Disclaimer: See Prologue
"abc" - Spoken
"abc" - Thought
A Tale Of Two Cursed Souls
Chapter Three: Introductions Part I
Only a few short days have passed since the amazing events that herald the arrival of both, Shinji Ikari and Ranma Saotome. For those involved it was a day they'll never forget, but it was only a prelude of things to come.
As for the two young men caught in the center of these events, they remain completely ignorant of the other's situation and how similar they truly are. But, this day will change that, as Ranma is finding out...
"School?"
"Well, we are going to be staying here awhile." Genma states.
"It's called Furinkan High. It's the same school me and Akane go to!" Nabiki adds as she passes by.
"Ah, perfect! Then you'll be able to finally meet your Fiancée. As, Shinji will also be attending that school as of today." Genma informs, a quieted Nabiki.
"Great!" Nabiki says, not nearly as excited as she sounds. "Well, I better get going. I'll see you there, I guess." she adds, sounding downer by the second.
"Nabiki, wait! I'll go with you!" yells Akane, as she rushes down the steps.
"Ah! But, Ranma's your Fiancée. You should walk him to school." Nabiki replies, sounding suddenly more like her normal self.
"But...!" Akane starts to say as she notices Ranma looking at her. She glares at him, which he returns with ease.
"Fine! Hurry up, I don't want to be late!" she shouts at the young man who's recently become her Fiancée.
"Yeah... yeah, I'm coming." Ranma replies, as he heads for the steps, stopping only momentarily to glare at the "uncute tomboy" one more time.
Nabiki watches the scene unfold and sighs as she exits the house.
"Shinji Ikari? Can he be any worse than Ranma?"
Unknown by Nabiki, but at that very moment the young man dominating her thoughts is currently sitting atop a skyscraper. Completely unaware that the second young woman entrusted to him even exists.
The walk to school would seem a lot longer that day, as thoughts of the possible horror of a young man that could be waiting for her made the trip all the more tiresome. Upon arriving at her destination, Nabiki is relived to learn that Shinji has yet to arrive. With her fears momentarily at a leave, she attends to the day's first order of business.
"Well, what do you have to report?"
Kensuke Aida, momentarily removes his gaze from the viewfinder of his trusty camcorder to face the young woman he respectfully calls "Sir". And without speaking a word opens his laptop and opens a file of significant importance.
"Shinji Ikari, Age 16. His transcript reads like something of a travel brochure, he's been all over the country and for periods of time completely vanishing from trace. Only, to reappear in a completely different region... if not country."
"All right, that I all ready know. Tell me something useful!" Nabiki snaps, at a surprised Aida.
"Ok, Sir, cool your jets. All right, well, it seems he's an all-right student. His grades, when he's actually attending class, are right up their with the best of them... like Ayanami or Horaki for example. "
"So, Ranma wasn't exaggerating, but still... how much schooling has he actually received?"
"Yeah, well, it seems that every couple of years he would return to the same town where he would enroll into whatever school would take him based upon his less then normal transcript. It also seems he was privately tutored on the side and participated in a few club activities. It lists playing the cello and kendo as his only two activities."
"Kendo... Kuno?! This could be trouble... does it mention anything about how good he is?"
"No, it only says that he was on the team, but never competed. He only trained with the team."
"All right, so what does this all mean?"
"Well, in my humble opinion, I think it means that we're either dealing with one hell of a guy or..."
"Or what...?!" asks Nabiki, the worry in her voice catching Kensuke's attention.
"Or possibly an even bigger freak than the one's current rooming our halls. How else can you explain these types of grades with such little schooling?"
"I can't." she answers, her frustration at learning nothing useful written all over her.
"Exactly, my point. But, one things for sure... I can't wait to meet this guy."
"Yeah, me too."
As, Kensuke shuts of his computer, he can't help but feel that something's quite off about Nabiki. He weighs on whether or not to question on it, but decides to take a different tact.
"By the way, Sir? Why are you so interested in this Ikari guy, anyway? I mean besides his sporadic attendance record, nothing really sticks out about this guy."
"Well, I did tell you about Akane... right?"
"Yeah, that your father hooked her up with some guy out of the blue and that he, his father, and cousin were now living with you. What does this have to do with anything?"
"It seems that plans have changed. You see... Shinji is Ranma's cousin, but he's not living with us. The truth is we know nothing about this guy except what we've been told from our free loading houseguests and I don't exactly trust their point of view being his family and all. So, I want to know exactly what I'm... I mean we're getting into... if he's going to be my... part of my family."
"All right. But, now that you mention it something else did strike me as odd."
"What?! What was it... spit it out already?!"
Nabiki's sudden outburst is all the proof he needs, Kensuke is now positive that there's something she's not telling him. For her usual cold, calm demeanor to be shattered at the simple mentioning of this guy, something drastic must of happened, but what is the question. Putting his questions aside he continues before Nabiki rips him a new one.
"Well, when you asked me to check the school records for any incoming students I was a little surprised. I mean students don't usually come to Furinkan as much as they leave, so...."
"So... what?! Hurry up, I don't got all day!"
