Ranma ½
Starting Over Book 1: The Truth Behind the Lie
Chapter 2 (Version 1.0 Thursday 8/17/2006)
The next morning Ranma woke up even earlier than usual without the help of being thrown out the window and decided to go ahead and get dressed and go downstairs in hopes of avoiding the morning spar. As she predicted the bruises on her arms was mostly gone now leaving only a few marks and the bruises on her body had gone away a little but they were mostly still there as well as the soreness.
As she walked downstairs in her normal garb of red Chinese shirt and silk black pants she heard Kasumi working in the kitchen and decided to go there first. As she walked in she saw Kasumi getting everything they needed for breakfast together and decided to help when she saw Kasumi slip and start to fall with a large knife in hand. Ranma acted quickly and grabbed Kasumi before hitting the floor and before hurting herself on the knife luckily neither of them getting cut by it.
"Thank you Ranma, what are you doing up so early?" Kasumi asked, relief in her voice from being saved by what could have easily become a very bad situation.
"Momentai." Ranma said with a soft smile helping the older girl back get her balance back then cursed at herself for saying that.
"Momentai…Ranma, you watch digimon?" Kasumi asked in shock.
"Digi what?" Ranma asked blushing a little, hoping that she could hide that fact. Maybe it really was too early in the morning. She couldn't let something like that slip because it wasn't manly to watch stupid cartoons according to her father.
"Isn't that where you got that from?" Kasumi asked while looking Ranma straight in the eyes.
"No…I…Hiroshi says it all of the time, he said it means no worries or something like that." Ranma said nervously.
"Of course." Kasumi said with a small smile as if she believed otherwise.
"Can I help you?" Ranma asked trying to change the subject.
"I have everything in here under control already, Ranma but thank you." Kasumi said.
"Okay." Ranma said, "If you need anything I'll be in the other room."
Ranma walked out of the kitchen and into the dinning room while looking around. She had seen Kasumi cleaning enough in here that she knew basically everything that the older girl usually did. For the next half an hour Ranma used her speed she gained from the techniques that Cologne taught her and made short work of what usually took Kasumi all morning to do by cleaning the entire living room while humming the theme from Magic Knight Rayearth to herself.
"You didn't have to do all of this." Kasumi said in surprise from behind Ranma as she was putting the stuff back into the cleaning closet startling Ranma. She was hoping that the elder girl didn't hear what she was humming or recognize it. That was twice so far that morning that she slipped up badly.
"It was no problem, Kasumi. I just wanted to help you out a little." Ranma said scratching the back of her neck nervously.
"It means a lot to me though, Ranma." Kasumi said with a bright smile, "You saved me a lot of work today but don't worry, I won't tell your dad."
"Thanks Kasumi." Ranma said, relieved that Genma wouldn't learn anything about it.
"Why don't you go ahead and go get your bath before everyone else gets up." Kasumi said, looking curiously at Ranma.
"Sure, I guess." Ranma said as she turned and left to get a change of clothes and to take a quick bath.
Breakfast was a little better than dinner had been with barely any tension and Akane actually being in a good mood for some reason. Akane was someone that Ranma didn't think that he would ever understand, the girl was a raging inferno one moment and as calm as can be the next. He knew that she had some major problems but he often wished that she would find some better way of taking out her frustrations and insecurities than beating on him. He got enough beatings from his father he didn't need the tomboy adding more on top.
"I'm going to school by myself this morning, Ranma." Akane announced as they finished eating leaving Ranma to blink in surprise. Why would she want to walk by herself for anyways?
"Why don't you walk with your fiancé?" Soun asked.
"Because daddy, I'm stopping off at Yuka's house to help her with some stuff before going to school. We are planning on going shopping in Shinjuku tonight after school since tomorrow there isn't any school." Akane explained, "This is going top be just us girls daddy so don't even start with begging me to take Ranma along. I had this planned for weeks now and you knew it so don't try to ruin it."
