumi and Nabiki decided to follow. The three women reached the top of the stairs and entered the guest room. Ranma had already changed clothes and was busy packing a backpack.
"Ranma..." Nodoka began.
"I'm sorry mother. I've tried everything else I could think of. The Saotome name has brought me nothing but pain. Living life as a ronin will be tough but not as hard as it was being a Saotome. I don't want you to hate me but I had to do something." Ranma said as she packed.
Nodoka sighed and seemed to fold in on herself, "This is my fault. If I hadn't let Genma take you away from me all those years ago this never would have happened." She sobbed.
Ranma stopped and looked up at his mother. Nabiki and Kasumi stood on both sides of her with looks of concern. Getting up, Ranma went and hugged her mother tightly. She was shocked a moment later when she felt two more people join in.
Finally, Nodoka composed herself. She pulled away and everyone separated.
"Son, I'm going to divorce your father and take back my family name." She said through sniffles. "If you want, you can take that name as well. You won't be ronin."
"If that isn't good enough then Kasumi and I will adopt you as our brother into the Tendo registry." Nabiki said.
Ranma looked at Nabiki as if she'd grown two heads and started sing rowdy bar songs.
Nabiki gave Ranma one of her patented half smiles, "Ranma, Kasumi and I care a lot about you. You've come to be like a brother to us. You would have been one in reality if Akane had bothered to grow up and realize what she was passing up."
"Nabiki's right. You're family to us and as much as we love Akane we realize what she was doing was wrong. We're sorry." Kasumi said, bowing. Nabiki followed suit.
Ranma's brow furrowed in thought for a moment, "I'll consider both your offers. Thank you. Right now though I need to get away for a while so I can think. I also need to see an old friend I thought I'd lost."
Kasumi came forward and gave Ranma a hug, "Hold on a second and I'll get you something to eat on your way." She turned and left the room.
"By the way Ranma, how did you do all that stuff? You know, the invitations, the tea ceremony?" Nabiki asked.
Ranma laughed nervously, scratching behind her head, "Well, you know, martial arts calligraphy and Tea Ceremony. After the first time I had to deal with them I kept practicing, just in case. And well, if it has martial arts in the title..." She trailed off.
Nabiki looked at her 'brother' with newfound respect. She too came forward and gave him a hug. As she pulled away though, Nabiki gave Ranma a full kiss on the lips.
Ranma stepped back and landed on her butt. She stared at Nabiki in confusion.
"Oh, Ranma. If only I hadn't pushed you away that day..." Nabiki shrugged and left as well.
Nodoka looked at her son turned daughter. Even as a girl he's manly! "I will be at our family home when you return son. Take care of yourself and call me often so I don't worry."
Ranma nodded and got up, lifting her pack to her shoulder, "Don't worry mom. I'm the best martial artist ever. I'll be fine."
Nodoka looked at her son sadly, "But you renounced your art."
Ranma's expression dropped, "Oh yeah... that kinda sucks. I wouldn't want to use Pops, I mean Genma's style anyway. It's too dishonorable." Her expression brightened, "I'll just have to create my own style then!"
There was a cough from the window, "No need to do that my boy."
Ranma turned to see Happosai standing on the windowsill smoking his pipe, "It took a lot of guts to do what you did today boy."
"What do you want old man?" Ranma said threateningly.
"Why, is that anyway to talk to your martial arts master?" The miniature lech cackled as he tossed a rolled up piece of paper to Ranma.
"What's this?"
"That my boy is my permission to practice the Anything Goes Style of Martial Arts. Just put your name in the blank when you decide on one."
Ranma frowned, "Why are you doing this?"
"A number of reasons. One, you're one of the best fighters I've ever seen. Not even grown up and already able to take on masters with decades more experience. Two, you've earned it, time and again. And three, because it will annoy the hell out of Soun and Genma." Happosai laughed.
Ranma chuckled a little herself, "Yeah, that last one's a pretty good reason."
"See you around boy. You have great things in store for you and I plan to be there to see it happen." With that the old man leapt out of the window and disappeared.
