I do not own Ranma 1/2 or Kamen Rider Den-O. Those belong to their respective creators and not me. I don't feel like arguing with anyone about this so just sit down and read the fic. You'll be happier that way.
Kamen Rider Ran-O
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 4: Turtle's Heaven. Ogre's Hell.
Ranma was walking down some streets alone after his date. He was just glad that it was finally over and that he could be in control of his own body for a change. Ranma Blue had walked Suzume home but the girl just seemed to idolize him since she found out he was like those guys in those Tokusatsu shows. When he thought about it, it was pretty cool, but he didn't need a ton of people knowing or else he was going to find his job of busting Imagin that much harder. Ranma Blue (Urataros) had made Suzume promise to keep his secret and she actually swore under a pinky promise not to tell. After she was finally in her home was when Urataros finally let Ranma have his body back.
He was currently trying to find a door that he could use before it was too late. He looked at the watch that Urataros had put on before the date had started. It read 9: 09: 02. He knew that he had to hurry if he wanted to make it in time. Turning a corner, he spied a door to an apartment complex that was obviously open. Checking his watch he groaned as he realized that he only had four seconds left. Using his exceptional speed, he dashed to the door and gripped the handle just as he reached the ninth second and pulled it open.
"Made it," Ranma sighed as he stepped through and onto the sands before making his way to DenLiner.
He stepped up to the first carriage that had a door and waited for the door to open before getting inside. He walked down the hall for a moment before entering the dining car. When he got inside, he stopped for a moment to see the bizarre sight before him.
"Baka, baka, baka!" Hana cried as she pounded Urataros over the head several times.
"Ah ha ha ha ha!" Momotaros laughed loudly, obviously enjoying the sight. "That will teach you!"
Naomi just watched the sights while preparing two cups of coffee. One had blue foam on the top while the other had red foam. Ranma just leaned on the service counter and waited for them to finish up.
"So I guess you guys already know about the Imagin?" he asked Naomi, who handed him a cup of normal coffee and a smile.
"Yup!" Naomi smiled. "Hana-chan didn't like it when Ura-chan said it got away. Then Momo-chan said that Ura-chan let it get away so he could continue with his date with that girl who paid for it."
"Heh," Ranma snickered as he turned to see Hana shove Urataros into one of the seats on the seats. "Hopefully she'll pound some sense into him."
"I doubt it," Hana huffed as she took a seat next to Ranma. Her breath was a little short after hitting Urataros so many times. "I can't believe he let that Imagin go just to finish a date."
"Well," Ranma began, wanting to defend the blue Imagin, despite the crap he had to go through because of him. "It did run away pretty fast. That and Suzume had paid for the date and if we did run out of it then she might complain to Nabiki. Brr."
"What's so bad about Nabiki knowing about that?" Hana asked, expecting some kind silly reason for people to fear her.
"You have no idea," Ranma shivered. "That girl can blackmail you out of every Yen you have."
"You can't be serious," Hana blinked.
"Oh, he's serious," Momotaros grumbled from his own seat. "That girl is as crafty as the Turtle. Only instead of flirting, she uses it to get lots of cash. At least if an Imagin gets her we'll know what she'll wish for."
"That bad?" Hana blinked. "Surely you can't be serious."
"You obviously haven't been in Nerima for an extended period of time," Ranma sighed as he took a sip of coffee. "This is pretty good, Naomi. Kasumi would love the recipe."
"Sorry," Naomi giggled. "DenLiner secret!"
Both Ranma and Hana snickered at this. Naomi then continued to take the cups of coffee she had been working on to the two resident Imagin. She smiled, "New creation! Momotaros Special and Urataros Special!"
"Ooh!" Momotaros grinned. "Looks good!"
"Ahh, thank you Naomi-chan," Urataros nodded as he took his own cup with the blue foam. Momotaros had grabbed the red one.
Ranma shook his head at the hijinks that he had seen thus far. He had to admit, despite how much they added to the craziness back home; the two Imagin were alright guys. They didn't really want anything serious from him. Just a little time in control and that was it. They didn't want to fight him for anything and weren't pressuring him into anything either. DenLiner was quickly becoming a sanctuary for him. It was way more peaceful than anywhere else in Nerima.
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Ranma slid open the front door to the Tendo Home as DenLiner dropped him off at home. He calmly shut the door and slid off his shoes. Things seemed calm for the moment, but he was positive that it wasn't going to be in about five minutes or less. His theory was proven right when the fathers came barreling down the hall and rounded on him. Ranma could almost set his watch by them.
"HOW DARE YOU CHEAT ON MY LITTLE GIRL?!" Soun bellowed in demon head form. Ranma just shivered at the sight. Once upon a time it might have scared him, but fighting Imagin was proving to be scarier.
"Quite right!" Genma agreed. "Have you no honor?! How dare you cheat on your fiancée and go out with some other girl!?"
