The Dragon Within

Ranma Fanfic By Seras4545

A/N: Well as you can probably tell, I have no life, so all I can do right now is have fun reading and writing stories. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews, they are really great. Just so everyone knows I am basing early draconic abilities on D&D Dragons. Ranma will still get cursed like normal, though he has more ability to control it with magic, if he remembers at least! In D&D there are no spells to make a person waterproof or to ward off water and I don't plan on Ranma making one. As for the immortality thing, I will explain as I did to RanmaSaotome.

What It Means To Be Immortal:

You do not need to eat

You do not need to drink

You do not need to sleep

You do not need to breathe

Only mortal wounds will kill you

You can live as long as you like so long as you aren't killed.

I will have Ranma still eat, drink, sleep, and breathe and will only gain the benefits of the quick healing much later in the story. I will fix the problem of his friends and family aging and dying later. Oh, and there will be an epic battle between Lethander Incarnate and Garyx Incarnate, give suggestions as to who should be Garyx Incarnate or if I should make someone up.

Anyways, on with the show!

Chapter 2: Here's Ranma!

Present Day - Prime Material - Nerima - Shopping District

"Nerima was a strange town to say the least." The narrator droned in a bored voice as rain pattered down. Several people looked at him as if he had grown a new head, oh, wait, he did. Annoyed, the narrator cut it off with a knife he got from somewhere. "All right so it has some of the most random shit and is home to very powerful schools of martial arts. Anyways, many here did not know how much stranger their lives would be when one Ranma Saotome enters the life of Nerima. Ranma is being chased... Ooof!"

The narrator is promptly knocked over by a female Ranma and then crushed by six hundred pounds of furry panda. The two pay no attention to the death of the narrator and continue on, Ranma jumping over the panda's lame attempts to capture her.

Nearing the end of the alley, Ranma finally gets fed up and turns to face the beast, putting her backpack down. "Hey! You better cut that out!" She yelled at the unfazed panda, which had assumed a fighting stance. She dodged some of the attacks it launched at her and then drop kicked it to the other end of the alley.

Thinking it was over, she turned her back and grabbed her backpack and continued walking. She did not notice the Panda rise to it's feet and it attacked her from behind, hitting her hard enough to launch her across the pavement which was slick due to the rain earlier. She slid to a stop in the middle of the street and turned to face the beast. Many people looked at her in curiosity and then their eyes bugged out when they saw the giant panda come walking up to the girl and assume a fighting stance once more.

This had definitely caused the Nerimians weird-shit-o-meter to fly through the roof and many ran off to find more familiar events, ones that did not involve something so strange. Others merely gawked while a few used their amazing powers of observation and their ability to vomit what was currently on their minds. Currently the thought was... "It's a panda!"... "Huh? A Panda?" Nice, thanks for the comments Sherlock and Watson, brilliant deductions.

Ranma fell into a fighting stance as well and was getting very pissed. "Well I still say the whole thing sucks!" She said as she dodged the panda's punches. Surprisingly to the Nerimites she actually grabbed hold of one. "Picking my fiance like that without even asking!" She punctuated her last words by throwing the panda over her shoulder and into a nearby stop sign, instantly crumpling it. The panda slumped into a heap on the ground.

Ranma picked up her backpack again and started heading off. "I'm going back to china for a cure! You can stay like that for all I care, you deserve it!"

The panda rose once again and ripped the stop sign up. It sneaked behind the girl and slammed the sign down on her head, several times, very hard. After a few of those the redhead slumped into unconsciousness. The panda put her on it's shoulder and grabbed the pack she had dropped.

Many of the Nerimites were now muttering angrily and planned against the evil panda. Hearing their words the panda turned and growled menacingly at them, scaring them away and dashing any plans of rescue.

The Nerimites weren't cowards, no not at all. They just didn't have what it takes to face up to a giant and obviously cranky panda, not with their current numbers and cumulative skills.

So the panda left with it's prize and the Nerimites promptly forgot about it.