Sound didn't even try to persuade his daughter as he swallowed heavily at the calm yet threatening way his youngest daughter said the last few words. Ranma was a little put off about it though since he remembered Akane talking about it before and Yuka suggesting to bring Ranma along but Akane rejected the idea. How could the fathers ever expect them to get married, they wasn't even friends since Akane refused to even really give Ranma a fair chance which while did hurt a little Ranma was fine with. He may not of wanted to marry her but he would have liked to be friends like Akane suggested until finding out about the curse and betraying him by rescinding her offer.
"That's fine with me, I have plans myself." Ranma said, not letting any of his inner turmoil show. If Akane didn't want him around then fine, he had better things he could do. He had been asked to waitress at the Neko Hanten if he had free time after school anyways so he decided that he just had time open up for training.
"Yes my boy, an extended training regimen sounds great." Genma said making Ranma pale a little hoping that he could get out of it.
"Your right pops, Cologne offered to teach me some new move tonight when she gets rid of Shampoo for the evening." Ranma said. He knew Genma though women were weak and worthless but the Amazons were a different story. If there was anyone Genma truly feared it was the Amazon elder who was the only one who truly stood a chance against Happosai.
"You are just going to hang out with that bimbo." Akane raged.
"Nope, for your information the old ghoul is sending both Mousse and Shampoo to pick something up from some old antique store in Juuban. Neither of them have earned the right of learning the new technique." Ranma said pushing his dishes away from him.
"Wahhhhh…Ranma is cheating on his fiancé with a foreign slut!" Soun cried.
"Idiot." Ranma grumbled.
"No, Soun, think about it. If Ranma manages to steal…err…learn the Amazon's tricks then he can incorporate them into the school and make it even stronger when its joined." Genma said, "The two really aren't going to be there tonight since I heard Happosai going on about following them to Juuban tonight to check into those magical girls while there."
"This is perfect then, Saotome. Your son can learn these techniques then come back and marry my baby." Soun said.
"Give it a rest!" Akane snapped getting up from the table and leaving as Nabiki did. Ranma just sighed and noticed just how big a mess the table was and decided to grab most of the plates and carry them into the kitchen.
"Boy, what are you doing?" Genma demanded scaring Ranma a little.
"Since I'm going to school by myself I can make it in half the time I do when I have to walk with that tomboy so I'm helping Kasumi a little." Ranma said, "Honestly, don't you ever get tired of freeloading?"
"We will talk about this later." Genma said sending chills down Ranma's back from the tone of his father's voice. This couldn't be very good. Ranma thought as he finished dumping the dishes in the sink.
"Ranma." Kasumi said quietly as she squeezed his shoulder. "Thank you but I can get this, I don't want you to get in any more trouble."
"Thanks Kasumi, I'm sorry about the old fool." Ranma sighed sadly.
"Don't be, Ranma." Kasumi said kissing his cheek, "Have fun tonight and don't worry about anything."
"Thanks." Ranma said smiling a little.
"Now go, off to school, I can finish this." Kasumi said shooing the young martial artist out of the kitchen.
After finishing the dishes and checking in on her father and Genma, who had the day off, she found them playing shogi again. She never understood them playing it that much since all they did was cheat each other every chance they got but maybe that was what they enjoyed about it.
Ranma had truly done a lot of work in such a short amount of time that morning freeing up a lot of time for Kasumi which she wasn't too sure what to do with. She knew that she planned on visiting Doctor Tofu at lunch but her whole morning was free now. She debated trying to watch some television but she knew that there usually wasn't anything very good on this time of the morning. Thinking about the attic she thought maybe she should go up there and clean a little since it was a little before the Saotome's arrived when she last cleaned up there or even went up there. It held a lot of memories of her mother which was good and bad. She loved the memories but they held so much pain yet as they always made Kasumi miss the woman even more.
Slowly making her way to the attic she found the light switch and turned it on and was shocked at how clean the attic was. Everything was moved around now which she knew neither Nabiki or Akane did but everything was organized. Looking over to the farthest corner she noticed how the boxes were stacked and realized that there shouldn't be so many boxes up here. Moving to the boxes Kasumi realized that they were just stacked out from the wall making a wall themselves but why? Moving around the boxes she found a small space which she squeezed through and found herself in a small space where there was an old television and DVD player hooked up to it. Stacked on top of it was a few anime DVDs including a volume of Magic Knight Rayearth, Digimon Tamers and Tokyo Mew Mew respectively. Beside the Television was a couple worn manga of Magic Knight Rayearth though they had seen much better days with one of them missing most of the cover and the others being badly damaged. In front of the television was a pillow and blanket and a few papers and teen girl magazines which highlighted stars. One of them had the image of a very attractive blonde haired American on the cover with the name Ken Masters.
