Disclaimer: See Prologue
"abc" - Spoken
"abc" - Thought
[abc] - Genma's Signs
abc - Sound Effects
A Tale Of Two Cursed Souls
Chapter One(B): Here's Ranma
2017 A.D.
Tendo Training Hall
Nerima District, Tokyo-3
There are few things in this world like a nice hot bath. For some it's a place to relieve all their troubles, for others it's a place where all their troubles seem to find them. But, for Ranma Saotome, it's a unique combination of both.
Within the hot water lies the key to him having some semblance of normalcy within his life, thus one would think it be a place to relieve his troubles. But for someone who has as many problems as Ranma, not even the warm recesses of a bath can lessen the burden.
Like his current situation for example, after spending years on what some may call a "voyage of training," he has finally returned to his homeland of Japan, after spending the last few years traveling threw China with his father and cousin.
Then it suddenly comes to an abrupt end, all at the hands of his Uncle Gendo. The reason behind it's sudden end is that Gendo - years after abandoning him - requires that his son, Shinji, be returned to him.
That alone is enough to upset Ranma, who has never forgiven his Uncle for his treatment of Shinji. But, long and behold it turns out there's more...
It turns out that his "loving" Father, who only has Ranma's best interest in mind - supposedly - has decided that now is the best time to inform him that he's been engaged to a girl he's never even meet - the daughter of his Father's old training partner. So, since they'll be nearby delivering Shinji into his Father's clutches, now, is the perfect time for him to be delivered into his Fiancée's.
While it may not be as bad as it sounds or at least that's what Ranma had hoped. But, things have only gone from bad to worst since his arrival at the Tendo Training Hall.
"First, it was that girl... Nabiki, I think her name was. And, her father... I mean, she didn't have to squeeze me so hard or so often, you'd think she'd never felt a breast before. And her father... babbling like some child?!"
Ranma slides herself into a nice hot bath, she emerges as a he and stretches slightly.
"So I wasn't exactly what they where expecting, they didn't have to go all ballistic. I wanted to try and explain, but... how do you talk to people like that?" he wonders aloud.
"At least, Shinji wasn't here. With the way they were acting he'd probably have a nervous breakdown and start apologizing for every little thing. I keep telling him, he needs to start sticking up for himself."
Ranma sighs as he submerges into the soothing waters. He emerges moments later with a small smile across his lips.
"Well, at least, the other two seem nice enough. That Kasumi gives off a real motherly vibe, it's kind of nice being around her. Now, Akane... she has me worried. I mean, she seemed nice at first and she has some skill at the Arts. But, I'd really hate to see her angry. She really seems to have something against guys and my luck - I just happen to be one."
A deep sigh escapes his lips as he lays further back into the water.
"Oh well, enough worrying. I've definitely been hanging around Shinji - way - to much."
Ranma laughs at that thought, but suddenly gets serious.
"But, now what do I do?"
"Hmmm. What to do? What to do?"
"Well, they'll find out anyway. Sooner or later, so..."
"I may as well just go out like I am."
Ranma then emerges from the safety of the bath, in a second he'll wish that he hadn't.
ZHOOP
At the sound of the door to the bath opening, Ranma turns to face the intruder. He freezes at the sight before him, there standing before his naked form is an equally naked Akane Tendo.
He stares at her for a long minute, before he suddenly realizes that he's alone again.
"DAMN!"
After exiting the bath and dressing, Ranma slowly descends the stairs towards the commotion coming from the hall, he can barely make out what's being said...
"Why didn't you just kill him with your bare hands?" sounds like Nabiki.
"Because I'm afraid!" that's definitely Akane.
"That's odd. Ranma was in the bath just now." Kasumi sounds calm enough.
"Well, it's now or never - I'd prefer never."
And with that, Ranma steps out to face his fate.
"Who are you?" Nabiki calmly asks.
"I'm Ranma Saotome. Sorry 'bout this."
A Short Time Later...
It's something that was bond to happen. Having to finally explain his curse to someone, but why did it have to be after something as embarrassing as what just took place.
"It's not like it's my fault or something. I mean she walked in on me. So, why is she staring at me like that?"
Ranma's so caught up in Akane's glare, that he's not really paying attention to the conversation going on around him.
"Are you really her? That same girl? I mean...?" Kasumi asks.
"Hmmm. Where should I begin? I know..." Genma states, moments before grabbing his son and tossing him into the koi pond, only for his daughter to emerge.
"What the hell are you doing?" Girl-type Ranma yells, as she surfaces.
"Now, he's a GIRL!"