Present Time - Prime Material - Nerima - Tendo Dojo

Soun sat at the table, remembering good old times with his buddy Genma when Kimiko was still alive. Soun began to cry when he thought of his dear departed wife but regained control of himself. Though I miss her dearly, I must not lose myself like before. My daughters have paid a heavy enough price already for my inability to act.

He was jerked out of his inner thoughts by his beautiful elder daughter Kasumi entering the room. "Mail's here father." She said as she laid down a stack of envelopes in front of him. Soun admired his daughter, how much she resembled her late mother, and nearly began to cry again.

Strengthening his resolve, he looked through the mail, most of which appeared to be bills. He set those aside and noticed that there was a postcard hidden at the bottom of the pile. He saw that it was from China and began to get excited.

Genma said he would go training in China for awhile, didn't he? This must be from him! Sure enough, when he turned the postcard over he saw the familiar sloppy handwriting of his old friend.

On our way from China.

Bringing the boy.

Let the schools be joined.

Genma Saotome

Soun stared in disbelief at the good news. "Finally Ranma is coming! How I have waited for this day!" He finally broke down and began to cry. When he finished he looked at the postcard again and noticed the date that they were to arrive. Why, that's today! Oh happy day!

Soun jumped up excitedly and put the postcard up his sleeve. He went into the kitchen were Kasumi was preparing breakfast. "Kasumi! Please get Nabiki and Akane! I have important news! Meet me in the living room!"

As Soun ran off to prepare for his friends arrival, Kasumi went to find her siblings. I wonder what's gotten father so excited? It must be really good to make him so energetic!

She found Nabiki in her room reading some manga and eating a popsicle. "Nabiki, we're having a family meeting!"

Before Nabiki could reply, Kasumi had gone off to find Akane. She finished her popsicle and got dressed in her kimono. After all, if it is something that got father so worked up that he calls a family meeting for the first time in years then it must be important.

Suddenly Kasumi popped her head back into Nabiki's room. "Umm.. Nabiki? Do you know where Akane is? I can't find her anywhere."

Nabiki knew exactly where Akane would be and where she would go at this time. "Don't worry sis, I'll go get her."

Kasumi nodded her thanks and returned to the kitchen to finish breakfast.

Nabiki got out her camera and looked out her window. Sure enough, Akane came running into the Tendo compound and Nabiki heard her rush into her room, change, and run out again and open the doors to the dojo.

Nabiki followed her out and arrived just in time to see her slice through five cinder blocks at once. Nabiki caught one of the shard underneath her foot and readied her camera.

"Whew! That felt good!" As she wiped her hand across her brow Nabiki took her shot. That one should be worth ten thousand to Kuno. She thought with pleasure. It was hard to make enough money to keep this place up and running.

When Akane heard the click and saw the flash she turned to see her sister standing in the doorway with a camera. "There you go again Akane! This is exactly why the boys don't like you in a normal way."

Akane was immediately on the offensive. "So why should I care, Nabiki? Not everyone's world revolves around BOYS! I hate them and you know it!"

Nabiki smiled mischeviously. "Really? Well then, I guess this wouldn't interest you." As she began to walk she snickered inwardly as she heard Akane follow. Nabiki knew exactly what this was all about, or at least she hoped it was what had gotten her father so excited. She had read a passage in his journal once that mentioned the agreement between the two families, made back when Kimiko, her mother, was still alive and well. Thinking about her mother brought a wave of sadness that she fought off. I've got to be strong! I promised mother I wouldn't cry.

She regained control of her emotions as they all sat down to breakfast and ate in silence. Once the meal was finished, the girls looked expectantly at their father.

Soun was lost in his pride of his daughters, how grown up and strong they were. He snapped back to reality as he heard Nabiki call to him.

"I'm sorry Nabiki, I was lost in my thoughts. What did you say again?"

Nabiki, used to her fathers lapses, repeated her question. "Well, father. What's the meeting for? What's this all about."

Soun immediately perked up. "Oh! Yes, right! My old friend and training partner, Genma Saotome, is coming to visit and he is bringing his son. Our two families had made an agreement to join the two schools of Anything Goes by marrying our children."

Nabiki pretended to be surprised by this. "Wait a minute. You mean that we have a potential fiance coming to visit?"