"So... imagine my surprise when not only do I find a transfer student's transcript, but two of them that where entered into the schools records the very next day following that robot attack!"
"Yeah, so what? That's the day they arrived in town and my Dad and Kasumi enrolled Ranma the next day."
"Yeah, but, they didn't enroll Shinji and do you know where he's staying since it's not with you?" Seeing the scowl on Nabiki's face, Kensuke decides to get to the point. "Well, you know that I am something of a major military buff, right?"
"Yeah, the word obsession comes to mind" Nabiki says, with the first semblance of a smile gracing her face this whole morning.
"Anyway, when I noticed that and saw our friend's name something clicked. I knew that name, it's the same surname as the head of a certain organization that just happens to employ a majority of the people living in this city."
"You mean NERV?"
"Exactly. And, I once heard my folks mention the boss over there and how he's this really scary guy. Anyway, I heard them say the name Ikari, Gendo Ikari. And so..."
"You think this Gendo and Shinji are related?"
"Well, that be my guess. But, what confirmed it for me was when I checked his current place of residence. He's staying with a Misato Katsuragi, she's also listed as his guardian. So, why would a guy who has family living within walking distance live with a complete stranger, who just so happens to rank as a "Captain" within the organization that his supposed father heads?"
"I don't know?" she answers, her worry and confusion over the boy named Shinji Ikari becoming deeper by the second.
"That may be, but I have a theory which needs more proving before I say what it is. But, in the end it may be simpler to just ask him about this stuff when he arrives, right?"
Kensuke is once again thrown of by Nabiki's quite demeanor. In the time he's known her, she's been anything other than quite. But, today something is obviously different. Who ever this Ikari is, he must really have her worried. And, he wasn't about to rest till he found out why. But, before more could be said a certain boy-hating tomboy was making her entrance.
"Sir! Your little sis is here."
"All right, make sure you get some good shots. I've yet to deliver Kuno's order." Nabiki orders, quickly slipping into the role that she's most comfortable... the role of the Ice Queen of Furinkan High.
"Sure, but is it right to do this? I mean she is your sister?"
"Yeah, well, Kuno has to spend his money somewhere... and, I prefer that it's with us."
"Ok, your the boss!"
"That I am." she replies, her voice flowing, once again, with confidence.
"Now, that's the Nabiki I know. I wonder what's it about this Ikari that has her so worried? I wish Toji was here to help me figure this out."
"Hey, Aida! Focus!" Nabiki yells, causing him to refocus as the melee begins.
As, Kensuke films the daily massacre, Nabiki notices Ranma hopping onto the schoolyard wall.
"Ranma! Get in this school! Now!" she yells, catching the attention of the somewhat bewildered martial artist.
"But... But..."
"Don't worry about Akane! You get..." is all she would get out and all Ranma would hear, as their attention was drawn to a new entry into the battlefield that is Furinkan High.
"Shinji?!" Ranma declares, as he watches a white and black blur jump into the midst of Akane's free-for-all.
To the surprise of all present, a young man dressed in black and white appears from out of nowhere, and leaps into the middle of the ruckus. He, moments later, emerges with Akane in tow as he leaps out from within the sea of male students, and gently places her down a safe distance away before returning to the fight.
As he does, Ranma hops of the wall and walks over to Akane, who asks without removing her gaze from the fight that up until a moment ago was hers.
"What was that?"
"That... was Shinji?" he states with a shrug.
"Your cousin!" Akane yells, loud enough for even those standing on the school's second floor can hear. This including a shocked Nabiki Tendo and an intrigued Kensuke Aida.
But, before Ranma can confirm his original statement, the fights over as the boy identified as Shinji finishes off what was left of the male student body, the rest taken cared of by Akane or not crazy enough to challenge her in the first place.
Standing amidst a field of unconscious students, Shinji dust himself off and releases a deep sigh as he address his opponents.
"What type of man engages in such conduct? Ganging up on someone, let alone a girl! You have no right to call yourselves men!"
Finished with reprimanding the offenders who probably didn't hear a word he said, he turns to check on Akane. Only to react with clear surprise at who he finds standing next to her.
"Ranma?"
"Hey, cuz, how you..." is all he manages to get out before Shinji further shocks those around him as he, in a display of great speed, dashes forward bypassing a stunned Akane and bops Ranma over the head.
"What ya do that for!" Ranma yells, as he rubs his now throbbing head.
"You mean to tell me you saw her being attacked and you did nothing?!"
"Well, yeah, I mean..."
Shinji bops him again, turning to face Akane who doesn't know what to expect from this odd boy.
"I'm sorry. Are you ok, miss?"
"Um, yeah, thanks?"
"No problem and sorry about my idiot cousin here. I have no idea what he was thinking?"
Shinji looks back at Ranma, who shrugs his shoulders, with a glare that Genma would attest only his beloved wife could match in intensity.
"Nabiki said not to get involved, that this happens every morning."
"Nabiki... every morning?" Shinji asks looking to Akane who blushes slightly as she nods.
"Besides, she was handling herself just fine until you leapt in playing hero."
"Well, what was I supposed to do... I thought she was in trouble... excuse me for caring!" Shinji yells, as he turns and begins to walk away.