Kasumi says the one thought going through everyone's mind, as Ranma climbs out the pond and Genma starts to sob like an idiot.
"Ohhh! My own son! It's so humiliating! Sooo..."
Is all of his rant, Genma manages to get out before his "embarrassing" son sends him on his own trip into the pond. As Genma climbs out from the pound - as a Panda - and begins to argue with Ranma, Kasumi asks a very understandable question...
"Daddy? Why are you friends with them?"
"They weren't like this before! Not before they went to China and undertook that terrifying training exercise!" Soun states.
Following yet another hot bath, Genma and Ranma once again in their original forms prepare to tell their harrowing tale to the Tendos.
"Ah! Yes, It was two fateful weeks ago. Me and the boys had just arrived at..."
Mt. Quanjing, Bayanhala Range,
Qinghai Province, China
"Here, Sir. Is legendary "training ground of accursed springs." the Guide announces.
"This place isn't so impressive." casually states Ranma.
"You strange one, No, sir? This place very dangerous nobody use now." the Guide continues, not noticing that no one besides Shinji is listening to a word he says.
"Why is that? Why aren't they used?" Shinji asks, already starting to get worried.
They are, Shinji and the Guide, so into hearing and telling the story, that neither notices when Ranma and Genma leap to the top of the poles.
"That because is more than one hundred springs here and every one have own tragic legend!"
"That's not true is it?! I mean they're only legends, right?" asks a now worried Shinji.
"No, is very true. You see... Ah! Sir! What are you doing?!"
Shinji looks to see his Uncle and Cousin about to make the biggest mistake of their lives.
"I won't go easy on you, boy." declares Genma.
"That's just how I want it." fires back Ranma.
"Please, Sir! Very bad if you fall in spring!" the Guide yells, but neither fighter pays him any mind.
"Can it really be that bad?" Shinji asks, trying not to panic.
"It VERY bad!" the Guide firmly states.
"I see..."
And without another word, Shinji leaps to the top of the polls trying to warn those that have become his family. But, it's to late, he lands on a poll next to Ranma just as he lands from kicking Genma into one of the springs.
"What you yelling about?" Ranma asks, as he lands.
"Oh, God! I'm to late!" Shinji yells, instantly blaming himself.
"To late for what?!" Ranma yells, seeing how upset Shinji is.
At that moment, a giant panda emerges from the spring landing on a poll across from the boys.
"Wha...? Wha..? Wha...?" Ranma stutters.
"My God?! What Happened?" Shinji yells, looking to the Guide for answers.
"That is "Spring of Drowned Panda!" Is very tragic legend, very tragic, of Panda who drown in spring two thousand year ago! Now, whoever falls in spring - take body of Panda!"
As the Guide concludes his explanation, said Panda launches an attack at Ranma.
"Oh, no! Hey, wait a second!" yells Ranma, as he tries to dodge the Panda's attacks.
Shinji looks back momentarily at the spectacle, before turning back to the Guide.
"Why didn't you warn us sooner?!" Shinji yells, his anger fully showing it's self.
"I tell you, sir. They not listen." the Guide simply replies.
"Yeah, but..." Shinji says in defeat.
"Sir! Look out!" suddenly yells the Guide.
"Huh...?!" Shinji manages to get out.
Only to look back, just as Ranma comes crashing into him, after not being able to avoid the Panda's attacks. The two boys go sailing into the same spring, as the Panda and Guide look on.
"Ohhhh! Not "Spring of Drowned Girl!" There very tragic legend of young girl who drown in spring - one thousand year ago. Now, whoever fall in spring take on body of young girl!"
As the guide finishes informing the two boys of the reason behind their shocking transformation, the boys can only stare on in shock. Ranma shocked to find a teal-haired girl staring back at him and Shinji shocked to find a red-haired girl staring back at him.
They then both notice the added weight on their chest and in perfect synch open their gi's (shirts), only to scream at the top of their lungs at what they find...
"I didn't scream that loud! Shinji, maybe, but..." Ranma says to himself, as Genma's tale come to an end.
"The legendary ground of accursed springs, it's true horror has always been shrouded in mystery. But, now..." Soun says, as shocked as everyone else present.
"Feh! Wha'd ya mean, "True Horror?" Ranma yells, as he jumps to his feet and dashes for Genma.
"Yo, Old Man, what's the idea draggin' us to a place like that anyway?" Ranma demands to know, grabbing Genma by his collar.
"HEE YAH!!!" is Ranma's answer as Genma tosses him into the koi pond, yet again.