"Is this Ranma's?" Kasumi asked herself since the young man was the only one she knew of who would have done this. Thinking back to the morning she realized that it had to be, Ranma was humming the intro to Magic Knight Rayearth while cleaning. This would most definitely be considered unmanly by Genma so Kasumi decided not to even mention it but she was glad that at least Ranma did have a few things though the magazines did surprise her a little.
She realized that Magic Knight Rayearth must have been one of Ranma's favorites since that seemed to be what there was the most of between the few mangas and the DVD. Deciding to do a little shopping instead Kasumi went to get changed and told her father that she was going out for a bit.
"I'm sorry." Ranma heard Sayuri said as the spent their free period in the class room around Akane's desk while Ranma sat in hers next to them ignoring Ukyo and everyone else. "I can't go tonight, my mom has a booth set up at the convention tonight and I told her I would be there. If you want you guys can come."
"No way." Akane said, "That stupid gaijin is going to be there. Kan Masters a grand master in martial arts my ass. What does a lazy American know of martial arts."
"Did you say Ken Masters?" Ranma asked excitedly as she sat up and looked over at the three girls.
"Don't tell me that you believe that fraud." Akane snorted.
"It doesn't matter what country you are born in Akane, a true martial artist can come from anywhere." Ranma said, a little angry at the blue haired girl for putting down one of the greatest martial artists, in Ranma's own opinion anyways.
"As if, I could beat the fake any day of the week." Akane said.
"No you couldn't Akane." Ranma said seriously, "Ken Masters is a ki adept for one thing, he mastered it a long time ago and makes anything Ryouga and me do look like a firecracker."
"Dream on, you pervert." Akane said, "I'm a real martial artist, the best in Nerima."
"Please, you can't even beat me how can you even think you stand a chance against Ken." Ranma said.
For a few moments Akane seethed, glaring daggers at Ranma until a nasty smile crept into her lips.
"I do admit he is very handsome so I can understand why you would want to protect him so much. You like him you freak, I knew you were a pervert."
"Grow up, Akane!" Ranma snapped, her cheeks glowing a little as she turned away from the three and buried her face in her folded arms on the desk just as the bell rang.
Ranma was actually relieved when the teacher thought she was sleeping and sent her into the hallo to hold buckets since it meant that she didn't have to deal with Akane or the angry girl's glares and rude, stinging insults. She was beginning to think that Akane truly believed all of that deep down and truly hated her. She always thought that a part of Akane had cared for Ranma just a little but things just kept getting worse and worse between the two.
It just seemed that it was never going to end which started to depress Ranma all the more, her whole life seemed so meaningless at times. Why bother with it then, why not just end it all, all the pain and all the suffering.
"Never." Ranma snarled to herself clutching the buckets tighter. She refused to give up, she didn't come this far, worked this long for freedom just to give up now. She was getting stronger and soon she would be the one on top and all those who hurt her would never be able to again. She would prove to everyone that she was worth something, more than just a tool for her father's schemes to swindle people and feed his fat stomach.
Ranma sighed, trying to think of something else before she let her anger and depression get the better of her. She wandered how she could get to the convention to see Ken, wandering if he would even remember her. She remembered how he acted like a jerk sometimes but he always tried to help those in need and had such a kind heart, trying to do the right thing. He was what gave Ranma her sense of honor, or at least a part of it. She tried so hard to become like him and she wanted so much to at least see him again but how? An anime convention was surely going to be considered to girlie to attend which meant if Genma found out he would be outraged. Also, there was the Neko Hanten to think about as she didn't want to ruin the little bit of time she had with the old Amazon who Ranma saw as a grandmother at times, especially when she wasn't helping Shampoo try and get her to go back to China with them.