"Fiance!" Kasumi looked alarmed. Oh no! A fiance! What about Tofu? I love him!

Soun continued calmly, oblivious to what was racing through his daughter's minds. "Yes, his name is Ranma Saotome. If one of you three girls were to marry him and carry on this training hall, then the Tendo family legacy would be secure."

Wild Horse eh? Wonder of he lives up to the name? In any case, if he's handsome and not too dumb then he's mine! Nabiki relished the thought of someone new who did not know her reputation and wouldn't base how he acts on it. It would be a jump start for her life. It was what she had been waiting for for a long time. Akane had a different viewpoint on this however.

"Hey! Wait a minute here! Don't we get to have some say in who we're going to marry!" She yelled, righteous fury twisting her face.

Nabiki decided to further her own cause and make Akane resent this even more. "Maybe you should wait to meet him. You never know, he might be really cute!" Akane merely 'hurumphed' and turned her head away.

Nabiki decided to ignore her now, sure that she would hate the guy's guts. She turned back to face her father. "Right daddy?"

Soun chuckled nervously and looked at the postcard once again. "They'll be here any minute."

Nabiki didn't like how he had evaded the question but let it go for now.

"Ranma and his father have been on a training mission for ten years. Recently they crossed over into China." He said as he walked toward the backyard and stood staring into the koi pond.

Nabiki immediately perked up upon hearing this. Going to China required a lot of money. "Oh, wow! China huh?"

Akane, not being as worldly as her sister, had a different opinion. "So he hiked all the way to China. Big deal." Nabiki nearly laughed upon hearing this. You couldn't just 'hike' there. You had to either take a plane, boat, or swim there. Any of these required large resources, though of different kinds.

If he had gone by boat or plane then that would mean he had a large amount of money. If they swam however, then it would mean that they aren't that well off but have considerable strength, skills, and endurance. They might still have money but somehow she doubted it.

"Father, how old is this Ranma?" Kasumi asked, trying to figure out how badly this could affect her.

Nabiki seized on the chance to question her father again. "Is he cute?"

"Younger men are just so... well... immature."

Nabiki was getting fed up with not being answered. "Well what kind of guy is he?"

Soun chuckled nervously again. He was in quite the predicament with his daughters. Well, they will figure out one way or another. "I don't know."

Nabiki couldn't keep the surprise from her voice. "You don't know!"

Soun turned to face his middle daughter, who seemed the most upset about his lack of knowledge. Maybe she wants this more than the others. Nah! Nabiki just doesn't like not knowing things. "I haven't met him, as I said before, they have been on a training mission for ten years. The mail I got from Genma before they went to China said that he was a fine and handsome young man though, not to mention a great martial artist."

Nabiki was satisfied with this for now, though she could tell her sisters weren't. Kasumi was still worried and Akane was outright furious with the situation.

Suddenly Nabiki heard a commotion at the door and jumped up, excited. "Ooh! It must be Ranma!" And she went to get the door and greet them, with Soun hot on her heels. "Saotome! My old friend! We've been waiting!"

Kasumi was a little behind. "Oh, I do hope Ranma is older than me."

Suddenly Nabiki and Soun came running back with fear etched on their faces, followed by the largest panda they had ever seen carrying someone with red hair on it's shoulder and holding a well worn travelers pack.

Ranma, seeing the girls and their father terrified, tried to stop her father with words, before she had to do something drastic. "Come on pops! You're scaring 'em spitless. Hey! Do you hear me! I said STOP!" Finally having had enough, Ranma drew a rune in the air faster than the eye could follow and the panda was instantly frozen in place.

Ranma pried herself free and landed gracefully on the ground. She looked up at the Tendos and bowed deeply. "I am so sorry for my father's intrusion. Please excuse our rude behavior. This is the Tendo Dojo, correct?"

Soun stared at the seemingly petrified panda and then looked at the young person standing in front of him. "You wouldn't happen to be..."

Ranma looked down at the ground, embarrassed for arriving this way. "I'm Ranma Saotome, again, sorry about our intrusion.

