Chapter Four
Background Theme: Don't Make Me Wild
"The story centers around Ranma Saotome, a 16-year-old Martial
Artist. Ranma has spent ten years on
the road training with his father, Genma.
The elder Saotome, ever mindful of increasing the challenges for his son
on the 'Road to Martial Righteousness,' decides to journey with Ranma to a
mountainous province in China that was home to the Legendary Springs of
Jusenkyo. Jusenkyo, the Saotomes do not
realize (ignoring their guide when he tries to explain), has attained notoriety
that caused the Springs to be abandoned for training purposes long ago. They were abandoned because of the threat that lies in a
little-known curse carried by each of the over one hundred individual
springs. Each spring supposedly had its
own "tragic" story of how something or someone drowned in it so many thousands
or hundreds of years ago. The curse
lies in the fact that anyone falling into the spring assumes the body of whoever
or whatever drowned there.
"Being the reckless pair they sometimes
prove to be, father and son begin sparring atop the many bamboo poles erected
throughout the area, despite warning pleas from the Jusenkyo guide. Ranma succeeds in striking a blow that
causes Genma to plummet into one of the springs below. To Ranma's shock, a huge panda comes leaping
out of the water and lands with perfect balance upon the top of one of the
poles. The guide shouts an explanation
that a panda had drowned in that particular spring long ago, and that Genma is
now subject to the Curse. Taken aback
by this occurrence, Ranma is knocked off his perch into a different
spring. When his head breaks the water,
he realizes that "he" is now a "she," albeit an attractive and incredibly
well-stacked redhead. They learn
further that from now on, cold water will invoke the curse, but hot water will
return the afflicted to their normal form.
"Father and son have several adventures
during their return trek to Japan, where they arrive in Nerima – I think that's
a village somewhere outside of Tokyo.
Genma has sent word ahead to his friend Soun Tendo that he and Ranma
will be arriving soon. Genma and Soun trained
together in their younger years in a style of Martial Arts they refer to as
Anything Goes Martial Arts." Alisha chuckled at what she felt was a slapstick
name for a style of self-defense. It
reminded her of some of the corny episodes of Kung-Fu Theater she'd come across while channel surfing.
"Soun," I continued, "and Genma had made
an agreement between themselves that in order to carry on the name of Anything
Goes, their children would be betrothed to each other. Soun, a widower, had three daughters: Kasumi, 19; Nabiki, 17; and Akane, 16. Kasumi was the sweet, innocent, motherly
type who pretty much took over taking care of the family after their mother
passed away. She is portrayed as
somewhat naïve but is always helpful and never has less than a kind word to
say. Nabiki is the one with the
strongest business sense in the family.
If there's a yen to be earned in it, she's there. Akane is a bit of a tomboy, yet very popular
with the guys at school…only she has no interest in any of them. The daughters' response to the impeding
arrival of Ranma and subsequent engagement to one of them is, at best, with
mixed feelings.
"Imagine then, to their shock, when the
Saotomes arrive in their cursed forms.
The truth, though, is eventually made known. Kasumi and Nabiki confer between themselves and propose Akane as
the logical choice for Ranma's fiancee.
Things between Ranma and Akane are off to a rocky start. The rest of the story follows the progress
of their tumultuous relationship, hampered by their own pride and impatience,
not to mention the interference on the part of suitors for both engaged
parties. Ranma has also made an enemy
or two along the way, and they show up at inopportune times to exact their
revenge.
"Among these individuals are Ryoga
Hibiki, a rival from Ranma's junior high school days who tries to defeat Ranma
and dreams of having Akane for himself; Shampoo, a Chinese Amazon who is out to
kill Ranma's female half while being in love with his male half; Tatewaki Kuno,
Furinkan High School's (where Ranma and Akane attend school) Kendo champion;
Kuno's sister, Kodachi, who wants Ranma at any cost. Then there's Ukyo Kuonji, a fiancee of Ranma's betrothed to him
during childhood." Alisha's eyebrow
went up at that one.
"Quite the Lady's Man, that Ranma," she
murmured. She shifted again to get
comfortable.
"Well, it's not all his fault, but it does make for some zany episodes," I
countered. "That's Ranma ½ in a nutshell. Over
the years people have written stories, or fanfictions, based on this story
line. Some take place during the
storyline, some are continuations from where the plot line leaves off, and some
are "Alternate Universe" or "Alternate Timeline" episodes. Some are comical, some are dramatic, some
are romantic, and some are quite dark.
In general, I have found most of them to be well written and very
creative."
"Now," I said, opening the folder, "let's
see what gifts the Gods of the 'Net have bestowed upon us…"
The soft warble of a cell phone
interrupted me. Looking around, I heard
the sound again but saw no sign of a phone.