"You sound like a WOMAN! Were you not prepared to give your life for the sake of your TRAINING?! Shinji, never complains - he understands what it takes to be a true Martial Artist!" Genma yells at the transformed Ranma.
"My life - yes!" Ranma answers, as she leaps from the pound, a bucket of water in tow.
"My manhood is another story!" she concludes splashing Genma with the bucket.
As Ranma and Genma, now once again a panda, begin to trade an endless stream of punches; Ranma continues to yell at her Father...
"And, as for Shinji... he'd never complain to anyone about anything! Martial Artist or not, but I know for a fact that he blames you for everything that's happened - just as much as I do!" Ranma states, as they continue to trade blows.
"Oh, what a tragedy!" Soun howls, breaking into another crying fit.
"Stop THAT!" yells Kasumi, instantly bringing the scuffle to an end.
"You just went too far, Mr. Saotome!" Kasumi continues, as she zones in on the man turned panda.
"Yeah! Even for martial arts training!" Nabiki adds, her disgust evident in her voice.
"What ever made you do something so dangerous?!" Kasumi yells, showing a side rarely seen of her.
At that moment, something falls out of Genma's fur. Kasumi and Nabiki pick it up.
"It's Chinese. A map and guide book?" Kasumi starts.
"Something about... training grounds." Nabiki concludes.
"No, wonder... you can't read Chinese, can you?" Kasumi asks Genma.
His response is holding a sign that reads... [CORRECT!]
"No, the idiot doesn't and this all could have been avoided if he'd just let Shinji read the freakin' guide and map!" Girl-type Ranma yells, as she bops Genma over the head.
"Why would that have changed things?" Kasumi asks.
"Because, Shinji is the only one of us who understands Chinese!" Ranma states, sounding exhausted.
"How does he know and you don't? Haven't you all been traveling for years?" Nabiki asks.
"Yeah, well, Shinji would return home to attend school every few years. My mom would also tutor him till me and Pop later came back for him. The last time was before we took him with us to China, so we could continue our training together."
"And he learned Chinese during that period?" Kasumi wonders.
"Yeah, he's like that. He's quiet, but he's always observing. He knew that we'd be going, so he learned the basics before our trip and can now almost speak it flawlessly." Ranma states, sounding proud of his cousin.
"Wow... and knowing this you didn't let him see the guide or map!" Nabiki yells, turning to Genma.
Genma shrugs his shoulders in response, as Soun appears and dumps the contents of a tea kettle over him.
"So, when doused with hot water - you return to human form." Soun concludes, as Genma becomes a man once more.
"Well, it needn't be quite that hot." Genma states.
"And, when doused with cold water you became a girl,..." Soun begins, as he dashes over to Ranma.
"...but hot water turns you back into a boy!" Soun finishes, as he tries to pour hot water onto the boy turned girl.
"Hot water! Not boiling!" Ranma yells, as she dodges the boiling water.
She lands as Soun rushes to her side, patting her on the back.
"No sweat. You and your cousin's problem isn't so terrible after all!" Soun exclaims, beaming with joy.
"Wha'd you mean?!" Ranma asks, thrown of by the man's sudden cheerfulness.
"My daughters... Kasumi, nineteen - Nabiki, seventeen - and Akane, sixteen."
"Pick the one you want, and she's your fiancée - another your cousin's." announces Soun, beaming with pride.
So quickly, did Kasumi and Nabiki start pairing Akane with Ranma. That they both missed the last part of Soun's announcement.
"You must be joking! Why would I be..." Akane yells, but is cut off by Nabiki.
"Well, you hate boys don't you?" asks Nabiki.
"So, you're in luck! He's half girl!" Kasumi finishes for Nabiki.
"Me? Marry that pervert?! Never!" yells Akane.
"Say... Wha'd ya mean "Pervert?!" demands Ranma.
"You looked at my body, pervert!" explains Akane.
"Hold it! You walked in on me!" Ranma tries to explain.
"It's different when a girl sees a guy!" she yells back, not even giving his point a second thought.
"They're already a perfect couple!" Soun says, to an equally pleased Genma.
"He's a couple by himself! And if you ever..." yells Akane, but doesn't finish.
"Good-bye!" Ranma yells, walking towards the exit.
"Where are you going, boy?" Genma demands to know.
"Back to China! I'm going to get Shinji back from Uncle - then we're going to find a way to change back for good! This is no time for "Fiancées." Ranma declares, as she stops near the exit.
"By the way, you took a pretty good look at me, too." she says, turning to look back at Akane.
"Besides, it's no big deal for me to see a naked girl. I mean, I've seen myself and Shinji plenty of times, right?" explains Ranma, as she turns to exit.