Nabiki admired Ranma's face and body, though there seemed to be something off. "Wow, he is cute!" That was a bit of an understatement, but was all she could say at the moment. She was quite impressed. He turned out to be polite and gentlemanly if a little rough at the edges and was very good looking, almost beautiful, far more than she had expected.

Soun was excited. "At last! You're here!" Before Ranma could react Soun pulled her into a hug. Ranma's pigtail stood up as she felt Soun tense when he noticed something was wrong.

Soun gave Ranma a couple more squeezes and then stood back at arm length, his hands hovering and tracing a figure that a man should not have.

Nabiki took a closer look at Ranma and wondered how she could have missed the appendages on her chest. Nabiki decided to confirm this and poked them. They were a little bigger than her own! At first Ranma was a little alarmed but then gave her a coy smile. "Umm... I know, they are impressive, but could you not poke them? They are kinda sensitive as you should know."

Nabiki glared at her father. "Ranma isn't a guy! She's a girl!"

Soun seemed dumbstruck by this and barely stammered out "A-a -a girl!" before passing out on the spot.

"Oh my!" Kasumi and the others were instantly at Soun's side and were carrying him back inside the house.

Ranma decided to release the spell on Genma. He immediately tried to attack Ranma until Ranma began drawing another symbol and he stopped in his tracks.

"Yo, pops. Get some hot water and change back pronto and talk to Tendo-san. I'll talk to the girls. Oh, and next time something like this comes up, use your brains, or at least what's left of 'em. I think you may have given Tendo-san a heart attack or something. Now, get moving!"

Genma held up a sign. "Better not mess this up boy!" He turned it to the other side. "This is a matter of family honor!" He flipped it again, though how a flat sign can have three sides is beyond me. "We must join the schools, it was meant to happen!"

Ranma snorted. "Yeah, yeah. The whole heaven and earth styles thing you and your master came up with. I remember. I'll play along for now, but If I can find someone willing to marry me for myself, then I'm outta here. I'm not going to force any of them into this and neither are you."

Genma walked off to find the furo, grumbling to himself about ungrateful boy's thinking that Ranma couldn't understand what he was saying, after all, he was speaking panda. However, Ranma's 'gifts' allowed her to understand any language, whether spoken by bird, beast, tree, or human and others. Shaking her head at Genma's inability to think outside the situation, Ranma proceeded inside to check on the girls and Soun.

She sat next to the girl with short brown hair and the girl with long blue hair and waited for Tendo-san to wake up.

As his eyes flickered open Kasumi sighed in relief that Ranma had turned out to be a girl. Though she felt sorry for her father. "Oh, poor daddy. He must be so disappointed."

Nabiki fired up again. "He's disappointed! He's not the only one! Look at her! Some fiance!"

Akane had heard enough. "Stop it you two! He... She is our guest!"

Kasumi noticed that father had woken up. "Look everyone. Father's coming to."

Nabiki pounced on her father, angry that her hopes had been dashed. "This is all your fault daddy! Don't you know the difference between a boy and a girl!"

Soun sighed, more confused now than ever. "I assumed that my friend Genma's son was a boy!"

" Excuse me, does this look like a boy to you?" Nabiki reached over and grabbed Ranma's breast to punctuate her point and began squeezing it.

Ranma didn't let on how good it felt and merely looked at Nabiki with a curious glance. " Are you a lesbian or something? You seem to enjoy fondling me."

Nabiki pulled her hand back and actually thought on this a bit. Oh well. Might as well take what I can get. She smiled with a mischievous look on her face.

"Well, we still do have the arranged marriage pact with your family. I guess I'm willing to go bi to save our honor. That is, if you're willing." And she looked pointedly at Ranma, whos jaw was currently touching the floor and everyone else was staring in shock.

Kasumi gasped. "Nabiki! You can't! It's not right!"

Nabiki couldn't hold it in anymore and began laughing. "Sorry, I couldn't help it! You are all too easy! I'm not that desperate." Not yet at least. Though inside she felt that she would have gone through with it if they had taken her seriously.

Akane glared at her sister. "Nabiki, stop teasing her! A guest is a guest!" Akane turned her attention to the buxom young girl. "Hey. Would you like to spar? My name's Akane. Would you like to be friends?" She looked confused for a moment, then her face lit up in joy. She nodded and Akane left with her following.

