I do not own Kamen Rider Den-O nor do I own Ranma 1/2. They belong to their respective creators and not me. Anyone who thinks otherwise is slightly confused.
Kamen Rider Ran-O
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 2: A Day In the Life of Ranma
Den-O SF watched over the burning flames of his former opponent and seemed satisfied that he had won. Gripping his belt he removed it from his body and held it at his side. With no more power source, the suit that he was donned in vanished in a haze of light. When it died down, only Ranma could be seen holding the belt. He took a moment to catch his breath before turning his gaze to the girl who had taught him to transform. Frowning slightly, he walked over to her.
"Okay," Ranma spoke slowly. "I think that I've earned a couple of answers by now. Just what the heck was that thing? While I'm at it, who are you?"
"Okay," the girl sighed. "I'll explain everything. Follow me."
Not seeing any point in complaining, and really wanting to get some answers, Ranma complied with the mysterious girl's wishes. She led Ranma down the street before coming to a building with a door on it. She came to a stop in front of it and started looking at her watch. Ranma was silent for a moment before he started getting impatient.
"What are you waiting for?" he asked in annoyance.
"I'm waiting for Den Liner to pull in," was her only reply.
Ranma blinked at the name. He had heard it before, he was sure of it. With that in mind he started racking his brain for any kind of information connected to it. As he was thinking, the girl seemed to finally get the time that she wanted and opened the door before pulling Ranma inside with her.
Ranma was broken from his thoughts when he saw that he was in the desert again with the red and white train in front of him.
"Oh," Ranma grinned. "I remember the Den Liner now."
"Good," the girl nodded before pulling Ranma's arm. "Now, come on."
Ranma found himself dragged over to the train before he and the girl came onboard. They entered a passenger car that was mainly empty. Well, it was empty save for two people. The only two people in it were the girl that had given Ranma that coffee the last time he was on board and the other was Momotaros. The only thing was that Momotaros was now solid like the other monster was. He was red from head to toe with red body armor that had black markings on it. On his waist was a belt with a metal peach on it. He was lying back on one of the train seats.
The compartment itself was rather plain. It was mostly white with seats situated around tables on either side of the compartment. Lights hung from the ceiling. At the back of the room was something akin to a bar where the coffee girl was leaning on it with a smile on her face.
"Hi!" the coffee girl smiled and waved when she spied Ranma and his friend. "Welcome back to Den Liner! My name is Naomi. If there's anything you need, don't be afraid to call 'Naomi-chan!'"
"Okay," Ranma nodded before he turned to see Momotaros. "Hey, wait a sec! I didn't make a wish! Why are you solid?"
"It's just the way Den Liner is," Momotaros shrugged as he stood up. "Now if you would just make a wish already I would be solid everywhere!"
"No, Ranma!" the girl cried. "Don't make a wish!"
"Don't worry," Ranma sighed. "I'm not planning to."
"Humph!" Momotaros snorted before leaning back down for a rest.
Ranma shook his head and took a seat across from the girl who had brought him here, "Okay, just who are you and what is going on? Where am I?"
"My name is Hana," the girl now known as Hana replied. "We're on a train called Den Liner. It's the train of time. It has stations in the past, present, and the future."
"A time traveling train? That's cool," Ranma nodded before a thought darkened his mind. "Oh shoot! I don't have a ticket!"
"Oh relax," Hana smiled. "The pass you have to change into Den-O is your ticket. Always good and you can bring anyone you like. Even the Imagin over there."
"Hey!" Momotaros cried as he heard her. "I have a name you know! It's Momotaros!"
"You mentioned that before," Ranma continued. "Just what are Imagin?"
"Imagin are beings from the future who travel to the past to grant wishes," Hana continued. "They do it to go even further back in time so they can change things there so they can change the future."
"How does that get them into the past?" asked Ranma.
"That is the price for the wish," Hana answered. "Your strongest memory. They use that to go back in time to the point the memory happened."
"Woah," Ranma blinked. "So Momotaros and that bull thing we took down are Imagin?"
"Yes," Hana nodded. "They're only really dangerous when they have a wish to grant. They'll do anything to grant it and get to the past."
"I kinda gathered that," Ranma frowned. "But, there's one less Imagin to worry about anyway."
"I wouldn't count on that," Momotaros commented out of the blue, causing Ranma and Hana to turn and face him.
"What do you mean, Imagin?!" Hana spat.
"Spit it out, Momotaros," Ranma frowned warningly.
"Well," Momotaros huffed as he sat up again. "Not all Imagin do this but the smarter ones do. Some of us actually leave a bit of ourselves on the one who made a wish for us. Sort of like a backup body in case something happens to them. Like it did when me and Ranma took that guy out."
"Great," Ranma groaned as he slumped in his seat. "So that bull guy might be back and hunting for Akane by tomorrow."
"Why would they wish for the Imagin to hunt for that girl?" asked Hana.
"Because the one who made the wish is probably a pervert," Ranma growled.
"Eh?" Momotaros blinked.
"When I first came here Akane had to fight a large group of boys who wanted to take her out on a date," Ranma explained. "When I say large I mean pretty much every boy in the school. They wouldn't take no for an answer and figured if they could beat her they could date her."
"What?!" Hana cried.
"No way!" Momotaros gaped.
"It's true." Ranma sighed. "I figure one of those boys had made a wish with that Imagin to have Akane. The problem is that there's so many of them we can't be sure which one made it."
"Maybe there is," Hana pondered. "Generally when people have made a wish on an Imagin, they have a marking. You can see sand falling off them. If that Imagin is still alive then the boy who made the wish will probably still have that mark.
"Well, that makes things easier but it'll have to wait until school tomorrow where I can see them all," Ranma sighed. "I might as well get home anyway. No doubt people are freaking by now. Most won't be freaking about me though."
"Okay," Hana nodded. "Your stop is coming up anyway."
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Kasumi was busy washing a cloth for Ryoga's head after Akane had brought the poor boy home all beaten up and bruised. He was lying down in the living room while Akane was started putting on some bandages for his cuts. She had wanted to make something for him to eat but everyone had convinced her otherwise. So now she was just tending to his wounds.