"Ranma, snap out of it!" Sayuri said loudly, shaking the redhead's shoulder.
"Wh-What?" Ranma asked startled.
"You was in la la land, Saotome. I couldn't get your attention, the bell rang and it is time to go home. Akane already left with Yuka." Sayuri said.
"Oh…Thanks Sayuri." Ranma said smiling a little then remembered the look on her face the day before, the sadness and worry etched on it resembling Kasumi's so much last night. "Sayuri…About yesterday…Thank you, I'm sorry I overreacted the way I did."
"Its okay, Ranma, I'm just glad that you are okay." Sayuri said smiling a little more, "You are okay, aren't you?"
"Yeah, but I better get to the Neko Hanten if I want to make it in time." Ranma said.
"Ranma…Can I please walk with you?" Sayuri asked nervously.
"I guess so." Ranma said, curious to why Sayuri wanted to since the girl was supposedly supposed to be heading to the convention.
"Great, grab your things and meet me out front." Sayuri said hurrying off. Ranma sighed and grabbed her things and hurried out front with a feeling of impending doom. She prayed that it was nothing but knowing her life a giant purple dinosaur could walk by any moment terrorizing the masses with its frightening, torturous, nasty, evil songs. The thought made her shiver even more.
Ranma jumped a little when someone put their hand on her shoulder causing Ranma to whirl around to find a giggling Sayuri.
"Sorry about that, Ranma." Sayuri giggled, "Didn't mean to scare you."
"Its no big, you ready?" Ranma said.
"Yep." Sayuri said showing her satchel with school supplies stuffed in it and homework assignments for the weekend. The two started walking at a slow pace without saying anything for a few moments until Sayuri nervously asked, "So, is Ken like your hero or something?"
"Or something." Ranma sighed, "Look, I don't need you to make fun of me over it."
"Relax, Ranma, I think its cool that you have someone that you look up to." Sayuri said, "And besides, he is a hunk."
"He is." Ranma whispered to herself but Sayuri heard.
"So when you change genders your perspective changes?" Sayuri asked curiously.
"N-No." Ranma stammered shaking her head, "Well…A little I guess but I hate it…I hate the way it makes me feel. Its so wrong and disgusting."
"Its only natural, Ranma." Sayuri said, "There is nothing to be ashamed about."
"You wouldn't say that if you knew the truth." Ranma said sadly.
"How about you tell me the truth." Sayuri said.
"You wouldn't understand, Sayuri." Ranma sighed, "Please, lets just drop that."
"Okay, I'm sorry Ranma." Sayuri said, "Have you ever met Ken before?"
"Yeah, about ten years ago. He taught me a lot of things though my dad didn't know about it. My dad hates him, actually he hates all Americans." Ranma said.
"No offense to you Ranma but your dad is a total jerk." Sayuri said.
"That is something else we both agree with." Ranma said.
"Ranma, will you come with me to the convention?" Sayuri asked.
"I would love to Sayuri but you don't know what my dad would do if he found out." Ranma said.
"What if I guaranteed that he wouldn't find out?" Sayuri asked.
"I would but…I have…Well…" Ranma said, trying to stall as she tried to make up an excuse.
"Everyone will be going to the convention Ranma, as slow as its going to be tonight I doubt Cologne will really need help waitressing." Sayuri said as they entered the Neko Hanten to find no one there except Cologne who was perched up on the counter behind the register.
"What…How did you know?" Ranma asked.
"Son in law, how oblivious can you be?" Cologne cackled when they got to the register, rapping Ranma on her head with her staff.
"Ouch, what did you do that for you dried up old mummy?" Ranma demanded rubbing the spot on her head where the staff hit.
"Ranma, your young friend comes in here a lot. Don't tell me that you never noticed her." Cologne laughed merrily.
"I didn't think she would recognize me with that stupid wig you make me wear." Ranma grumbled.
"Not everyone is as oblivious as Ryouga is dear." Cologne said after she regained control of herself. She opened the register and pulled out several large bills handing them to Ranma.
"What's this for?" Ranma asked.