Ranma was happy to have made a friend already. She's really nice to me, even though I must have disappointed her by arriving as a girl.

Akane opened the doors to the dojo and Ranma was impressed. "Wow, you keep pretty good care of the dojo don't you?"

Akane beamed at her praise. "Yeah, it is our pride and joy, though we no longer have students. Anyway, you study kenpo, right?"

Ranma nodded. "A little."

Akane smiled. "Well, why don't we have a little match then?"

"Huh?" Ranma was wary of where this was going. He saw that Akane took much pride in her art and that she would expect Ranma to fight her seriously.

"C'mon, just for fun" Ranma nodded and stood across from her.

Akane took a fighting stance. When she saw that Ranma hadn't taken a stance and just stood there smiling, she assumed that she was just hesitant. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

Ranma snorted mentally. It's not me I'm worried about. I'm worried about hurting you.

Akane was slightly miffed that she still hadn't taken a stance and used the anger to power her first blow. Ranma simply jumped over it however.

Ranma saw the gaps in her defenses and training. "Calm down, don't let anger control you, control your anger."

Ranma could see her visibly try to calm herself down. Then she unleashed a right kick, left punch, right punch, and left kick combo which Ranma still dodged easily.

" Stop tensing up before attacking. You're just telegraphing your moves otherwise."

Akane started getting angrier. "What's wrong? Attack me! Take me seriously!"

Ranma sighed. "If you wish." Though she still didn't attack her with his full strength, she made sure her jabs to her ribs, abdomen and back would all hurt and become bruises as he weaved around her next set of attacks.

She's good. Much better than I am. Better take this up a notch. Akane thought as she winced from the pain the jabs caused.

"Alright, this time for real!" She yelled and channeled all of her anger into a single strike aimed for Ranma's abdomen.

Ranma jumped over her blow and did a front flip with a barrel roll to land behind her. She noticed that Akanes charge would take her straight into the wall and quickly scribed a symbol in the air. Akane's punch slowed and then stopped before it reached the wall, where it would have put a hole if it had connected.

Akane realized that Ranma just somehow had saved her from destroying part of her dojo and was thankful. She was also curious as to how she did it.

"Thanks Ranma, that would have been expensive. How did you do that anyway? That thing with the air?"

Ranma smiled sheepishly while kicking herself mentally for nearly giving herself away with such an obviously magical effect. "Just a trick I picked up that allows me to control the direction and density of air and wind. I call it Shihai Suru Kooki."

Akane was amazed at her skill. "Do you think you could teach me it sometime?"

Ranma scratched the back of her head, thinking. "Well... maybe. It's a very complicated technique and I had a favorable handicap in learning it, so I'm not even sure if I can teach it."

Akane deflated a little at this, but then perked up again. "Well, maybe when I'm better then. You are a lot stronger and faster than me, and you have a lot more skill. I'm just glad you're a girl."

Ranma stiffened. "Wha?"

Akane saw the confused look and tried to find it in her to tell her why, but it was just too frustrating to talk about. "It's just that... I'm glad you aren't a guy."

Ranma watched as her 'friend' walked away. Ah, shit. Now she will really hate me when she finds out. Ranma cursed herself as she walked out of the dojo, too occupied mentally to notice Nabiki hiding in the nearby shadows.

Nabiki had been watching Ranma's fight with Akane and had noticed when Ranma had traced some kind of symbol made of light with his finger in midair. She also noticed that Ranma had been very nervous when she explained away the ability as a hard earned technique. Yeah right. That was some form of magic or I'll eat Ranma out. Little did she know that that would eventually happen, but that is getting too far ahead of ourselves.

Nabiki kept a close watch on Ranma until she went into the furo, confirming that she was really a girl before she left her to her bath. She then went into Ranma's room and searched through his pack, unknowingly setting off several spells that hid more precious contents than what she saw. She searched the clothes and noticed that while they were all made of silk and were of very exceptional quality which she admired, they were all made for a boy. She didn't even have a single bra or pair of panties! She also noticed that the 'womans essentials' were not there either.