As she was coming out to the hallway, she heard the front door slide open and saw Ranma step inside. Kasumi could have sworn she saw a train outside but had dismissed it as a trick of the light. Right now she was just relieved that Ranma was home and looked unharmed.
"Oh, Ranma," Kasumi smiled. "I'm glad to see that you aren't hurt. Akane brought Ryoga home and said that you were fighting a bull monster of some kind. Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Ranma nodded. "Me and Momotaros took him down. I'm not sure if he's gone though. I'll explain later."
Kasumi nodded as she and Ranma walked into the living room. Inside was more or less a circus when compared to usual days. Ryoga was on a futon with Akane watching over him. The action made Ranma feel a twinge of sadness at that. She had never really shown any real concern whenever he had gotten hurt. Then again, she was the one who usually inflicted a good portion of those pains. Nabiki was just watching in contemplation of this and the fathers were to the side making their own comments.
"Waaaaah!" Soun cried. "Monsters want to take my baby girl away!"
"That boy of mine had better not lose," Genma grumbled. 'My retirement is at stake!'
"Waaaaah!" Soun continued to blubber. "My future son-in-law is going to be killed!"
"Everyone," Kasumi called. "Ranma's home."
Everyone's gaze instantly snapped to Kasumi and the pig-tailed martial artist beside her. Instantly, Genam and Soun were on him like ants on a picnic.
"Waaaah! My future son-in-law is alive!" Soun cried.
"Boy! How dare you threaten the future of the schools!?" Genma bellowed.
'You go through this all the time?' Momotaros sweat-dropped.
'Usually several times a day,' Ranma replied in his thoughts. If he had started talking to himself out loud then people would start thinking he's crazy.
"Can't wait to hear this one, Ranma," Nabiki smiled. She had also noticed that Ranma's sandy friend was missing. Had he made a wish already?
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It had been a long night for everyone. Akane absolutely refused to leave Ryoga's side while the fathers harped on Ranma for needlessly risking his life and the future of the schools for fighting some monster. Momotaros found this to be very annoying since martial artists were supposed to protect people. Nabiki had remained silent and once everyone had calmed down, she stole Ranma away to press him for details. Ranma had explained what the Imagin were but he absolutely refused to tell her about Den Liner. If she had found out then she would con her way into sharing his pass and ride the train to all sorts of events she could bet on them and strike it rich. Ranma was deeply relieved when he was able to get into his bed and sleep for the night.
He was less than thrilled when he woke up the next morning. His body was aching in a lot of places. He hadn't felt this sore since those times he fought Herb and Saffron.
'What's wrong?' asked Momotaros.
'My body is full of aches, that's what,' Ranma replied groggily. 'It almost hurts to move! That guy was tougher than I thought.'
'Oh,' Momotaros replied. 'Then why don't you let me take over? I'm bored just sitting around here on Den Liner.'
'Fine,' Ranma sighed, not wanting to argue. 'Just don't do anything to make me look stupid.'
'Promise,' Momotaros replied.
The image of Momotaros appeared again before combining with Ranma's body. His eyes turned red and the red streak of hair appeared before it was all slicked back. Ranma Red leaped from his bed with a grin on his face. He felt fresh and ready for the day. He glanced over to the sleeping form of Genma and snickered. It was time for a little payback.
The Tendo's were all beginning breakfast when it happened. Genma's cry of surprise that ripped through the air before something splashed into the koi pond. Soun and his daughters looked out to see a soggy panda getting out of the pond.
"Ungrateful Boy!" the angry panda signed.
That was when Ranma Red came into the room looking pretty smug in a red Chinese shirt as he took a seat at the table and secured portions of food for himself. Nabiki's eyes narrowed when she noticed the new hairstyle and the red streak in his hair. Kasumi just smiled and said her good mornings before continuing to eat.
Genma just slogged his way in and plopped down next to Ranma Red before beginning his own breakfast. Not five minutes in he tried to steal some more portions from his son. He didn't get even close before he found his chopsticks caught between Ranma Red's.
"There's more than enough food old man," Ranma Red growled. "Get your own!"
That was enough for Nabiki. This kind of change didn't happen overnight and hearing Ranma Red's voice just proved it to her. Something was up and she was going to find out what. She would have to do it when he was alone though. If she mentioned that something was up then all the fiancées and rivals would be up in arms trying to use the change to their advantage.
"Foolish Boy!" Genma signed. "How are you (flip) supposed to stay sharp (flip) if I don't try to steal (flip) your food!"
"Oh, I don't know," Ranma Red snorted in amusement. "How about those rivals that seem to leap out of nowhere and those fiancées that you can't seem to stop setting up for me? The way they pop out of the woodwork I have to stay sharp."
Nabiki smirked slightly. Whatever had changed in Ranma, it might be one that she could profit from. He was more confrontational it seemed but he wasn't going to take anyone's smack lying down. The normal Ranma would just grumble about his father's rants and ignore him. Ranma Red just seemed to send smack right back at him.
What not even the real Ranma knew was that the longer Momotaros stayed with him, the more things he would learn about him. It was how he knew Ranma's name when they first met and he was slowly seeing Ranma's memories from the most recent to the oldest in that order. After one night, he had gotten the basic gist of Ranma's life. Usually it revolved around fighting so he didn't pay much attention to it.
Nabiki finished her meal and decided to get her answers, "Well, we'd better get to school, Ranma."
"Huh?" Ranma Red blinked.
"But I'm not done yet!" Akane cried.
"No problem," Nabiki smiled. "I need Ranma to help me out with a few things anyway."
Not even waiting for an answer, Nabiki gripped Ranma Red's arm before dragging him out of the house while snatching their backpacks. Ranma Red was protesting the whole way but she didn't really listen to what he had to say. After a while she stopped and turned to face him.
"Who are you?" she asked coldly.
"Huh?" Ranma Red shivered. "Nabiki, it's me Ranma."
"I don't think so," Nabiki frowned. "The Ranma I know would have gotten thrown into the koi pond, not him throwing his father in. He also would have gotten into a war with his father over food instead or just ending it. Not to mention he wouldn't have started talking back to his father unless it was really stupid. Your hair is also way different from his. So, just who are you?"
"Guh," Ranma Red sighed in defeat. "You know me. Momotaros."
Whatever the answer was that Nabiki had been expecting, this was not it, "Come again? You possessed Ranma?"