"To enjoy yourself with, take your young friend out here and treat her to a nice meal when you get done at this convention of yours." Cologne said, "I'm closing up for the night, like your friend said everyone is at the convention."
"I can't take all of this." Ranma said trying to give back the money.
"Yes you can and will and you will spend it. Do I make myself clear?" Cologne asked, her eyes saying that there would be no argument.
"Thanks granny." Ranma said smiling.
"That's better." Cologne said.
"Aren't you afraid of me cheating on Shampoo?" Ranma asked nervously.
"Ranma." Cologne said moving to rap Ranma over the head but stopped as she smiled sadly. "Child, we both know that there will never be anything between you two. For one thing neither of you swing that way."
"What do…You know, don't you?" Ranma asked turning white.
"Know what?" Sayuri asked in confusion.
"You will learn when the time is right." Cologne said, "Me, I'm over three hundred years old with three hundred years experience. It wasn't too hard to see what is going on, why do you think I've been helping you so much training you in techniques that should be forbidden to outsiders."
"Actually, from what I heard about you that is a good question." Sayuri asked, "How could you teach Ranma all of the techniques?"
"This is not to become common knowledge, especially with my Shampoo since she isn't ready to know yet." Cologne said, "Ranma…In the tribes eyes you are my adopted daughter."
"I get it." Sayuri said clapping her hands together. "With Ranma's curse he can become a girl which you adopted as your daughter."
"Something like that dear." Cologne said smiling sadly at Ranma, "You two better get going if you don't want to stand in line all night."
"Your right but we won't have to." Sayuri said, "My mom has a booth there."
"Have fun you two." Cologne said as the two left the restaurant.
"Thanks granny." Ranma called back over her shoulder as the doors closed.
"Come on Ranma, lets get to my house." Sayuri said grabbing Ranma's hand dragging the red head down the street.
"I thought we was going to the convention." Ranma said as she hurried along so she wouldn't trip as the excited girl led Ranma down the street at speeds the redhead didn't think the girl could pull off.
"Of course, we need disguises." Sayuri laughed putting fear into Ranma's heart.
"Wow." Ranma whistled appreciatively as the entered a large house, easily twice the size of the Tendos. It even rivaled that of Kuno's mansion but it didn't seem to have the insane air about it or the deadly traps.
"Come on, my room is this way." Sayuri said leading Ranma down a hall with numerous paintings which Ranma guessed must have been Sayuri's family. One painting she passed pulled at a memory for a moment, making her feel like she knew the redhaired woman in a kimono in the painting but she shook that off seeing at how impossible it was.
Sayuris room was twice as big as Akane's with a large entertainment center, a canopy bed with sheer pink curtains matching the walls and strange clothes strewn all over the place.
"I have the perfect costume for you if you don't mind going as a girl." Sayuri said digging through a pile of dresses until she pulled out something familiar to Ranma. It was genius, even if anyone saw Ranma there they would never believe it was her. The dress was an exact replica of Zoe's waitress uniform from Tokyo Mew Mew with cat ears and tail. Who would ever believe that Ranma would go as a cat girl? "The bathroom is over there, I don't have a bra big enough for you but you kind of look like my mom's size with a little adjusting. Go ahead and go in there and take your clothes off and I'll bring back the underwear."
"Thanks." Ranma said taking the costume into the bathroom and slowly peeled her clothes off not bothering to complain about it being unmanly to wear that stuff. Genma wasn't going to find out and hopefully with a little makeup no one would truly recognize her. She finished taking off the last of the clothes when the bathroom door opened and Sayuri let out a cry of shock and anger.
"Who did this to you?" Sayuri demanded angrily as Ranma tried to hide herself as tears filed her eyes.
"Don't look." Ranma pleaded weakly as Sayuri moved forward to examine the mass of bruises.
"Who did this to you?" Sayuri repeated, more calmly and gently.
"You can't tell anyone, Sayuri." Ranma pleaded, "It will get worse if you do."
"Ranma, this isn't right and don't even try to tell me that this was from a fight or spar. I've seen stuff like this before at the hospital." Sayuri said.