I guess he's not as bad as I thought. Ranma shrugged and looked over the scroll. It proclaimed him as a master of the school all right. The decorative border around the text however was done in pictures of panties and bras. Then again...
She turned back to her mother, "Looks like I get to practice the art after all. As soon as I decide on a name... What was your maiden name anyway mom?"
Nodoka turned to Ranma, "It was Raynor."
Ranma rolled the unfamiliar word around in his head.
"Your grandfather was an Irishman from America. Didn't you ever wonder why your girl side had red hair?"
Ranma vaguely remembered meeting family from his mother's side when he was real little. She shrugged as if it wasn't that big a deal.
There was a crash outside in the dojo, "I'd better leave now while I still can." Ranma leaned over and kissed her mother on the cheek then rushed downstairs. Kasumi was just leaving the kitchen with a wrapped bento as Ranma reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Here Ranma. Please take care of yourself. Call or visit us once you've decided what you're going to do with your life." Kasumi handed the package to Ranma and gave a slight bow.
Ranma took the bento and gave Kasumi one of her trademark smiles, "Sure thing sis! I'll call you once I get to Graviton city. There's a friend there I haven't seen since junior high that I owe some explanations to."
Kasumi blushed at the sister comment and shooed Ranma out the front door. She turned back and moved towards the dojo trying to decide the best way to misdirect the others that would surely try to follow Ranma.
Ranma made her way as far as the canal before she sensed a presence behind her. Turning, she smirked and relaxed her stance, "What can I do for you Elder?" There was a little sarcasm in the word 'Elder'.
"Ranma my boy, how polite you've become." Cologne laughed as she leapt from a nearby wall to balance on her staff near Ranma.
Ranma shrugged, "No reason not to be anymore. I assume you want to discuss our deal?"
"Yes, merely the when and how to contact you. I wouldn't want Shampoo to have to track you down again."
"Hehe, yeah, well as for the when... well, whenever Shampoo is ready I guess. Go talk to Doc Tofu, he has samples..."Ranma blushed heavily, "...prepared. He said he could do an artificial unsem... insimminal... uh you know..."
Cologne almost fell off her staff, "Oh my... Shampoo is going to be so disappointed to hear she won't get to bed you." She cackled for a few minutes before finally regaining her breath, "Oh child, I've never had so much fun. You make these old bones feel young again. If you were a real girl I'd have adopted you ages ago."
Ranma wasn't sure how to take that comment but decided it would be best to leave the Amazon elder on good terms, "Heh, thanks I guess. I don't know yet where I'll be staying but get a hold of my mom later. I promised I'd let her know where I'll be. Good enough?"
The ancient woman nodded, "Yes boy that's fine. Now off with you."
Ranma bowed with a bit of humor and took off once again. Cologne watched the boy turned girl disappear over a rooftop. I wonder if I should have told him that his child, being an amazon, would make him an amazon as well? Oh well, time enough to tell my heir later. She cackled again scaring some nearby pedestrians as she took to the rooftops herself, heading back to the Nekokatten.
Ranma continued on, she knew she had to head north, it was just a matter of how. Thinking of her meager savings she doubted she could afford a train to Graviton City. She vaguely wondered how she'd be able to afford to eat tomorrow. She honestly hadn't thought that far ahead and she cursed under her breath. She had planned this in case the Tea Ceremony had failed, it was her way out of all the conflicting obligations on her honor. She had planned to go to Graviton City either way but had yet to figure out how to do so. Shrugging her shoulders she figured it would take a couple of days but she could walk the distance. Food however could be a problem, she wouldn't lower herself to her father's method of ration requisition.
"Planning on leaving without saying goodbye?" a female voice said behind her.
Ranma cursed herself for becoming so distracted that she didn't feel the other person approach. She turned around to see Kodachi standing behind her with a strange smile on her face.
"Ah, he he, hello Kodachi."
Kodachi walked up to Ranma and looked her over, "You really are him, aren't you? What is it, some kind of spell?"
Ranma sighed, "Yes, it's me. I picked up a curse in China when I was training with my father. And before you ask, I'm really a guy."
