Ranma 1/2
Ranma and Hikaru
by: Kimura Ayame
PART 4: A Dark and Stormy Night
At night, in the Tendou dojo, Ranma looked out the window, "Hm... rain again..." Ever since Hikaru had been cursed, Ranma's awareness of the weather had increased. If he hadn't let that attack get through...
A voice behind him asked, "What's wrong, Ranma?"
Ranma turned around to see his best friend standing in the doorway, in male form, with his Zugaikotsu gi on. Ranma shrugged, "Just thinkin' about... y'know. Jusenkyou."
Hikaru sighed, "Ranma, it wasn't your fault and you know it."
Ranma snapped back, "Of course it's my fault! I should have been ready for that attack!"
"Zugaikotsu-sensei didn't intend to attack you, and you didn't expect it because it was a training session, not a real-life situation."
Ranma turned away, looking out at the rain, "It should have been me, Hikaru. I should be the one who is cursed right now."
Hikaru sat down next to Ranma, "Maybe. But you're not, and I am. It's already past, Ranma. You can't change it."
Before Ranma could say anything else, they heard someone at the front door. Ranma and Hikaru exchanged glances, then ran to the door. They both knew who was coming, and all hell would break loose if they didn't stop him.
---
At the door, Ranma saw a huge panda. He didn't have much time to look, but he recognized its motions easily. He smirked, "So, Pop, Jusenkyou wasn't very good to ya, huh?" He dodged the panda's attack and took his stance. Onna-Hikaru joined him, wearing a blue Chinese-style outfit.
She stopped at the sight of the panda, "Ranma, that's your father?!"
"I'd know that style anywhere, Hikaru!" After all, Ranma had spent years watching his father practice and fight. He knew the style better than anybody else. Unless Genma had lowered himself to actually training a panda.
Hikaru shrugged and joined the fight. Genma couln't defend himself against both attackers for long. He failed to redirect their attacks against each other, and was looking desperately for some kind of cheap tactic to take advantage of. Before an opportunity could present itself, a female voice interrupted, "Daddy! Ranma! Stop it!!!"
All three combatants froze and turned to face the newcomer. She was a young woman, about eighteen, and a little shorter than Hikaru in her current female form. She had long, wavy, red hair and deep blue eyes that matched Ranma's precisely. The only thing that hinted that she was not an older version of Ranma's cursed body from another reality was the simple pink dress and shoes she wore. Ranma grinned, recognizing the newcomer, "Reiko!"
Panda-Genma held up a sign that said, "Stay out of this, girl!"
Reiko frowned, arms crossed, and then shrugged, "Oh, okay. Ranma, Hikari... kill him."
Ranma and Hikaru took their stances and grinned evilly at Genma. The panda's eyes widened and he shook his head, taking out another sign -- "I'm a peace-loving panda!"
Reiko stood beside her cursed father, shaking her head, "You know, you really are pathetic." Out of nowhere, she had slammed the panda on the head with a frying pan. Ranma and Hikaru stared at her in disbelief as the huge panda fell.
Reiko frowned, "What? Do I have something on my face?" She glanced at the frying pan, "Oh." She quickly hid it behind her back, trying to look innocent.
---
Inside, Ranma sat at the table across from Reiko, "So, what are you doing here, Reiko?"
Reiko shrugged, "Daddy came home a while ago, talking about how he couldn't find his 'pathetic, weakling son.' I told him you had studied martial arts without his help and he went berserk. When I heard that you were engaged to Tendou Nabiki, I told Daddy, and he ran off to find you."
Soun walked by, and both Ranma and Reiko stood up. He looked the girl over, "Hm... Ranma, who's the young lady?"
"Tendou Soun, meet my sister, Saotome Reiko."
Reiko bowed, "It's a pleasure, Tendou-san."
Soun laughed heartilly, "Now, dear, there's no need to be formal. You're a Saotome! Please, call me Uncle Soun."
Ranma turned to his sister, "Are you planning on staying here with Pop? I don't know how many more people we can fit in this place."
"Maybe. I don't know if we're staying, though."
Ranma and Hikaru both knew what that meant.
---
Later on that night, Genma, back in human form, faced his son in the dojo. He frowned, angry at the mere sight of his worthless son, "Ranma, you had no right to come here and take advantage of my promise to Tendou-kun."
Ranma took a stance, "How about you come over here and tell me I had no right? The Saotome style I practice gives me the right!"
Genma practically growled, "Saotome style?! You mock the Saotome family by saying you have studied our style?!!! Prepare yourself, boy!!! I'll show you the true strength of the Saotome style!!!"
Ranma grinned. He had been waiting for this his entire life, "Bring it on, Pop!"
---
In the kitchen, Kasumi was making dinner. Reiko stepped in, "Hello? Kasumi?"
Kasumi frowned. She recognized this girl. Suddenly, she smiled, "Reiko? Is that you?"
Reiko smiled back, "Yeah, it's me. How long has it been?"
"Oh, my... at least eleven years."
"Mind if I help you in here? I've got some special cooking secrets that Mother taught me." She winked, "You know how skilled Mother is in the kitchen."
"Yes, of course you can help." Kasumi was glad that Reiko was willing to help with the cooking, but was more content with the fact that they would get a chance to catch up on things.
Reiko tied on an apron, and examined the current state of the dish that was being prepared.
---
Back in the dojo, Akane, Nabiki, Soun, and Otoko-Hikaru watched as Genma hit the floor, hard. Ranma stood over him, "You never gave me a chance, old man! If I had gone on that training journey with you I'd probably change into a frog or somethin'!!! Of course, you couldn't have just trained me at home, like a normal sensei!!! I had to watch you and examine each and every move you made to learn the Saotome style, no thanks to you!!!" He grabbed his father by the gi and held him up, a red aura blazing around him, "I should kill you right now, old man."
The spectators' eyes all widened, seeing the pure murderous intent in Ranma's eyes. However, the aura slowly subsided and he dropped Genma, "Feh. It's not worth it." He turned and began to walk away.
Genma slowly stood up, "Ran...ma..."
Ranma turned around. His father had no anger left in his voice... it sounded more like... desperation. Genma continued, "... I am... honored... that you undertook the trials you did to learn our style."
He bowed, deeply, "You are truly a man among men, Ranma, and my son. I approve of your engagement to Tendou Nabiki."
Ranma looked for the usual signs of his father's trickery, but found none. Genma was sincere. Ranma returned the bow, "Thank you... Father."
Genma straightened up and nodded, "I apologize for the troubles I have caused you, Ranma. I am glad that you used them to your advantage." He smirked slightly, a glint of light flashing in his glasses, "A true man, indeed."
Off to the side, Soun was once again weeping uncontrollably, "They are united at last... oh, what a happy occassion for the Tendou and Saotome families!"
Hikaru nodded, "It is indeed a happy occassion."
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