"He doesn't do it much anymore…He just found out that I was…" Ranma said shutting up.
"Found out what?" Sayuri demanded.
"That I was…crying." Ranma whispered.
"Oh god…This is my fault." Sayuri said covering her mouth and shaking her head.
"No it wasn't, Sayuri." Ranma said.
"I'm calling the police." Sayuri said turning to leave before Ranma grabbed her hand.
"No…He'll kill them, Sayuri. He did it before." Ranma said, pleading with Sayuri to not do anything.
"It was your dad, wasn't it?" Sayuri asked.
"Sayuri, please listen to me." Ranma begged, "This was the only time since we came here that he did this, he can't or the Tendo's might find out. I can handle this."
"Ranma…You need help." Sayuri said.
"I am the only one that can help, Sayuri. I'm almost strong enough Sayuri, a little more training and I can defend myself and make sure that he doesn't hurt anyone else." Ranma said. "Please…If you tell anyone I'm afraid he might hurt them and…I'm afraid he'll hurt you."
"I'm so sorry." Sayuri said embracing the naked girl.
"Its okay, Sayuri." Ranma said hugging the girl back. "Please Sayuri, please promise me that you won't get involved in this. Just give me a little time."
"Ranma…I'm…I don't know what to do." Sayuri sniffed.
"Just trust me, please." Ranma said, "Lets forget about this for now and just go have some fun tonight."
"Okay." Sayuri sniffed pulling away.
"Thank you." Ranma said bending down to pick up the bra and panties off of the floor and started to put them on.
"I'll help you get ready then I'll change." Sayuri said helping Ranma get into the costume and ushered her out into the bedroom to wait as Sayuri retrieved what must have been her costume and went back into the bathroom. Ranma was a little scared about Sayuri finding out about what happened and even more so over how easily the girl dropped the matter. Ranma was silently praying to herself that Sayuri wouldn't get hurt when the door opened back up and out stepped Sayuri dressed just like Aeris from final fantasy seven.
"Wow, you look great." Ranma said smiling.
"Why thank you kind lady." Sayuri said bowing to Ranma a little, giggling a bit though it was easy to see the worry in the girl's eyes.
"Lets get going before it gets any later." Ranma suggested smiling softy at Sayuri.
"Come on." Sayuri said as the two left and made good time to the convention center. The two talked a bit on the way, kidding around which made Ranma feel like she was floating on air as one of her fondest wishes felt like it was coming true. It felt like Ranma truly had a friend, one who didn't have an ulterior motive other than just caring and wanting to have a little fun.
"Where do you think you two are going?" A security guard asked as Sayuri opened the side door to the building.
"Relax Jin, its me." Sayuri said.
"Sorry Sayuri, go ahead." The guard said as Sayuri dragged Ranma through the door and into the building. It was a virtual crowd as Sayuri led Ranma through it toward a booth where several very good looking girls modeled various outfits ranging from modest to skimpy each one being from video game, anime or manga. One girl looked to be about Ranma's age though in a modified school fuku with fingerless gloves and a white headband on. The way she carried herself screamed fighter to Ranma.
"Hi honey." Sayuri's mom said hugging Sayuri. "This is Sakura, a friend of Ken and Ryu's."
"Hi." Sakura said bowing politely to Sayuri and Ranma.
"I'm Sayuri and this is Ranma." Sayuri said indicating each of them in turn.
"Yo, Sakura, whose the babe?" A very familiar blonde haired man asked in perfect Japanese as he joined Sakura along with a Japanese man in a white gi. They were Ken and Ryu and Ranma froze as she looked Ken in the eyes seeing confusion for a few moments in the man's eyes then recognition.
"Ranko…Oh my god it is you." Ken said happily.
"Stop hitting on her." Sakura said elbowing the blonde haired man in the stomach, "I swear you pervert she is the same age as me."
"I'm not hitting on her, this is Ranko Saotome, the prodigy I told you guys about." Ken said happily, "It's been a long time red, I was wrong though when I told you that you would grow up to be pretty. You are a goddess."
"Th-Thanks." Ranma said blushing a little as Sayuri gawked at the two.