"Not by force," Ranma Red frowned. "His body was aching after he fought that Imagin yesterday so I offered to take over while he rested."
"Hmm," Nabiki frowned. "Well, you do sound like Momotaros when I think about it. Since you were a spirit when I last saw you, possession wouldn't be too far of a stretch. So, what are you going to do with Ranma's body?"
"Dunno," Ranma Red shrugged. "Go to school and stuff I guess. What else does Ranma do?"
"You'd be surprised," Nabiki smirked.
With a shrug from Nabiki, she and Ranma Red started going on the road to the school. While they were walking, Nabiki spied a familiar face that had appeared in Ranma's life and was no end of amusement for her.
SPLASH! The old lady with the ladle strikes again.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Ranam Red screeched.
This little exclamation was not caused by the sudden splash of cold water. It was more for the sudden shift in gender that Ranma Red had experienced. She was currently looking down at herself in shock. Her hair was now a universal red and the streak that could be seen in her male form was now invisible. Her eyes were still a bright red.
"What happened?!" Ranme Red cried, still examining her new breasts. She didn't seem to notice that her voice had changed to more feminine one to match the body.
"That would be Ranma's curse," Nabiki snickered, loving the sight of the Imagin freaking out like he/she was.
"This is the curse everyone else was talking about?!" Ranma Red shrieked. "He turns into a girl? How the hell does that happen?!"
"He changes into a girl when he gets splashed with cold water," Nabiki smiled, feeling generous. "You're in luck since hot water can change him back. As for why? You'll just have to get Ranma to tell you sometime."
"I need hot water!" Ranma Red cried as she slicked back her hair again. "Now!"
"Oh, I'll get it," Nabiki replied, her face turning serious. "For information."
"What information?!" Ranma Red cried, almost bowing at Nabiki's feet in desperation. "Anything!"
"Why was that Imagin hunting my little sister?" Nabiki asked clearly.
"Okay," Ranma Red sighed. "We think that some boy made a wish to make her his. The only problem is..."
"There are so many boys in school who would make that wish," Nabiki finished with a frown. "Crap. Is there any way to tell if someone had made a wish?"
"Uhh," Ranma Red pondered. "Usually a person who made a wish on an Imagin sometimes leave a trail of sand or it can be seen falling off their bodies. It sorta lets other Imagin know that the person is taken. I think."
"You think?" Nabiki asked.
"I've never seen that sort of thing before!" Ranma Red huffed. "I haven't even been able to grant a wish! Can I get that hot water now?"
"Alright," Nabiki snickered. "Follow me."
After a hurried stop at Dr. Tofu's, Nabiki didn't want him to see Ranma Red, fearful that he might be able to tell the difference between Ranma and Momotaros, they were arriving at the school grounds. Ranma Red was looking at his surroundings before someone had captured his attention.
"Hold, foul sorcerer!" came the loud and pompous voice of Kuno. "I see you have placed your foul magics on Nabiki Tendo today!"
"Who's this weirdo?" Ranma Red asked Nabiki.
"Tatewaki Kuno," Nabiki sighed. "He hates Ranma because he thinks he's keeping my sister from proclaiming her love for him. He is also in love with Ranma's girl side, despite seeing the curse for himself."
"What a moron," Ranma Red snickered. "Ah, he's below me. Not even a challenge, especially in Ranma's body."
"You got that right," Nabiki smiled. "Ranma could put him down in seconds flat. Care to try and beat that?"
"Don't mind if I do," Ranma Red smiled as he stepped forward to face Kuno. "C'mon, Kuno! Give me your best shot!"
"That I shall!" Kuno cried. "And I shall release my loves from your vile clutches!"
"Does everyone here talk more than fight?" Ranma Red sighed. "Sheesh!"
Both opponents charged to fight and met in the middle of the area. Kuno used a wide slash before Ranma Red used a fierce uppercut on the delusional kendoist. Kuno was stumbling backwards, trying to recover from the rather aggressive assault. Ranma Red just pushed his advantage and began laying punches into his gut, forcing the wind out of Kuno. With a vicious smirk on his face, Ranm Red used a powerful haymaker which sent Kuno to the ground and skidding a few feet away.
"That didn't hurt," he mumbled before passing out.
"Heh," Ranma Red smirked.
"Not bad," Nabiki smirked from behind him. "You took Kuno out in close to eight seconds. Again, not bad, but Ranma's managed it in close to three."
"Aww, come on!" Ranma Red growled. "Three seconds?!"
"Yeah," Nabiki nodded. "You did get me a tidy sum today. Everyone was betting for less than what you got."
"I'm...happy for you?" Ranma Red blinked.
"That's a good boy," Nabiki smiled while patting his shoulder. "Now come on. I've got some business to deal with and having a tough guy like you might help with the intimidation factor."
"Uh...okay," Ranma Red frowned in confusion.
The day seemed to progress from there. Ranma Red stumbled through his classes and fell asleep for half of them. Luckily no one seemed to notice the difference. Strangely enough, no one seemed to either notice, talk, or even care about his new hairstyle and the red streak in it. It was when lunch rolled around that Ranma Red seemed to wake up again.
"-Yawn- Are classes supposed to be this boring?" he asked Nabiki as they headed to collect some debts.
"Ranma asks that question now and then," Nabiki answered. "I think it is to guys like you. More action than thought."
"Hey!" Ranma Red growled.
"Ranchan!" a new voice called. Nabiki and Ranma Red turned to face someone with a large spatula on their back. Ranma Red blinked at the sight. Nabiki saw his confused expression and realized that if Ranma Red didn't know her name then things might get a little wild with fiancées accusing everyone else of messing with 'their' man.
"Her name is Ukyo Kuonji," Nabiki quickly explained in a whisper. "She and Ranma were friends when they were six. He calls her Ucchan. She's one of Ranma's fiancées. His dad got them engaged when they were six before ditching her and stealing the dowry. She's determined to marry him."
"Isn't Akane his fiancée?" Ranma Red asked, confused.
"Yep," Nabiki sighed. "Ranma's father got him engaged to multiple girls for food whenever he was going hungry. There are other fiancées so try to keep it together."