Alisha popped open one eye, then the other, then leaned forward and
reached for her handbag. I waited
patiently as she extracted her phone, hit the Receive button, then placed it carefully to her ear. "Hello?
Hey…" she said softly.
I raised a questioning eyebrow. Alisha looked at me, quickly shook her head,
then turned her attention back to the caller.
She looked at her watch.
"Now?" A pause. "Okay.
I'll be there shortly." She hit
the End button, then replaced her
phone in her handbag. She looked up at
me, paused, her face taking on a concerned look and her voice an apologetic
tone.
"I'm sorry, Vic. I gotta go." She looked away.
"Everything okay?" No answer.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said, almost too low for
me to hear.
"Don't give me that." I took her right hand quickly yet gently as
she reached for her things. "This is me
you are talking to." I gave her hand a
tender squeeze. "What's wrong?"
Background Music: You Don't Love Me Back (Redo)
She looked down at her lap a moment. When she looked up, her eyes were beginning
to well with tears. Her lip began to
tremble. I thought my heart was going
to explode out of my chest; I couldn't stand seeing her like this.
"What's wrong, Alisha?"
"Please, Vic…" her voice began to crack
and she struggled harder to keep it under control. "I can't talk about it now."
A tear began to streak down the left side of her face. Holding her hand in my left one, I reached
up with my right, cradling her cheek in my palm. I carefully brushed away the tear with my thumb and in one fluid
motion, brought the back of my fingers down to tenderly caress her face.
"Want me to walk you to your car?" I asked. She shook her
head, but appreciation flashed through her face.
"Okay."
I said gently. I searched her face, her
eyes, with concern. "Promise to call me
later, okay? I'm here. I'm here if you need me, okay?"
Alisha nodded, wiped at her eyes. I leaned over, put my arms around her, and
held her for a moment. She stiffened at
first, but then she relaxed as she returned my hug. She kissed my cheek, pulled away, and took my hand, squeezing it
affectionately. "I'll call you later, I
promise."
"When?"
"I don't know. Hopefully not too late."
She let go of my hand, and scooted forward to stand. I leapt up, giving her my hand and helping
her up. I reached down for her things
as she brushed off the bottom of her jean skirt. Carefully handing them to her, I reached forward and hugged her
again, then stepped back, hands on her shoulders, studying her face again
questioningly.
"I'll be waiting. Be careful, be safe, okay?" I said.
Alisha nodded quietly, again looking at
the ground. Looking up back at me, she
tried to smile, but the smile never reached her eyes. As she turned, a gust of wind blew her locks
forward and her ponytail fluttered over her left shoulder. She reached up and flipped her hair back in
place, then placed her right hand on her left shoulder, hugging herself in the
brief chill that passed. No, not a chill, I thought to myself.
I watched her walk beyond the protective shade of the Tree,
the rays of the afternoon sun enveloping her as she walked on, shade overtaking
her once again as she entered the covered walkway that divided the Student Union
in half. Again the sun embraced her as
she exited the walkway and rounded a corner to the right, disappearing from
view.
I don't know how long I stood staring at
that corner. Whatever it was that had
upset Alisha…I wonder. A gear shifted in my mind, a heretofore
missing piece of an unseen puzzle dropped into place; random perceptions
lurking in the recesses of my mind until they were joined together by the
common thread of an emotional response.
She had seemed a bit preoccupied
lately. A bit aloof during our recent
study sessions, come to think of it. I wonder.
I
sighed heavily, not for the first time today, nor did I expect it would be the
last. I was extremely confused. Someone I cared for more than anything, or
anyone, was hurting. For now, there was
nothing I could do. I felt
helpless. I hate feeling helpless.
I
sat next to the Tree, reclining as Alisha had done not long before. There would be nothing I could do for now
except try to occupy my mind until I talked with her later. Dwelling on it would only drive me to
distraction. I read through the
stories, finishing with Nibun Yuri's Akane
no Ranma. Akane and Ranma finally
confess their love to each other; their joy cut short when Ranma dies because a
jealous suitor, in an attempt to remove the competition, takes a rash course of
action that backfires. How tragic, I thought, that love finally realized and
finally enjoined should be cut so short.
I
set the folder down, leaned back wearily, and thought how often truth can
become so much stranger than fiction.
Closing my eyes as I relaxed, I thought of Akane and Ranma. I remembered Richard and Elisa from Somewhere in Time, another tragic love
story. I thought of my Love, my
Darling, my Beloved, my Alisha.
Somewhere
in my heart as I began to drift off I heard whispered words that blurred and
faded the reality around me.
Deux Machine.