"So you practice martial arts?" Sakura asked. "We are going to have a few exhibition matches, want to spar with me in one. Ken's apprentice against Ryu's, see who is better?"
"Sorry, Ranma doesn't fight girls." Sayuri said though it seemed like she was ignored.
"Sure." Ranma said, cracking her knuckles.
"Lets go then." Sakura said leading Ranma from the group and leaving the two meen and Sayuri gawking momentarily before following trying to talk them out of it.
Ranma followed Sakura to the exhibition ring which was apparently set up for a few matches between martial artists. Ranma went to one end of it while Sakura took the other.
"Are they going to spar?" A bald man in black suit asked when Ken came over to take a seat near the announcers table.
"Yeah, my apprentice Ranko Saotome against Ryu's apprentice Sakura Ozaki." Ken said smiling proudly.
"Okay then." The announcer said turning on his mike as a few people noticed there was going to be a match they started to gather around the ring. "We have a special treat tonight folks, the apprentice students of two legendary street fighters is going to give us an exhibition match. Ryo's apprentice Sakura Ozaki and Ken's apprentice Ranko Saotome. Begin!"
Ranma smiled as she took her favorite stance, the hit me I'm open stance as she stood there acting like she wasn't ready. Sakura was faster than Ranko gave her credit for and started off with a spinning kick almost catching Ranma who narrowly dodged at the last second unleashing a high kick aimed for the back of Sakura's head as soon as she landed but the fuku clad girl easily dodged it as well as she jumped back.
The two fighters locked eyes and smiled at each other, they realized that each was much better that the other thought and this fight was going to be a lot harder than first thought. Ken was watching though and Ranma refused to let the man who showed her that their was good people out there willing to fight for what was right, to fight for your dreams and your beliefs never letting anyone keep you down.
"I'm sorry Sakura, but I won't be beaten." Ranma said taking a more serious stance.
"Neither will I red, I'm going to be the best and prove that I'm worthy to be Ryu's heir." Sakura said tightening up her stance. Ranma realized that this wasn't about a sparring match anymore, it was about proving who had the better teacher. The only problem with that was it seemed like Sakura had a fundamental knowledge of street fighting and a deeper knowledge of Ryu's art which for the most part was the same style as Ken's own which Ranma knew. Ranma had the advantage though of training under the basics of the Saotome style of the arty, a few insane training methods, the masters Ranma met on the road that was willing to seriously train her without Genma's knowledge and the Amazon's teachings. In short Ranma was going to kick Sakura's ass.
Sakura cupped her hands together as a ball of light formed between them before thrusting them toward Ranma. It was pure ki, not emotional like Ranma's Moko Takabisha which meant it was a lot stronger but if Ranma dodged it it might hit an innocent bystander. Crossing her arms before and directing as much ki into them as she could she attempted to block the brunt of the attack. It knocked her back driving her into the ground skidding on her back. Adjusting her body weight she rolled back on her feet weakly and stared at an equally drained Sakura who was looking on in shock.
"Time to end this." Ranma said jumping into the air and coming down with a flying kick which Sakura barely dodged then executing a roundhouse kick that Sakura blocked. The two started to trade punches and kicks, both blocking the other as they refused to give ground.
"Give…up." Sakura gasped between punches.
"Never." Ranma said drawing on the last of her resources to launch an amaguriken at the shocked girl knocking her out as too many punches slipped a past her defenses. She had won, she had beaten Sakura. She looked over at Ken as he hurried over with Ryu, a proud look in his eyes. The man who Ranma loved deeply, the man who she thought of more as a father figure than the bastard who raised her and looked up to so much was proud of her. With a smile she slipped into unconsciousness.
Ranma groaned as she sat up on the cot she was laying on in a little room that resembled a nurses station at the school. Looking around she saw Sakura coming around next to her on another cot with relieved looks on Ken, Ryu and Sayuri's faces.
"You did great." Ken said ruffling Ranma's hair.
"You really did." Sayuri beamed, "I couldn't believe how close it was though."
"I made a mistake by underestimating her." Ranma said.
"You both made mistakes." Ryu said, "Sakura, it was too dangerous to use an attack like that in such a closed space with so many other people around."