"Ranchan!" Ukyo smiled as she came up to the two. "I heard that you fought a monster yesterday? Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah!" Ranma Red smirked. "I took that thing down!"
"That's good," Ukyo sighed in relief. "Hey, how 'bout I whip you up a special okonomiyaki?"
"Uh...okay," Ranma Red nodded, looking forward to something besides coffee, not that Naomi's coffee wasn't that bad at all.
Ukyo instantly whipped out a portable grill and set to work. Ranma Red blinked at the sudden appearance at the equipment but with him spending the night on the train of time, he didn't think it was all that strange. Well, not very strange anyway. Ukyo and Nabiki didn't seem to see this as anything odd so they just continued on with what they were doing. After a couple of minutes, Ukyo decked out the okonomiyaki with toppings before making a heart with the sauce and tossing it to Ranma Red.
"Uh...thanks," Ranma Red nodded before digging in. He had to admit it was pretty good. He had never had anything like this before. "Hey, this is pretty good."
"Thanks, Ranchan!" Ukyo smiled, though still disappointed that he didn't notice the love message she put on it.
As he was munching away, a bell rang before a bike seemed to drop out of nowhere and crash right on top of Ranma Red. On the bike was none other than the bubbly Amazon Shampoo with an order of ramen that she had no doubt made for Ranma.
"Nihao, Airen!" she greeted brightly.
"GET OFF ME!" Ranma Red shouted angrily, lifting the bike off his back and getting out from under it.
This caused a pause for Ukyo and Shampoo. They hadn't seen Ranma this upset...ever! He stood up on his feet and he looked like he was seething mad, "Just what is the big idea in dropping a bike on me?!"
"Shampoo just come to see Airen and give too too good ramen," Shampoo replied while holding up the box from the cat cafe.
"Hnnn," Ranma Red sighed, simmering slightly. "Well, next time try not to use me for a parking space."
"Okee-dokey!" Shampoo smiled. "Airen want ramen?"
"Sure," Ranma Red shrugged.
'You are instigating a disaster, Momotaros,' Nabiki smirked to herself.
"Aiyah!" Shampoo cried in delight. "Arien want ramen! Shampoo so happy!"
Next came the usual super glomp that accompanied every time Ranma had said something that made her happy. Frankly it was like clockwork on what happened next.
"Get off my Ranchan, you hussy!" Ukyo cried while grabbing her battle spatula.
"Ranma is Shampoo's Airen!" Shampoo frowned as she gripped even tighter, threatening to cut off Ranma Red's air supply.
Ukyo just leaped into the fray and grabbed a hold of Ranma Red, trying to pry Shampoo off of him and get a grip of her own. It was a game of tug-or-war with Ranma being the one filling the role of the rope. Only, there wasn't any tugging, more like squeezing and attempts to pry the other competitor off of their rope. Nabiki knew that Ranma would try to persevere through this but Momotaros was in charge right now. She could only sit back and see how the Imagin in Ranma's body will react.
"LET GO OF ME!" Ranma Red bellowed, actually cowing Shampoo and Ukyo off of him. Both girls blinked in surprise at him. What was going on with Ranma today?
"What is up with the two of you?" he asked incrediously. "I am not some kind of toy!"
"Ranchan!" Ukyo cried. "I was only trying to get Shampoo off of you!"
"Aiyah!" Shampoo cried. "Shampoo just trying greet Airen like proper wife!"
"Oh come on!" Ranma Red growled. "You two were too busy clawing your eyes out to even notice me! I was the battle field to you two!"
The three women were rather surprised to see a red aura flicker slightly. Nabiki realized that Momotaros was now angry and if the way he would blow up when they suggested his name or when Ranma teased him was any hint, then something like the usual fights over Ranma would really tick him off. Being crammed into a compartment on Den Liner and now being crammed between two fighting girls did not help his temper at all. Neither did all the coffee he drank while he was bored.
"Airen hate Shampoo?" the busty Amazon sniffled, hoping for the hurt feelings card would work.
"I thought you liked my Ranchan," Ukyo frowned. "I'm the cute fiancée!"
"Guhh!" Ranma Red grimaced. "No, I don't hate you!"
"Aiyah!" Shampoo smiled before glomping Ranma Red. "Shampoo so happy!"
"Hey!" Ukyo frowned, aiming to remove Shampoo from 'her' fiancée.
Nabiki just shook her head at the spectacle. It seemed like Momotaros was just as bad with a girl's feeling getting hurt as Ranma was. To his credit though, he didn't seem to take the fiancées fighting over him lying down. He took an active part in the fight, actually telling them to give it a rest. Of course, things did not improve much when Akane had finally tracked him down.
"RANMA NO BAKA!" she shrieked when she saw the the situation.
Ranma Red had turned to see who was shouting while Ukyo and Shampoo were still in the middle of their fight. What he saw was a mallet coming down on him. Nabiki had been expecting half-expecting a replay of all the other misunderstandings that Akane had blamed Ranma for. What she got was something entirely different.
THUMP!
The fight between Ukyo and Shampoo halted when they heard the noise, expecting to see Ranma Red either in a crater or flying through the air. What they saw made them stare in shock. Even Nabiki was somewhat surprised and she knew that it was Momotaros who was in charge. Ranma Red had caught the mallet in both hands. He had a hard stare leveled at Akane.
"What did I do to deserve that?" Ranma Red asked angrily.
"You pervert!" Akane shouted. "You're just letting these floozies hang off you!"
"Hang off me?!" Ranma Red gaped. "Why do you think I let them hang off me?!"
"Because you won't tell them to take a hike!" Akane shot back.
"What makes you think they'd listen!?" Ranma Red argued. "I told them to stop fighting and they still go at it!"
"You don't even try to get rid of them!" Akane yelled. "You just want all sorts of girls fawning over you!"
"You call fighting over me with dangerous weapons fawning?" Ranma Red asked incredulously.
"You just love the attention and you know it!" Akane shouted back.
"That's big talk coming from you, brat!" Ranma Red growled.
The area went silent at that. Shampoo and Ukyo actually gasped at the insult. Akane seemed to start trembling from the insult. Ranma Red let go of the mallet and took a step back. Akane just started trembling while an aura of anger appeared around her. What happened next was predictable.