"And WE'RE better built to boot!" she adds, as a final insult.
BOOM
Ranma doesn't get far, as Akane flattens her with a table while everyone watches on.
"Now, that he had coming!" Genma states.
"Well, anyway, now that one engagement is out of the way... onto another!" Soun announces, drawing shocked gasps from everyone present, except an unconscious Ranma and a nodding Genma that is.
Sometime Later...
"Mmm...?" Ranma moans, as she slowly awakens.
"Ah! She's awake!" says Kasumi, getting the attention of an anxious looking Nabiki.
"Great! It's about time!" Nabiki states, sounding rather upset.
Ranma awakens to find herself in an upstairs bedroom with Nabiki and Kasumi watching over her.
"Are you okay, Ranma? Please, don't think too badly of Akane. She's really a very sweet girl... she just happens to also be a violent maniac." Kasumi says, as she tries to explain Akane's behavior.
"Oh, good. Kasumi, that makes lots of sense. Anyway, Ranma... Um, what's your cousin like?" Nabiki asks, her voice getting quieter towards the end.
"Um, what... Shinji, he's great. Why do you ask?" Ranma wonders, as she fully awakens.
"Well, um... I - I'm..." Nabiki stutters.
Ranma looks to Kasumi for an answer, as to why Nabiki's suddenly acting so strange.
"Well, is it not normal for a girl - wanting to know more about her Fiancée?" Kasumi states, completely unaware of the look of both utter embarrassment and despair that Nabiki is displaying.
"What?!" Ranma yells.
"Yeah. Well, Daddy and your idiot father didn't leave me much of a choice." Nabiki groans.
"Ah! Well, don't worry about it. You'll love Shinji, he's a great guy." Ranma says, grinning like a fool.
"Really?!" asks Nabiki, sounding a little less worried and upset.
"Yeah, really." says Ranma, sounding completely sincere.
"All right, well... fine. Thanks."a dismissive Nabiki says, as she gets up and starts to leave becoming completely lose in thought as she does.
Ranma and Kasumi watch as she nears the door, when Ranma suddenly calls her name.
"Wha - what is it?! What else is wrong with him?!" she yells, voicing what's obviously on her mind.
"Um, well...." a surprised Ranma mutters.
"Oh, sorry? What were you saying?" a blushing Nabiki mumbles.
"All I wanted to say was... welcome to the family!" Ranma says, as she bursts into a fit of laughter.
Nabiki quickly turns and leaves in a huff, leaving a giggling Ranma and a smiling Kasumi. She then also prepares to leave, but as Kasumi approaches the door she stops and looks back at Ranma.
"But, Ranma..." she says, getting her attention.
"Huh, yeah?"
"Welcome to the family." she says, a bright grin upon her face.
"I - um - oh - yeah." Ranma mumbles.
Kasumi exits the room, leaving a quiet Ranma behind. She starts to rub the back of her head, as she stills feels the effects of Akane's temper.
"Oh, man!" Ranma groans.
"Ranma?!" Kasumi says, suddenly reappearing in the doorway.
"Yes, Kasumi?"
"I almost forgot, but your father left to go see a... Mr. Ikari, a short while ago. He said to tell you he'd return shortly."
"He went to see Uncle... why?!" an obviously surprised and worried Ranma asks.
"I'm not sure. He left in a real hurry, but I'm sure everythings all right." says Kasumi, trying to be reassuring.
"Okay. Thanks, Kasumi."
"Your welcome, Ranma." Kasumi says, once again leaving the room.
Ranma stands and walks over to the window. As she looks out across the city, she thinks about all that has taken place since her arrival. She releases a deep sigh, as a crooked grin appears on her face.
"Well, maybe a nice bath will help?"
She turns to leave, but stops and looks out the window once more - a serious look upon her face.
"Pops left in a hurry, she says? I hope Shinji's all right... I don't trust Uncle. But, then again, Shinji can take care of himself. Won't he be surprised when he finds out he has a Fiancée. And Nabiki of all people, ain't that a match made in heaven?"
Ranma starts laughing as she heads for the bath, a place that offers comfort for some and pain for others. In a few moments, it'll be supplying Ranma with plenty of pain - courtesy of one, Akane Tendo.
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes:
I hope you enjoyed Chapter One(B). This chapter, by far, was the most difficult piece of writing I've completed yet. Trying to find a new and hopefully semi-unique way of telling Ranma's arrival nearly killed me. This story marks the first time I've ever written anything based upon Ranma. As you can see I borrowed heavily from the Manga, but why mess with perfection?!