"I know." Sakura said, "I'm sorry. Congratulations Ranko, I'll train and come back though and next time I'll be the winner."
"That's the spirit." Ryu said, "I'm very proud of you Sakura."
"Thanks." Sakura said smiling up at Ryu.
"Lets all go out to a karaoke bar before we have to leave in the morning." Ken said, "My treat."
"That would be great." Ranma beamed.
"It would be fun." Sayuri said.
"Sorry I made you miss the convention, Sayuri." Ranma said realizing how late it was getting.
"Ranma, the convention will be all weekend and I expect you to come back here with me tomorrow." Sayuri said tapping her foot.
"Why do you keep calling her Ranma anyway?" Ken asked.
"Because that's her name." Sayuri said.
"I thought it was Ranko." Ken said looking to Ranma for answers.
"I can explain." Ranma sighed. "You know who I really am Ken, I never lied to you."
"You lied to me…" Sayuri said a little hurt.
"I lied to everyone in Nerima, Sayuri." Ranma said, "It's a long story and what we talked about earlier tonight is a big part of it. I'll explain tomorrow, I promise."
"Are you in any trouble?" Ken asked cracking his knuckles. "We can call off our flight."
"Don't, its nothing that I can't handle." Ranma said, "Just a minor nuisance."
"Are you sure?" Ken asked worriedly.
"I'm sure, if you miss your flight tomorrow I will personally kick your asses." Ranma said cracking her own knuckles as she got out of her cot.
"Okay, okay." Ken said making warding gestures with his hands as he backed away.
"Here." Ryu said giving Ranma a piece of paper, "This is both Ken and my cell numbers. If you need anything at all call us and we will be on the next flight here."
"Thanks guys." Ranma sniffed, rubbing her eyes as Ken hugged her.
Ranma trudged home late that night after hanging out with the others at the karaoke bar and stopping at Sayuri's long enough to change back into her regular clothes. Sayuri had tried to get her to tell her about why the guys was calling her Ranko and treating her strangely but she managed to get Sayuri to leave it alone for now with a promise to explain everything tomorrow. While that did give her time to think of how to explain it she was worried about the other girl's reaction to it. As much as Ranma felt betrayed by Akane's quick trip from wanting to be friends to being enemies this was a whole lot worse. She never meant to deceive Akane then but this was lies and a grand scale and she didn't want to lose what she felt was a growing friendship with Sayuri.
Everyone was asleep already when Ranma finally made it home so she decided not to wake Genma up since that often put him in a bad mood so she quietly made her way to the attic to her little hiding spot and collapsed on the blanket that was on the floor before noticing the two small packages with a card on one of them. Pulling off the card she opened it and read it.
"To Ranma, I found your little hiding spot today but no one else knows about it and I plan to keep it that way. It kind of looked like these were your favorites so I got these for you today. Love, your big sister Kasumi." The card read.
Carefully putting the card with a picture of the three magic knights Ranma opened the first package and gasped when she found the box sets for both seasons of Magic Knight Rayearth. Gently placing the DVDs down she opened the other package to find the entire manga series of Magic Knight Rayearth. Kasumi was right, it was her favorite and it brought tears to her eyes thinking about how this was her first gift real gift. She had never gotten a birthday present before or Christmas presents or any other presents for anything except from Ken all those years ago.
She couldn't remember her mother but according to Genma the woman was dead which made Ranma wander on more than one occasion if Genma had anything to do with her death but then again she couldn't bring herself to believe that even Genma was that cruel.
"Ranko, my little wild child." A loving, female voice echoed through Ranma's memories but as much as she tried she couldn't remember the face. It was one of the few memories that she could recall at all and it was all the proof that she had that she was loved by her mother even if she wasn't loved by her father.
AN: I'm not too sure I completely like how this chapter a whole lot, the meeting with Ken and Ranko could have gone much better in my opinion and I might add in a scene with all of them at the karaoke bar messing around a little. I might add to these scenes later, what does everyone think about it?
Until Next Time,
Ja Ne
Version 1.0 Thursday 8/17/2006
-Posted first draft.
