Ranma ½
Love Note
Usual disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, any resemblance to Ranma ½ or Death Note is purely intentional, and the rest of that jazz.
For the purposes of this story, any text within single quotes like 'this' is considered a thought.
Chapter 2
The day was coming to a close when Kasumi returned to her room to find Trista, laid out on Kasumi's bed, still going thru the Love Note. "Are you quite certain no one can see you?" Kasumi asked quietly after closing the door.
Eying Kasumi for a second, Trista took in a deep breath and then yelled out, "HEY EVERYONE, THIS IS TRISTA, AND I'M A LOVE GODDESS! COME SEE ME IN KASUMI'S ROOM!" This naturally caused Kasumi to start and look back at the door nervously. However, there was no commotion, no footsteps approaching, no nothing. Life in the Tendo home went on as usual. "See, can't hear me, can't see me. I could yell into their ears right next to them and they would be none the wiser, now stop worrying, would you. Besides, you have far bigger issues than me."
Sitting up finally, Trista frowned. "Most humans who get their hands on a Love Note just start writing the names of every pretty girl, or handsome guy they know, and set them to love themselves, but you..." Thrusting the notebook at Kasumi open to one of the first pages, Trista nearly yelled, "There has to be over fifty names on this page alone, and there are a lot more pages just like it! What the heck were you thinking?! And none of them are directed at you!"
"That would be very inappropriate," Kasumi replied. "I couldn't take advantage of such a power for my own gain like that."
"Oh no! Then what the heck are you doing then?!"
"Well..." Kasumi said nervously, and grabbed her chair to sit. "You see, my sister... she's engaged to this boy named Ranma. But, you see, there are a few... well many complications." Kasumi began to explain, urged on by Trista intense stare. "After I found out the note worked, I decided to try and help her out... just a little. Besides, at the time I wasn't even sure it worked. I had tested it once but... well anyway, you see they have a few other people who are... interested in them and I thought if I could get those people interested in other people..."
Trista immediately slapped her forehead and crashed backwards onto the bed. "Oh no..."
"Yes... I did discover a few slight flaws in that."
"A few?" Trista repeated as she stared at the roof in despair.
"To be fair, your rules didn't exactly make clear the full limitations of the note."
Finally getting back up, Trista waved off the explanation. "Okay, okay, but I don't care how popular these two are, they can't possibly have that many love interests. Where are all these other names from?"
"Television mostly," Kasumi answered.
"Television? What does that have to-"
"I needed to do a few tests for my next attempt," Kasumi quickly explained, but only caused Trista to once more fall back in the bed. Ignoring her reaction, Kasumi continued. "Perhaps it was a bit... ill considered, but I think it worked out fairly well. And then I started to think there are many other people on television that could use a little love... and then I started thinking about all the conflicts I could solve by using the note..."
"Alright," Trista cut in as she flew up off the bed and to a standing position. "Okay, I guess what is done is done."
"So... what happens now?" Kasumi asked.
"Now? Didn't I already say that? Oh, whatever, the note is officially yours to do with as you please."
Kasumi blinked in shock at this. "Really? Mine? I can keep using it?"
"Yes," Trista reaffirmed.
"And I won't be punished?"
Trista looked away absently. "I wouldn't go quite that far. Humans and notes don't tend to mix well. Tends to cause nothing but trouble for them. Also, as the previous owner of the note, I have to stay here with you from now on, that is until you find your true love."
"My true love?" Kasumi asked, her interest peaked.
"An eternal love, one that will be with you till the end of your days. Very rare those. Very few humans ever find a true love. When you do, I will use my note to bring you together, and your note will forever lose it's power. Till then though, it's all yours."
"And if I don't ever find one?"
"Then whoever next picks up the note, or the person after that, and so on and so on, until one true love pairing is found, or the note is destroyed. Believe you me, I'm not looking forward to this, but those are the rules. Personally, I think they're punishment to us goddesses for being sloppy with our notes, but I don't make the rules so..."
Kasumi smiled thoughtfully. "That doesn't sound so bad at all."
Suddenly serious, Trista turned to Kasumi and looked at her intensely. "There is one final consequence, this one for you personally. Any love you knew before using the Love Note is forever forbidden to you."
"Forever forbidden?" Kasumi echoed in shock, and some confusion.
"Yes. Oh, your feelings won't change at all, but let's just say fate is against you ever getting together. Try as hard as you might, you'll never be with any previous love. Even your Love Note can't change that, and trust me when I say this, don't try and force it. Bad things tend to happen when you do."
"Oh," Kasumi said sadly. "I see..."
"Sorry," Trista said in honest sympathy. "But, it's not all bad. That just applies to previous love interests. Any new ones you form are free and clear."
Kasumi considered this for a moment and nodded, with a weak smile. "I suppose that's not so bad," she said, but her mind couldn't help but drift off.
Sensing Kasumi needed a moment, Trista looked around the room. However, the moment was interrupted with a knock at the door. Before Kasumi could respond, Trista poked her head straight through door to take a look, much to Kasumi's shock. Popping her head back in, Trista said, "It's just some boy."