"Ranma!" Akane yells, before heading after Shinji.
"What?!" he replies, as he follows wondering what's the big deal.
Hearing Akane calling for him, Shinji stops and turns to face her. Surprising the approaching Tendo with the sudden change in demeanor. He's looking to the floor and mumbling an apology, as he says something along the lines of that he's sorry for intruding and had no business entering someone else's fight.
"Hey, wait, I should be the one apologizing. Your the one who helped me and I let that idiot Ranma insult you."
Noticing the smile gracing her lips, Shinji looks up to see that she truly is sincere. Looking around at the just-now awakening students, he blushes as he says.
"I guess I was a little to rough with them, but does this really happen every morning, Miss...?"
"Oh, right, sorry. My name is Akane, Akane Tendo. It's a pleasure to meet you and yes... it does."
"But, why?"
Shinji asks completely baffled by this strange morning ritual he's happened to stumble into the midst off. But, before Akane can explain as Ranma arrives next to them, a sudden shift in the wind signals the arrival of the one responsible.
"Truly. Such a boorish lot. Evidently, each of them intends to ask you out on the dawn that he finally defeats you."
The three newly aquatinted students turn to face the newest arrival as Akane with a sigh responds.
"Oh, Upperclassman. Good morning."
"Upperclassman?" Shinji asks Ranma who only shrugs as the scene before them continues to play out.
"And now, Akane Tendo, might you fight with me?"
"Um, I don't mean to intrude, but... in case, you arrived late... Shinji here took care of these guys, not Akane. And, I doubt he'll allow you to do such a thing... right, Shinji?" Ranma states, stepping forward and pointing over his shoulder at a surprised Shinji.
"Ranma, stay out of this." Akane demands.
"What? I'm just informing him of the facts."
"Listen to her, this doesn't involve us." Shinji says coming to stand on Akane's other side.
"Yeah, well, it involves us now that you had to be the hero."
Shinji doesn't get to respond as the sword wielding upperclassman tires of being ignored and demands their attention.
"You two!"
"Yeah?" they reply in unison.
"You are being quite familiar with Akane!"
"Tell him, Akane?" says Ranma.
"Tell him what?"
"You know?" a flustered Ranma replies.
"I have no idea what you're referring to." Akane says, feigning ignorance.
"Um, guys. He's getting mad." Shinji adds, noticing the reddening of the upperclassman's complexion.
"You insolent whelps! Who are you?" he yells, venting his frustration.
"Well, we're..." the cousins, once more in unison, reply before being cutoff.
"Ah! But, is it not custom to gives one's own name first? Fine then! Mine I shall give!"
"Um sure?" replies a baffled Ranma.
"Go ahead." adds an equally confused Shinji.
"My name is Upperclassman Kuno. Junior. Group E. Captain of the Kendo Club and the undefeated new star of the high school fencing world. But, my peers call me... The Blue Thunder of Furinkan High!"
"Blue Thunder?" questions a friend of Nabiki, who's joined her and Kensuke along with a few other girls.
"Have you heard that?" another asks.
"News to me." Nabiki states.
She, being as confused as everyone else, continues to watch the display in the yard below with vapid interest. Especially, the boy Akane identified in her own unique way as Shinji.
"Um, well, I am Shinji Ikari. A transfer student. Upon arriving here today, I witnessed Miss Tendo here being attacked, and so I moved to assist her taking out those who where assaulting her. I have no previous association with her, Upperclassman."
"Ah, I see. You are one you acts with honor. You fine sir, are quite noble indeed. You may leave." Kuno address Shinji with all the eloquence of feudal lord.
"Um... thank you, Upperclassman?" Shinji replies, as he steps back next to Akane as Kuno turns to face Ranma.
"And you?!"
"Okay? I'm, uh... I'm staying at the Tendo Training Hall..." Ranma announces, much to Kuno's displeasure.
"What?! Staying under the same roof as Akane?!" Kuno yells, while lunging forward with a slash of his sword. Which Ranma easily avoids flipping out of the way and tossing Shinji his bag.
"I am heir to the Saotome School of Indiscriminate Grappling! I am Ranma Saotome and I accept your challenge!"
Landing a few feet away, Ranma sizes Kuno up as it seems that the entire student body is gathering at the school's various windows and balconies. Shinji's attention is drawn to the increasing commotion, as his gaze falls upon a young man who appears to be filming the entire thing. As well as the young woman to his right and several other young girls. His focus is suddenly drawn to a speck of blue in a third floor window, there he spots the young woman who has been dominating many a quite moment, along with the brown-haired young woman standing next to her.
"Rei...?"
But, before Shinji could dwell upon his discovery any longer, a sudden cry alerts him to the beginning battle.
"Silence, Fool! Have at thee!"
To Be Continued...
Author Notes:
Many thanks to all of you, who have written me wondering about the status of TTCS. It's been great to hear that people have been enjoying the story so far. I must apologize for the long delay between chapters, as things have been quite hectic around here lately. But, with summer here, at last, I hope to release chapters on a more regular basis. Once again, my thanks to all who've read this story and please continue to enjoy TTCS.