Ranma just heaved a sigh and didn't say a word. He knew it was going to go in one ear and out the other with these two. They would just bellow and whine no matter what he said. Even when he tried to say something, they would end up twisting it into something they wanted to hear and then try to force Ranma to marry Akane.
'Hmmm, you truly don't need bait to catch fools,' Urataros sighed. 'They come right to you.'
'They're pissing me off!' Momotaros growled. 'I'm going to give them a piece of my mind!'
Ranma's eyes widened at Momotaros' announcement. The fathers just assumed that Ranma was realizing the gravity of his actions and proceeded to bellow and whine even more. Meanwhile, Ranma was trying to talk Momotaros out of coming out, but he was already coming. Ranma's hair suddenly slicked back as a red streak appeared in it. His eyes had also turned to a new shade of red. The fathers' inability to notice the obvious made sure that they didn't see it. Genma decided to end the little rant he and Soun were on with a last question.
"Well boy?" he asked. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Ranma Red's mouth turned to a smirk as he gazed at Genma and Soun. His grin remained as he spoke, "Ore futatabi sanjou!"
"Huh?" Genma and Soun blinked stupidly.
"Where do you two get off on harping me about honor, huh?" Ranma Red growled, stepping closer to the not-so-dynamic-duo. His red aura was showing, making them both step back. "You two are the last people who should be talking about honor!"
"What are you talking about?!" Genma bellowed. "We're both very honorable!"
"Quite right!" Soun nodded.
"Yeah right," Ranma Red huffed. "You call engaging your son for food before welching on them honorable?" He then glared at Soun. "You call selling one of your daughters' futures for French food honorable? Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha! That's funny! If you call that honorable then I'm glad I'm not like you!"
"That's beside the point!" Genma shouted, still sweating at being called out on his past activities. "The point is that you cheated on your fiancée tonight with some hussy!"
"Yes! That's what we're talking about!" Soun agreed. "Not some foolish mistakes we made in the past!"
"Quite right, Tendo," Genma nodded before turning to Ranma Red. "Now boy, you will apologize to your fiancée and marry her right away to prove it!"
"Why you...!" Ranma Red growled as he was preparing to throttle the pair before Urataros stepped in.
'Now, now, Sempai,' he chided. 'Violence will not get us out of this, no matter how much they deserve it.'
'Why?' asked Ranma. 'I beat up Pop for doing stupid stuff like this all the time.'
Urataros didn't reply as he went into action and he shoved Momotaros out of the driver's seat. He then took control as the red streak of hair turned blue and with a wave of his hand, glasses appeared over his face. His eyes had turned from red to bright blue.
"Mind if I string you along?" Ranma Blue smirked as he faced the fathers.
"What?" Soun and Genma asked, thinking that Ranma was acting a little weird since he hadn't tried to hurt them yet.
"Mr. Tendo, Otousan," Ranma Blue spoke. "I was on a date with Suzume-chan because Nabiki set it up for extra money for the dojo. You honestly don't think that money for this place comes out of nowhere, do you?"
"Uhhhhhh," the fathers began, trying to get their rage up at Ranma so they could try to cow him into marrying Akane again. It was hard because he was proving to be such a smooth talker. Genma proved that his greed and gluttony was stronger as he began to speak again. "Boy! You are engaged to Akane and you have an obligation to remain faithful to her through your engagement and marriage!"
"I'm engaged to Akane?" Ranma Blue asked curiously. "I don't recall choosing her as my future bride. In fact, I don't recall choosing any of the girls as a fiancée."
"WHAT?!" Genma roared. "Now see here, boy! You are engaged to Akane and that's final!"
'What are you talking about?' asked Ranma.
'This is where thinking things through pays off,' Urataros replied. 'Now pay attention.'
Ranma Blue continued, "Well, the agreement was made between you two before any of the girls and I were born. Secondly, you did agree I could choose to marry any one of them. I, meaning me." He narrowed his gaze on both of them and smirked, "I wasn't the one who'd agreed to marry Akane-chan, and it was just a matter of fortune that both Naibiki and Kasumi-neechan were the ones who agreed for her instead. Therefore, I never exactly chose her to be my fiancée, Nabiki and Kasumi did."
"Er…" Genma said blankly, not knowing how to counter.
"Also," Ranma Blue removed his glasses and appeared to be cleaning the lenses with a handkerchief before putting them back on, "I don't exactly see a written contract between the both of you in regards to the matter, so how do we know it's not really false. We all have only your words for it and they aren't really worth that much to begin with."
"But, Ranma," Soun whined.
"And, well, there really wasn't a drawn up contract between Akane and I that needed to be sign. Therefore, you are conducting an arranged marriage illegally. Not exactly honorable behavior." He looked at the blank and silent looks on both men's faces and smirked victoriously, "Well, now I wish to greet Akane to see how she's doing. Bye bye." He walked pass the two men and headed for the stairs.