"Um... Yes?" Kasumi said as she opened the door to see Ranma holding a plate of cookies.
"Hey Kasumi, your Dad said I should bring you some of these," he said with apparent disinterest, thrusting the plate forward and looking away.
"This is that Ranma boy you were talking about," Trista said as she floated into the hallway to examine him. "I suppose he's not a bad catch as humans go. Wait... are those... cookies?!"
Kasumi watched in confusion as the love goddess went from her expression of slight superiority to one more typical of a puppy dog as she seemed to almost salivate over the dish. "Uh, thank you Ranma," Kasumi said quickly as she took the plate from him. Still apparently disinterested in the whole thing, Ranma merely nodded and headed back toward his room. Kasumi sighed in some relief and returned into her room, ensuring to close the door behind her as Trista followed along. "You can have them if you-" Kasumi started to say, but Trista needed no further prompted as she grabbed almost the entire plate's contents and quickly began munching down on them.
"Oo... so nice..." Trista said between bites. "We never get these where I come from."
"Oh, that's too bad."
"You... never... did say how... it went... with him," Trista continue on as she ate.
"Oh... as I said, it didn't quite go as planned. In fact, I'm still not sure exactly what happened, that's why I've been using the note on people on TV. Unfortunately, it's all very confusing."
Finally finished, Trista let out a deep sigh of contentment before sitting heavily on the bed once more. "Okay, normally I'm not supposed to help you. But, let it not be said I'm without a heart. For the free cookies I'll see if I can tell you where you went wrong. So, what did you do?"
Nodding, Kasumi reseated herself and started to explain. "First of all, there is this girl from China who is also interested in Ranma. There is also this boy who is interested in her. I figured if I got them together, that would help Ranma out."
"Sounds reasonable."
"I thought so too, and it seemed to work, but then..."
"Wait, Shampoo, I didn't, I swear!" Mousse tried to explain as he retreated out the front door of the Nekohanten. However, when a sword was swung directly at his head, he was forced to tumble backwards to the pavement. As he did, that same sword was swung again and embedded itself mere millimeters from Mousse's groin causing him to pale considerably before looking up to see Shampoo coming out, her eyes full of nothing but hate.
"Liar! Is no way Shampoo would kiss you unless you put spell on Shampoo!" Shampoo retorted and she put her hand once more on the handle of her blade.
"But I didn't-"
"Stop stupid lies! Shampoo no know how you do it, but Shampoo know you do it! Is only explanation. If Shampoo ever see you again, next time Shampoo no miss," she threatened with eyes that made clear that she meant every word. With no further conversation, Shampoo pulled her sword from the ground, spun on her heel and headed back inside, leaving Mousse in despair in the street.
"Hmm... Sounds like a bad compatibility problem," Trista concluded, confusing Kasumi. "You see, the Love Note can make you fall in love, it however doesn't say you'll stay in love. That depends on compatibility. Basically, you can divide compatibility into 3 rough categories. The first and best is as I already mentioned, true loves. They're eternally compatible. The next is your normal compatibles, they will typically stay in love for quite a while. Then there are your incompatibles which are so off that they only last days. I'm guessing this girl was of the latter type with this guy."
"Yes, I see. That is in fact the conclusion I was starting to come to myself after all my testing," Kasumi thought aloud.
"So, what else?"
"Well, after that disaster, I figured maybe it would be best to just let the note decide on who the person should be with."
"Ooo... not too smart."
"Yes, I suppose in hindsight... but I couldn't really think of anyone suitable for this one girl..."
"OUT!" Came a sound of outrage and anger from the Okonomiyaki shop of one Ukyo Kuonji. As the yell came, a figure came skyrocketing out the front door and flew off into the night, a trail of black rose peddles trailing in it's wake. However, the figure quickly righted itself in midair and landed on a nearby rooftop as Ukyo came to the door, furious.
"Oh Ukyo, Darling, if only you'd let yourself embrace the passion between us," Kodachi Kuno replied just before dodging a dozen small throwing spatulas.
"Like heck! I'd sooner kiss a mad buffalo! Now, get away from me you sicko! I'm not interested!" Ukyo called out as she continued to try and chase off the intruder.
Kasumi looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "I suppose it was just unfortunate coincidence that Kodachi happened to be walking by Ukyo's restaurant at the time. I really would never have expected the Love Note to allow... that sort of thing."
Trista shook her head. "Nope, sorry, totally gender neutral. Of course, if it's against someone's natural sexuality, it doesn't tend to last, but since the default rule picks only compatible partners, I guess that means this Kodachi actually bends both ways."
"It would seem so," Kasumi had to agree. "And the worst part is, all of them still love Ranma."
"Yep, Love Note doesn't care about monogamy either," Trista replied. "So, anything else?"
"Yes, unfortunately. You see, after that happened, I thought it would be best to limit myself to the direct problem of Ranma and Akane's relationship. So, I thought that if Ranma could be more open with his feelings to Akane..."
"Ooo, amateur mistake," Trista said with a sympathetic grimace.