"RANMA NO BAKA!" Akane shrieked at the top of her lungs before swinging her mallet with all her strength. Ranma Red easily dodged it before it whizzed past him and hit the ground. Akane just still glared at him with anger-filled eyes. "I HATE YOU!"
Akane then ran from the area while Ranma just walked an opposite way. Both Shampoo and Ukyo were both amazed at what they had seen. Ranma had stood up to Akane's accusations and insults. Not only that, he even avoided her abuse. The next thoughts that had entered their minds was that they might have just witnessed their best chance at Ranma to date just appear before them. All they had to do was seize it and they would get their man.
Nabiki had found Ranma Red leaning on the wall surrounding Furinkan. She had tried looking for Akane but the girl could hide herself if she wanted to. All that was left was to see what Ranma Red was doing. That led to now.
"Usually I'd make life hell for you financially for what you said to my sister," Nabiki said with a deep frown. "I won't because I know you don't have any money and despite Ranma having some, I won't because he doesn't go as far as you did. I'd like an explanation."
"She ticked me off," Ranma Red growled. "I've seen a few of Ranma's memories about her and I can say I don't like her."
"I suppose arguments would come from that," Nabiki reasoned. "How about the brat comment? Ranma has only made her cry only once or twice and that was stuff he said due to stupidity. You on the other hand made her cry because of something directly meant as an insult. I consider that a good reason to have you exorcised."
"Have we seen the same Ranma and Akane?" Ranma Red asked. "Sure Ranma insults her a lot but nothing that deserves him to be hit. It's like I'm watching a five-year old. She insults people, she thinks boys are gross, she yells at the top of her lungs, she gets coddled by her father all the time. What am I supposed to treat her like?"
"Well," Nabiki sighed. "Daddy is just like that because he cares."
"I kinda see things objectively Nabiki," Ranma Red frowned. "I just met Ranma yesterday so I'm not going to argue for him or against him. I still think he's an idiot for not using the wish I'm giving him. I also think that your father is spoiling her because he wants to try and force her to get married. He'd do so many things for her she'd feel obligated to go through on the engagement. I say let her find her own fiancée!"
Nabiki frowned in contemplation. That was some observation on his part. She also hadn't thought of it that way either. Sure, she didn't like all the attention Akane got from her father when her little sister started learning martial arts. After her mother died the man just stopped doing a whole lot of things. Nowadays it seemed he would do anything to try and get Akane and Ranma hitched, even try to intimidate Ranma into doing it now and then with that Demon Head move of his. He was still her father and a good man. It was just that he was emotional and gullible. That sort of combo would make him do a lot of things if he was motivated by something he cared about.
"Don't get me wrong," Ranma Red huffed. "Your dad probably is doing it for the future of the dojo and at least trying to make sure that his daughter is taken care of. He just can't seem to see that Ranma and Akane just can't get along, especially when he and that idiot Genma are trying to force them together. No matter how much they say otherwise they just won't listen."
Nabiki nodded. She'd seen it enough times to know that the engagement was not going to work out despite what her father said numerous times. It was not a phase and it was not just a spat now and then. It definitely wasn't going to be true love eventually. It seemed that her father thought arguing was a major part of a relationship. Sure fights would happen now and then but not almost every time they saw each other. It made the middle Tendo daughter wonder if her parents fought like that if her father was so sure it was true love.
"Okay," Nabiki nodded. "I'll give you that. I still don't think that the brat comment was needed but that's your opinion. I don't like it but I can't change it. You do realize that no matter how logical the explanation you give, mine and Ranma's father will give him hell for it. All that about 'how dare you make my little girl cry' and 'as an apology you will marry her right away' and the like."
"Heh," Ranma Red smirked. "Like they could take me on my worst day. I can take whatever they throw at me. A real man doesn't back down from anything!"
Nabiki smirked slightly. At least the Imagin houseguest was taken care of. He was sounding like himself again. The only thing left that worried her was Akane. They still had to find her and get her to calm down a little. Maybe this will be the wake-up call she needed to see that Ranma wasn't going to stand for her actions forever. Even if it wasn't Ranma who was in charge at the time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gosunkugi sat at the top of the school. There were a few people around but they didn't notice him. No one every really did except for Saotome whenever he felt that Gosunkugi was trying to get photos of him for a weakness or of Akane. The reason for his depression wasn't this little fact. It was the fact that fortune had smiled on him and it looked like he was going to get his wish of finally making Akane Tendo his. Only when the...whatever it was, went to actually get Akane, first that lost guy Ryoga got in the way and then Saotome himself got involved. After that, Gosunkugi felt his wish go down the tubes when his wishbringer was destroyed.
"Life is so cruel," he muttered sadly to himself. "I was so close!"
What was that armor that Saotome had used anyway? At first it seemed a little plain but then it went red and he seemed to become a different person. The Saotome he knew never fought with a weapon unless he had to but instead, he actually used a sword to destroy the wish-bringer. How odd.
While Gosunkugi sat in his depression, people actually started to notice him. It wasn't for any kind of personal aspect of him. No, it was because of the sand that was falling from his sleeves, jacket, anywhere where it could come out, it did. It quickly started piling up as people stared with a sense of growing fear.
From the sand a figure started to rise. It was human-shaped but there was no more detail than that. It reached up with a sandy arm and touched the back of Gosunkugi's head. The depressed boy didn't seem to notice but some kind of energy seemed to come from him and into the sand creature. Soon, details began to form as the sand took on a more definite shape. From sand, strong limbs, not to mention a metal one, formed. Legs stepped out of the sand while a horned head with red eyes appeared from the amorphous blob that had passed for a head. When he was fully formed again, the Imagin pulled his fingers out from Gosunkugi's head. There was no mark left behind but the boy seemed a little drained of energy. Everyone else was gaping widely at what they were seeing. A few people with common sense above the norm of Nerima had run.
"To make Akane Tendo yours," the Imagin spoke, making Gosunkugi turn around in shock. "I will grant that wish!"
Gosunkugi watched the monster leap off the top of the roof while the other students decided to make tracks before the monster would come back. Gosunkugi just watched it go with a widening smile on his face.
"Wishes can come true!"
-------------------------------------------
Ranma Red's eyes suddenly snapped open. Nabiki noticed the sudden change in his eyes.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Imagin," Ranma Red hissed. "It's here!"
