Growing Up

1 – The Curse

Genma had decided to take his son Ranma for a few days training trip to the mountains south from Tokyo. They had gone a long way, and today they would start heading back.

"Let's stop for some lunch", Genma suggested as they arrived at a clearing deep in the forest. "Son, go get some wood, I'll take the cauldron to the river for water."

"Right", Ranma nodded and disappeared behing the trees.

The boy reached to trees and picked up a big bush of weak branches. He was starting to feel hungry. He felt maybe even a bit sweet tooth coming. He started heading back to his father by following his footsteps. Then he suddenly noticed a bush filled with weird-looking berries, looking a bit like strawberries – just a lot bigger. He Could tell they weren't strawberries. He raised his eyebrow and picked up a few. He sniffed it – it smelled good! He ate one – it also tasted good! And so he picked up all handful of them and carried on his way to his father.

Ranma arrived at the clearing where his father was sitting. He had made a fireplace, and the small, iron cauldron was filled with water. The man was chopping up a chicken with a big knife.

"What took you so long?" the man asked. "And what are you eating?"

"...I dunno", Ranma mumbled and ate the second last berry. "Here, you can have the last one!"

Ranma handed over the berry to his father. He, having traveling all his life, knew a lot about plants and berries... Oh no!

"Son! How many did you eat?!"

"...Dunno either, didn't count. Many. Why?"

"This is a cursed berry!" Genma shouted, starting to pound the boy's back hard. "Throw up! Throw up before you digest the berries!"

"Uh... Pop?" Ranma mumbled, but no matter how hard his father pounded him, the boy couldn't throw up.

"On no..." Genma sighed and leaned back. But now Ranma was getting worried.

"I-is it bad? Am I gonna die?"

"I don't think die but... I don't know. Maybe you will at least get really sick to your stomach in a few hours..."

"Nah, don't worry, pop, it's gonna be alright."

He was right. They ate the chicken soup and carried on their journey. Nothing seemed to be wrong. Ranma walked with his young power right beside his father.

After walking for hours, the sun was setting, and they stopped for the night in a cave they found. They would be back home tomorrow. They made beds for themselves and laid down.

"Son. Are you absolutely sure you don't feel weird in any way?"

"Hey, just admit you were wrong about the berries. They were maybe just big strawberries."

"Hope so."

As night fell, Genma had fallen asleep. But Ranma sure hadn't. He felt a bit lightheaded and his blood was hot and pulsing. He laid on his back, hands behind his head. What if something was really happening?

Ranma didn't sleep at all whole night. But had started feeling somewhat strange when the sun was about to rise.

Genma was waking up early – very early. Why? Because he heard crying. Like a small child crying.

"Uhh..." the man got up from his bed and rubbed his neck. But what's with the crying? "Ranma?" He couldn't see him anywhere – but did see his clothes as a pile next to his bed. Something moving was under them. Slowly the man got closer to it and carefully lift up the red shirt... Holy!

"Son! Is it you?!"

He saw a small, almost bald infant laying on the dark blue pants, crying. It was him – Ranma!

"Uh, uhh... Don't cry, son...!" Genma hustled and looked all around. Of course the berries Were cursed! But now what? Was he supposed to raise Ranma again all from a baby?!

Genma wrapped the child in his red shirt and took him in his arms. Now they just had to get back home. Maybe someone could help?


Okay now, there will be many chapters in this story, maybe 16 or 17, as one chapter in one year/day that Ranma grows up. But the chapters will be short.