Nabiki closed everything back up and made sure she left everything as it was supposed to be. She went back downstairs and noticed that her father was sitting across from a man wearing a heavily worn white gi and a bandanna and glasses. She didn't recognize him so she figured that it was some new visitor. She failed to notice that the two were crying copiously. "So that's what happened." Soun said. Genma nodded his head solemnly, too saddened by what had happened to speak. He had not told the whole story. He left it up to Ranma to decide whether or not to tell them the rest. He shuddered as he remembered what had happened the first time and grabbed his suddenly throbbing hand. Yes, better leave those particular details to the boy. "The path of a true martial artist is fraught with perils."

As Nabiki entered the kitchen she decided to assuage her curiosity. "Hey Kasumi. Who is that strange man sitting in the living room?"

Kasumi finished getting the ingredients for dinner out of the fridge. "Who knows?"

Nabiki was a little confused. "Huh?"

Kasumi simply shrugged and went to prepare dinner. "Go tell Akane she can take her bath now."

"Ok" Deciding to find out who the stranger is later she went and to tell Akane to take her bath and then headed to her room to think.

Akane headed into the changing room and noticed Ranma's clothes in the laundry basket. "Well, guess we can both take our bath together." And she proceeded to undress...

Ranma took the bucket of cold water and dumped it over herself, washing out the suds in her hair and on her body. She went over to the bathtub and gently lowered herself into the hot water, becoming a guy as the water enveloped his body.

He sat back to think of his problems and became lost in thought. Soon he was roused from his pondering when he felt someone trigger the protections on his possessions. He relaxed soon after as he detected that the person had some skill in magic, but it was untrained and probably unnoticed. All they would find were everyday things, not what he had found and horded over the years and hid from his father.

He didn't hear when the outer door to the changing room opened and didn't hear as the person within it undressed.

What to do, what to do? Well... They're bound to find out sooner or later, and later would be worse. Might as well go out as I am now. Ranma stood up right as a nude Akane opened the door. They both stared at each other for awhile and then Akane slowly closed the door and got dressed and walked out of the changing room.

What, no scream? I would have if I was her and I found some strange guy in the bathtub and I was nude. Then again, different people, different fears.

" AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Ranma sighed. Just had to jinx it. Shit. It's just one thing after another with her.

Ranma got out, dried off, and got dressed as fast as he could and listened as the scream got louder and angrier. He hurried downstairs and reached the outside of the living room just as the scream stopped.

"I'll drown him in the bathtub!" He heard her scream in her fury.

"Akane? What is it?" He heard Kasumi ask. "What's the matter? What are you doing with that?" Ranma wondered what she had decided to use as a weapon against him, then decided he would find out anyway.

"There's a pervert in the bathroom!" Ranma bristled a little at this, but continued to assess the situation.

"Well gee, Akane, Why didn't you just clobber him then?" Nabiki taunted her little sister.

"'cause I got scared! Is that all right?" Ranma silently chuckled at this last remark. He had relaxed his control over his fear aura and didn't have time to exclude Akane from it's effects when she ran in on him.

"Oh, I do hope Ranma's alright. I thought she was in there taking a bath right now." Ranma was touched by this. He decided that it wouldn't be right to hide his curse any longer.

He walked around the corner and entered the living room and saw Akane carrying the dining room table. Geez, glad she didn't have the chance to 'clobber' me with that thing.

"Excuse me..." He said, getting everyone's attention.

"Who's that?" Kasumi asked.

Nabiki looked him over and came to one conclusion. He's gorgeous! Is this the guy that Akane saw in the bathtub? I would have just joined him! Keeping her cool however, was the first priority, to keep her reputation and preserve the family. "Who are you?" She asked in a cold voice.

Ranma sighed and looked at them all. "I'm Ranma Saotome. Sorry 'bout this..."

A/N: So is it good or is it horrible? Review either way and tell me so. Just so you know, this will not be a RanmaXAkane fic. I'm planning on my signature RanmaXNabiki pairing, though I am open to other suggestions. Tell me what you think and who the incarnate of Garyx should be.

Seras out. Till next time!