"Imagin?" Nabiki gasped. "Oh no! Akane!"
"I'm on it!" Ranma Red nodded as he dashed back towards the school.
--------------------------------------------
Akane sat weeping against one off the back wall of the school. She just couldn't understand why Ranma was being so mean to her. After a year being engaged to each other, why was he still mean to her? After all they had been through and he still kept insulting her. Why couldn't he just be nice? They were engaged for crying out loud!
'Maybe if you were a little nicer to him,' a voice in the back of her mind spoke.
"I did all those things for him!" Akane sobbed. "All the times I got him hot water! All the times I helped him dodge his mother! All the times I was worried about him!"
'And all the things he did for you?' the voice asked. 'He protected you from perverts. He helped you when you needed him. He even killed a phoenix god for you! How do you thank him? You accuse him of being a pervert and hit him.'
"If he'd stop letting those floozies hang around I wouldn't hit him as much!" Akane growled.
'He was right though,' the voice shot back. 'Would they listen?'
Akane frowned as she just lay her hands on her head and shook it violently. She didn't want to listen and she didn't want to deal with Ranma. She didn't want to deal with any stupid engagements no matter how much her father and Ranma's father would insist otherwise. She didn't want to deal with anyone at the moment. She just wanted to be alone and stew for a while.
A loud thump caught her attention. Not even looking she just started shouting, "Go away!"
"I will grant my contractors wish," a strange voice replied. "You are what he wishes for, Akane Tendo."
"Wh-what?!" Akane cried, standing up and seeing who was talking, only to feel her blood turn to ice. What she was finding herself looking at was a large bull-man with a metal arm. She was used to seeing magic and such but nothing like this. This was a real monster!
"I will grant my contractors wish!" the monster growled before charging forward.
----------------------------------------------
Akane's scream cut though the air and caught Nabiki and Ranma Red's attention. Both of them raced to the source, hoping that she was alright.
"It had better be the same Imagin," Ranma Red frowned. "If another one of the pervs here wished for Akane then I'm going to go postal on all of them!"
"I'll help," Nabiki added.
Both of them were running to the side of the school and around a corner. What they saw was something that made Ranma Red growl angrily and Nabiki finally feel fear for once in a very long time. The Imagin was standing tall with an unconscious Akane slung over his shoulder.
"Let her go!" Ranma Red yelled angrily.
"I need her to grant my contractors wish," the Imagin replied coldly. "What happens after is none of my concern."
With a snort, the Imagin took a flying leap straight up. Nabiki and Ranma Red looked up as he went. With a snarl, Ranma Red followed him with his own souped-up leap.
'Ranma! Wake up!' Ranma Red called.
'Zzzzz..Huh? Wha?' Ranma snorted as he came to conciousness.
'It's that Imagin again!' Ranma Red explained. 'I need you to wake up!'
'Again?!' Ranma sighed.
'He's got Akane!' Ranma Red shouted back. 'He's taking her back to the guy who made the wish in the first place!'
'WHAT?!' Ranma cried. 'Okay, I did swear I'd kick the guy's ass to the moon didn't I?'
'That's what I woke you up for,' Ranma Red smirked.
When Ranma had landed on the celing of the school, it was Ranma back in control again with his hair back in a normal style with stormy blue eyes. He eyes took in the scene before himThe Imagin had just finished laying down Akane on the floor in front of the soon-to-be-dead perv who had wished for her. He felt very little surprise when he saw who it was.
"Gosunkugi," Ranma growled. "I shoulda' known you would do something like this."
"Too late, Saotome!" Gosunkugi laughed. "Akane's mine now!"
"Our contract is complete," the Imagin spoke. "Now I will take what I desire in return.
"Huh?" Gosunkugi blinked. "Wait! I still have more wishes!"
"Sorry," The Imagin laughed as it stepped closer to Gosunkugi. "One wish per customer."
The Imagin made a gesture with its hands, spreading them apart. Gosunkugi then seemed to split in half and the two parts spread apart to reveal a green portal of some kind. The monster then stepped through it before Gosunkugi came back together again and fell on his butt.
"Oooh," he groaned. "That didn't feel too good."
That was when Akane began to stir as she got back up again. Gosunkugi looked at her expectantly while Ranma stepped closer to make sure that she was okay.
"What happened?" she asked. "Where's that monster?"
"Don't worry, my love," Gosunkugi smiled as he scooted closer to her. "What matters is that we're together."
"What?!" Akane cried, getting up. "Gosunkugi, what are you talking about?"
"My wish," Gosunkugi blinked. "Aren't you in love with me?"
"Of course I'm not," Akane frowned. "We hardly speak to each other all the time. I've ever only really seen you when you pull all sorts of tricks on Ranma!"
"B-b-but I wished to make you mine," Gosunkugi whimpered. "I wished for it."
"He did make her yours," a new female voice spoke.
Everyone looked to see a new woman walking towards them with a frown on her face. Ranma easily recognized her as Hana. She took one look at Gosunkugi and her frown intensified somewhat.
"Imagin take the easiest route when granting a wish," Hana explained. "To make yours come true he just picked up Akane and gave her to you, thus making her yours and completing the contract. Now he's free to go into the past and do whatever he wants."
Reaching into her pocket, Hana drew some kind of ticket before she held it against Gosunkugi's head. As it touched him, the ticket suddenly revealed a picture of the Imagin that had traveled through along with a date. September 12. 2006.
"Hey," Ranma frowned. "That's about a month before me and Pops came to the Tendo Dojo."
"This is his strongest memory," Hana commented before turning to Gosunkugi. "Okay kid, what happened on September twelfth, two thousand and six?"
"Ahhh," Gosunkugi sighed. "That was the day I met Akane."
---------------------September 12 2006-----------------------------
It was yet another day at Furinkan high school. Nabiki was setting up betting pools for the impending fight between Akane and the hentai horde. It had been happening between them for a couple of days now. Ever since Akane had turned Kuno down on his request for a date involving roses, poetry, and a massive butt-kicking when he tried to hug her. Nabiki was quick to pick up the betting possibilities.
Gosunkugi was sick for a couple of days so when he finally came to school, the fights had already started up. He was just coming from the back entrance when he started hearing crashes and yells.