"Yes, it didn't quite turn out as I planned, but this one is the most confusing to me..."
"Ranma is responsible for this. I don't know how, but it can only be him! He's the only one who could gain from this!" Mousse grumbled as he walked through the streets considering his now utterly ruined chances with Shampoo. For an amazon, to be taken advantage of by a male was utterly unforgivable. True, it had resulting in nothing more than a kiss, which is probably why Mousse still found himself among the living, but the result was nonetheless devastating. "I have to find some proof, or Shampoo will never believe me." As Mousse clenched his fist in defiance, he became aware of someone waiting up ahead.
"Mousse," the figured called out in greeting, making it clear who it was and causing Mousse to hang his head in despair.
"Hello Akane," Mousse weakly replied.
Akane huffed as if insulted by his tone then walked up to join him. "I told you she didn't want to talk to you. Besides, you don't need her. I mean, there are plenty of girls who would love to be with you."
Mousse looked up at Akane with a tired gaze. 'And now he's trying to foist Akane on me so he can be free to be with Shampoo... that bastard,' Mousse thought as he considered the best way to humor Akane while simultaneously not encouraging her new crush.
"I really don't know how that happened. I didn't even mean for Akane to fall in love with someone," Kasumi said with a puzzled look.
"Yeah, you got bit by one of the classic errors," Trista explained. "I'm guessing this Ranma already loved Akane, so he can't fall in love with her as he already is. But, that doesn't stop the Love Note from working. It just returned to its default, fall for the first compatible person they encounter."
"Okay, yes, but that-"
"I'm not finished. However, since you also wrote Akane's name, since the command with Ranma failed, her name started a new command, making her also fall for someone under the default rule."
"Oh," Kasumi said in realization. "Oh dear me. I never expected that."
"Yeah, it's kinda dangerous writing someone's name in there, even if they're intended to be the object of the love. If the command works, all is fine, but if it doesn't, it defaults and turns into a royal mess. So, who did the boy fall for?"
Kasumi bowed her head self-consciously. "I think he's in love with me."
"You?" Trista asked to confirm, puzzled. "Didn't seem too lovy-dovy to me."
"No, but Ranma is always shy when it comes to his feelings. I believe he tries to pretend he is totally disinterested. He has been doing that to me ever since that day, and he never did before."
Trista nodded several times. "Yep, sounds reasonable. Well, on the bright side, it could have been far worse... it's not worse is it?"
"Oh no, about then is when I started using people from television."
'Which is hardly better,' Trista thought, but made no mention of this. "Speaking of television, you know, you are free to do as you please and all, but just a little piece of advice: you really don't want to attract that kind of attention to yourself."
Kasumi waved off the love goddess's concern. "Oh, I don't think there is much chance of that..."
Far away, at roughly the same moment, a meeting of various police agencies from across the globe was underway. At the moment though, the room was full of much confusion.
"What is this meeting all about anyway?"
"Could it be about the recent moves of the De'Lilo family?"
"That hardly seems significant enough to call us all together."
Finally, an official stepped forward and moved to address those gathered from a central podium. "Gentlemen of the ICPO, I know this seems all very usual, but this special meeting has been called to address the current ongoing situation."
"What situation?" an American asked. "We haven't been briefed on this at all."
The man up front nodded. "This is understandable as the whole affair has only recently started to catch our attention, but surely you have noticed the large number of incidents with important individuals showing some rather... unusual behavior?"
"Unusual behavior?" a number of those gather echoed in some confusion.
Finally, one of the younger officers spoke up. "Do you mean... suddenly falling in love?"
"Exactly!" With the confirmation, the room entered an uproar of various arguments, most of a very confused nature. The man upfront let this go on for about a minute before noisily clearing his throat to bring attention back to him. "I know it all seems very trivial-"
"Trivial?! That doesn't even begin to describe this!" An official from France argued.
"But, you must admit it has caused a lot of issues of late," another official, this one from Japan. "Many national leaders, and political figures have been affected. It's thrown the governments of more than one nation into no small amount of disarray. And then there has been the economic uncertainty-"
"Yes, yes, yes, that may all be true," the French official argued back, "but it still is none of our concern. A rash of the love bug is not a criminal matter. Beyond that, who would possibly stand to gain, and how could they be orchestrating such a thing?"
The man at the podium nodded in agreement. "Those are very good questions to which we have no answers. It could well just be an outrageous coincidence, but the fact remains it is becoming a public nuisance on a global scale. We can't just let this go unchecked."
"And exactly how are we supposed to investigate such a thing? There is no clues, no evidence... it would be virtually impossible to track down a culprit or culprits at this time!"
"Then, there is no choice but to call on L," the man at the podium announced, much to the room's shock.
"Do... do you really think he would take such a case seriously? I mean, we're not even sure it is a crime."
Suddenly, a new figure appeared at the door, shadowed in a trench coat and large hat. "Gentlemen, L is already on it."
End Chapter 2
As I noted in chapter one, all input is welcome here. My ideas on this story are pretty sketchy right now meaning most my time is actually spent figuring out what to write rather than actually writing it, which is not the usual hold up for me.