Kodachi stepped back and nodded thoughtfully, "And your offer at the Cha-No- Yu?"
Ranma looked a little nervous, "About being your friend? I always thought you needed one."
"I would like that. Being your friend that is." There was silence for a moment, "So you're leaving?"
"Yeah, I kinda need to get away. Breaking an engagement and disowning your family kinda makes things a little tough to hang around at the moment." Ranma replied.
"I couldn't even begin to imagine renouncing my family. That was incredibly brave of you." Kodachi continued.
"Yeah, I guess it was a little. So why are you acting so nice, so..."
"Sane?" She finished for Ranma, "You might say that your presentation a while ago shocked me into Sanity. I realized if you could take back your life and live on your own terms then so could I. I've been living with two lunatics for so long I kind of became one myself. Then of course there is the loneliness from being more privileged than most. It's hard to make friends when you're raised to be a stuck up snob. You were one of the first people I've met who didn't care whether I had money or not."
Ranma shrugged, "'bout all money's good for is buyin' food. Or paying off Nabiki." She smiled.
Kodachi laughed but it was good natured without the hint of madness usually associated with it, "So where will you go?" she asked after a moment to calm down.
"I have something I need to deal with in Graviton City. I don't know how long I'll be but I'll let you know through my mother what I plan to do after when I figure that out. You remember where my mother's house is right?"
Kodachi blushed in embarrassment, "I apologize for my part in demolishing your mother's home."
"It's in the past. Don't worry about it." Ranma waved it off.
Kodachi let it go for now, "If you're heading north do you have enough money for a train?"
"No, not really. I was going to walk it. Shouldn't take too long for me."
Kodachi reached into her purse and pulled out a small clip that she tossed to Ranma. He caught it easily, then almost dropped it.
"There must be over a hundred thousand yen here! I-I can't accept this." Ranma held the money clip back to Kodachi.
Kodachi glared at her, "Take it or I'll shove it down your throat. You're my friend Ranma and friends help each other right?" there was a small nod from the redhead, "You helped me see my life from a different perspective today and you offered friendship which means more to me than you can imagine. Besides, that's just what's left over from this week's allowance. I'll get more tomorrow."
"Ok Kodachi." There was a loud explosion in the distance coming from the direction of the Tendo dojo. Ranma recognized the trademark sound of the Happo-daikiren and realized Happosai must be distracting everyone from following him, "I should be going before they catch up with me."
Kodachi grinned, "I expect you come back soon and tell me personally about all your adventures."
"I'd like that, See ya around Ko-chan!" Ranma turned and made a beeline for the train depot.
Kodachi turned back towards the Kuno mansion with a lightness to her steps, "Oh brother dear, I shall have so much fun tormenting you over Ranma's curse." She entered the main gates with thoughts of shopping or maybe training with her new friend.
An hour Later Ranma was finally on a train headed to Graviton City. No one would think she'd be able to afford the trip and would assume she'd left on foot. Even if they knew where she was going, she'd have a two day head start on them. She sat back and picked at the bento Kasumi had packed, savoring the food, realizing it would be the last of her food for a while. Her mind turned to A-chan and what she'd say to her when Ranma finally found her again.
* * * * * * * * * *
Author's Useless Crap here:
Muhahahaha! Once again I start another fic before finishing the others! P#33R mY L337 F4|\| F1K 5K1LLZ. Truthfully, Even as busy as I am with school, I am almost ready with another chapter of Ah, My Akane and am Just about finished with the next chapter of Ranko's curse. Element of Shadows is going under a minor rewrite (Who knew Tanuki were real critters?) The other fics are on hold (Except City of dreams) until I can actually come up with a plot for them :P
I seem to be addicted to comments and reviews to the point where none of my original fiction is being worked on. I should check out fictionpress.net and see what kind of system they having for feeding my need for other peoples opinions. Anyway, enjoy and happy readings.
PS. I'm thinking of doing a COPs in Tokyo using the two girls from Your Under Arrest and having them deal with all the different violent Anime genera from Ranma to Sailor Moon. What do you think?