"Akane I love you!"
"Please go out with me!"
"I do this for you Akane!"
Now curious, and hoping that his ability to be unnoticed in case of war would come in handy, he made his way to the centre of the chaos. Godunkugi's eyes widened when he saw the carnage. All around were boys that were all knocked out on the ground. They looked like they had all come from the various sports clubs and he even saw a few guys from the chemistry club. At the centre of it was a goddess of beauty. She was breathing heavily but looked none the worse for wear. She sighed before walking back towards the school
Gosunkugi could only watch her go, in a daze.
"She's so beautiful," he muttered to himself. Quickly getting an idea, Gosunkugi pulled out a camera he had brought along since his mother had wanted him to take pictures during his day so she could see what his school was like. Acting quickly, he started snapping pictures of the girl. He stopped as she entered the building.
"I'm in love," Gosunkugi gulped in awe.
----------------------Present-----------------------------------------
"That long?" Akane blinked. It felt a little creepy to know she had been admired silently by the Gosunkugi for that long.
"Okay," Hana sighed as she stood up and handed the ticket to Ranma. "You'll need this to get to that time Ranma. Your pass is only good for riding Den Liner."
Ranma hesitantly took the ticket and pulled out his pass. He had discovered that it had opened up while he was explaining what had happened to Nabiki the night before. He had been a little confused as to what the clear section had been for but it all came together now. Slipping the ticket inside, Ranma snapped his pass shut.
"Let's do this," Ranma smirked as he and Hana started heading for the door.
"Ranma!" Akane shouted. "What's going on?"
"Ask Nabiki!" Ranma shouted back before he and Hana exited through the door.
----------------------------September 12 2006--------------------------
Furinkan seemed at peace as far as things there went. Akane had just finished beating up the hentai horde and was on her was just finishing up with Kuno. She was breathing slightly hard from the exertion. From his corner, and well hidden, Gosunkugi was starting to snap pictures of her. Everything seemed to be going on track until sand started to fall from his body. It quickly piled until it formed the Imagin that Gosunkugi would make a deal with in the future.
"Gaaaaahhh!" Gosunkugi screamed in terror as he started running for his life. The Imagin summoned his sword and started racing out into the open.
Akane had thought at first that there was one last boy who had wanted to fight her for a date, but that idea quickly died when she saw the monster that was following him. Now, she wasn't really sure what to do at this point. That was when she remembered that she had a duty as a martial artist to defend the weak. So, dashing forward, she grabbed Gosunkugi by the shirt and pulled him behind her. She took a stance as the monster kept charging at her.
It took a wide swing at her and she dodged the attack. Gosunkugi cried in fear before he backed up. Akane tried punching but only found herself getting her hand nearly broken from how tough the monster's skin was.
"Ow!" she cried in pain as she drew back from the monster.
"Pathetic," the monster growled as it raised its arm, ready to slice her in two.
The monster was about to strike when something started going off in a rather odd tune. In the next moment, a train sped out of nowhere and raced right past right past them. When it was gone, there was someone who had apparently gotten off of it. Akane didn't recognize him but the monster apparently did.
"You again," it growled dangerously.
"Me again," Ranma smirked. "Akane, take Gosunkugi and run."
"Wait, how do you know our names?" Akane asked with a confused frown.
"Just go," Ranma insisted. "You need to get Gosunkugi outta here."
Akane frowned slightly, but she had to admit that this boy was right. Gosunkugi wasn't a fighter and the monster would tear him to shreds. Grabbing Gosunkugi's arm, she started dragging him into the building. Of course, the dragging part was brought on when he fainted at her touch.
Up above, Nabiki had breathed a sigh of relief seeing that her sister was back inside and safe from whatever that thing was outside. Now though, she had something to do.
"Place your bets everyone!" she called. "Monster versus Mysterious Stranger! Place your bets!"
At the edge of the schoolyard a man was leaning against the wall. He was in a brown trench coat and a brown hat. He was holding a pocket watch and checking the time.
"How many times am I going to have to put up with you?" The Imagin growled as it readied for another fight.
"Until I take you down," Ranma smirked as he summoned his belt and wrapped it around his waist. "You ready, Momotaros?"
'I was born ready!' the red Imagin grinned from his spot on Den Liner.
"Good," Ranma smirked as he pressed the red button, bringing up Den Liner's tune and turning the insignia red. "Henshin!"
Ranma swiped the pass over his buckle, "Sword Form!"
The students were all shocked to see this new guy suddenly appear in a black, gray, and white suit of armor. It was there only for a second before red armor appeared over his body. A metal peach appeared over his head before changing into a split visor.
"Ore Sanjou!" Den-O SF called as he struck a battle pose.
"I'll destroy you once and for all!" the Imagin growled as he charged forward.
"Don't you ever get enough?" Den-O SF sighed as he drew two of his four weapon parts, combining them before throwing them up into the air. He ducked underneath the sword strike before using a roundhouse kick to knock the Imagin away. Drawing his last two weapon pieces, he caught the airborne one between the two and his sword blade appeared.
Den-O SF and the Imagin charged at each other in a flurry of weapon strikes that made sparks fly from the impact. The battle moved past a tree and the Imagin missed his target, accidentally chopping the tree down.
------------------Present------------------------
Nabiki had walked around to the front of the school, hoping to get to the roof to see if her sister was alright. She was walking because she didn't want to look suspicious and end up making half the school follow her because they loved to see a good fight or just about anything besides class.
Sudden cries of surprise caught her attention and she turned to see just what had happened. What she saw was one of the trees on the property suddenly fall over. Students crowded around the fallen tree. Nabiki spied the bottom of it and noticed that it looked like some sort of sword had done it. Kuno was the only one in the school who was capable of doing this but he was still in his classroom. Shampoo had already left and Ukyo didn't have the skill for that sort of thing. How did it happen?
"I have bad feeling about this," she muttered to herself.
-------------September 12 2006---------------------
Meanwhile, the Imagin and Den-O SF continued their battle. In all, it was lucky that the schoolyard was as big as it was. Otherwise, the students who Akane had knocked out would most likely have gotten hurt and lots of property damage would have ensued.
"Raagh!" the Imagin bellowed as it continued to slash.
"Heh," Den-O SF laughed. "I am at my climax! Now I'm going to end this!"
Kicking the Imagin back, Den-O SF used an overhead strike. The Imagin raised it's sword to block, but Den-O SF's weapon smashed straight through it a haze of red energy. The Imagin stumbled backwards from the force of the blow. Den-O SF added a slash that went across the Imagin's chest, making it sumble back further before falling on it's back.
"Since you're such a tough guy," Den-O SF spoke as he drew his pass. "I'll treat you to a second helping of my hissatsu attack!"
He swiped the pass in front of his belt, causing it to star flashing, "Full Charge!"
Red streams of energy came from the belt and into the sword blade. The powerful steel started glowing bright red before it came off the main weapon and flew into the air. The Imagin was just able to get to his feet before Den-O SF made his first strike, which caused the blade to tear through it in a diagonal strike. It bellowed in pain before a diagonal strike from the opposite side hit him. Den-O SF finished it with a vertical strike that went straight through the middle, ending in an explosion.
"And stay down," Den-O SF sighed.
'He'd better stay down,' Ranma commented.
Den-O SF was about to turn and call Den Liner again when a bellow erupted from the flames of the Imagin. Turning around, he saw sand erupting from the flames, becoming the Imagin for a split second before it exploded into an even bigger form that looked like a giant cyber bull with bits of flesh sticking out.
It had now turned into a Gigandeath.
"Kuso!" Den-O SF cursed before the bull Gigandeath started shooting missiles from its horns.
He dodged the explosions brought on by the attacks which left craters in the yard. As he got clear of the last one, he began to hear Den Liner's tune again. Looking forward, he saw the familiar red and white train coming towards the scene of the battle again. It was different than last time though. It only had the front car and three more cars behind it.
"Alright!" Den-O SF cheered before he leaped towards the front car and through the open front window.
When he was safely inside, he spied a white motorcycle with spoilers on it. Quickly taking a seat, he slipped his pass inside a compartment between the handlebars and revved the engine to life.
'What are you doing?' asked Ranma. 'I don't know how to ride a motorcycle!'
"Relax," Den-O SF replied. "I do and I know how to work it. That woman showed me while I was hanging out on Den Liner yesterday," He finished the explanation by flipping open a small flap which revealed a button and pressed it.
Outside, the four train cars began to change. The first one opened up to reveal laser blasters. A huge section on the second detached from the main body and turned to face the Gigandeath. It looked something like a dog's head. The side and top of the third car opened to reveal something like a monkey with two large red balls in its hand. The final car opened to show a launching platform with a projectile similar to a bird of some kind on it.
"Here's the real climax!" Den-O SF laughed as he pulled back on the handlebars, causing Den Liner to go airborne with tracks still appearing in front of it.
The bull bellowed as it continued to try and shoot down Den Liner. The large train was proving surprisingly agile as it avoided the attacks. It didn't go near the school though. It wouldn't be good for those inside if lasers and missiles started hitting the building. As Den Liner started going straight again, Den-O SF pressed another button on the motorcycle. This began a barrage of lasers from the first car, missiles from the dog's mouth, another barrage of exploding balls from the monkey, and launched the bird as it pounded itself on the bull's body.
The bull bellowed as it continued to try and shoot Den Liner down but the bird had broken its horns. The exploding balls and missiles just continued to lay on the pain. The Gigandeath's body began to deteriorate until it gave one last agonized cry before exploding in a haze of flames and heat.
'Is it gone yet?' Ranma asked, hoping that it was finally over.
"It had better be," Den-O SF grumbled.
Outside, the students of Furinkan were cheering to see that the stranger had won the fight. Lots of the otaku in the school were cheering like there was no tomorrow. The fight had been something out of a Tokusatsu series. Nabiki tabulated the bets she had gotten and was surprised that most of the people had betted on the monster to win. She grinned in delight when she saw him change to that suit of armor with the red sections on it. That had made people regret betting against him.
As the train vanished into some kind of portal, one of Nabiki's lackeys raced up to her.
"Hey, boss!" she grinned. "I got pictures of the entire battle! I think Hitomi managed to get it on video too."
"Good," Nabiki nodded. "I want all of it. I think its best we hold onto this for a special occasion. You never know when an upset might hurt us. I heard those supernatural shows shell out big money for this sort of thing."
---------------Present-------------------------------
Ranma had returned to school in control of his body again and the day had returned to normal. When they had arrived home, Nabiki had wanted all the answers for what had happened. Akane was a little quieter when she got home and she didn't hesitate to tell what had happened on the roof. Nabiki, in turn, made a cover story about Gosunkugi trying to look like a hero to her with a guy in a monster costume. Of course, Akane now considered Gosunkugi a creep for trying to win her over like he did. Ranma on the other hand, was out in the kitchen was getting tea from Kasumi.
"So how was Momotaros' day?" she asked pleasantly.
"Well," Ranma sighed, figuring that Nabiki had told her sister about it. What he didn't know was that she had recognized the red Imagin's voice and decided not to alarm anyone. "I was asleep for most of it but I heard he yelled at the fiancées and ticked Akane off to the point of tears. The fathers aren't going to let that one slide. Oh, that other Imagin came back too. We managed to find out who wished on him but he managed to get to the past."
"Oh dear," Kasumi frowned. "How far?"
"About a month before I got here really," Ranma snickered. "It was when Gosunkugi first met Akane. Me and Momotaros had to fight it right in the middle of the school grounds. It didn't help when it suddenly grew to the size of a house and became a real bull."
"Oh my!" Kasumi gasped in surprise. "Akane and Nabiki mentioned that happening one day when they came home from school. They had to shut down the school for a week because the police believed that it was a terrorist bombing of some kind. Even though the students said it was some kind of monster."
"I thought so," Ranma nodded. "Good thing no one recognized me when I showed up about a month later."
Nabiki, after explaining her cover story, went up to her room and pulled out a shoebox that she kept filled with backup disks and things that she kept for special occasions. Reaching inside, she pulled out several photos and a tape. Glancing at the photos, she saw the image of Den-O SF fighting the Imagin. She had a sneaking suspicion that Ranma had been the one to take it down and she had very good evidence to support that theory. She would just have to face him about it later. She wasn't about to blackmail a guy who kept people safe from monsters.