"Um, what just happened?" Soun asked his friend who shrugged in confusion. What had happened, they did not know.
Ranma Blue was in front of Akane's door. No doubt she'd heard about the date and was waiting to pound him with a mallet. However, the girl could be easily swayed with his words. Hana, on the other hand, ironically, could not be wooed by his words and was able to resist. Maybe he wasn't all that perfect, but at least he was mostly perfect.
"Now, Ranma," Ranma Blue said to his host. "It's high time you learn how to talk to girls, so pay attention. This is where my social skills will save you where fists and your mouth won't."
'Okay, do your thing then,' Ranma agreed.
'You can't be serious!' Momotaros yelled.
'Both of us might accidentally make her upset so let the blue guy do his thing. I sure as heck don't want to get malleted again. Besides, it's fun to see Akane speechless for once.'
"It's a gift," Ranma Blue said proudly. With a flick of his wrist he produced a rose and a box of chocolates. He smoothed his hair back for good measure. "Now, watch and learn."
'How did you…?' Ranma began.
"A fisherman never reveals his tricks," Ranma Blue winked. He then knocked on the door, "Oh, Akane-chan."
The door swung open, revealing an angry Akane ready to pummel him.
"RANMA NO-" she began screaming but then Ranma Blue got on one knee and presented his gifts/peace offerings.
"For you, my darling fiancée," Ranma Blue said, flattering her. She'd never heard him call her darling before. She faltered a bit and dropped her mallet. He took her hand and kissed it. "I come to you bearing gifts; a rose as fine as you are and chocolates as sweet as you."
Momotaros could be heard gagging in his head.
"R-Ranma…" Akane blushed as she took the rose and box of chocolates. P-chan was next to her feet and squealed angrily.
'Oh, the pig,' Urataros began to muse. He had seen Ranma's memories and realized how appropriate Ryoga's curse form was. It might be able to be used to his advantage in the future. While Ranma had promised not to reveal Ryoga's secret to Akane, Urataros made no such pledge. All he would need would be cold water/hot water depending on the situation and the target of Akane's anger and hatred would shift. Of course, to Urataros, it'd be more fun to string Ryoga/P-chan along rather than do it outright. He wanted to mess with the Lost Boy a bit.
Akane opened the box of expensive chocolates and Ranma Blue immediately picked one and popped it into her mouth. The look on her face was, well…she was in Heaven as she chewed on the confectionary.
"May I come in?" Ranma Blue asked as P-chan squealed angrily, but his squealing fell upon two deaf ears, one pair deliberately tuning him out while the other pair was zoned out and focusing on Ranma Blue's words.
"Sure," Akane said. "Come in." And he nodded and did as she asked.
Nabiki had been spying on Ranma, or should she say Urataros in Ranma, and grew even more impressed. She'd gotten off the phone from Suzume. She'd been another satisfied customer. Urataros would prove to be a useful partner, not just a lackey to her money-making schemes. She used blackmail while he used his words to convince anybody and twist situations into his advantage. She had to admit that she'd rather have him as a partner than an opponent. She walked over and pressed her ear against the door to listen in on the conversation.
Akane placed the rose and chocolates on her desk as she turned to face Ranma Blue. The boy in question was leaning against her door, waiting for her to speak. P-chan was still squealing angrily, trying to push Ranma Blue out of the room. Akane didn't even notice the little piglet as she tried to get her thoughts in order.
"Ranma..." Akane began, not sure of what to say. She felt herself feeling flustered but she wasn't sure why. This was Ranma! He was the immature, rude, pig-headed jerk that has been living in her home for the past year. Why was she feeling so insecure in front of him like she did with Dr. Tofu?
"Yes, Akane-chan?" Ranma Blue asked, smiling slightly. A pink tint crept to Akane's cheeks. P-chan squealed even louder in protest.
"Ranma...I'm worried about you," Akane finally spoke after another moment of silence.
"Oh?" Ranma Blue blinked. "I don't feel ill or injured."
"It's just that you've been acting kind of weird," Akane answered.
Ranma Blue took in the answer in his usual stride. Momotaros and Ranma were beginning to get a little nervous. Akane may have been as thick as a brick, but even she could see when things were different from the norm in her little world. Ranma acting with a trigger temper or as mature as any man in his twenties qualified in the 'weird for Nerima' category.
"It's nothing, Akane-chan," Ranma Blue smiled. "I've just decided that I'm growing tired of the usual chaos and wanted to change. It's as simple as that."
"Well," Akane frowned, unsure if that was the truth or not.
"Don't worry about it," Ranma Blue grinned. "Although I'm flattered that you're worried about me, you can relax. Everything is fine."
Akane's frown remained but she didn't have anything to say to that. Seeing that she was effectively calmed, Ranma Blue left the room to leave her with her thoughts. He would've hugged her for her concern but he wanted to take things slow with her. An arm around her was alright, and maybe a kiss on the hand, but a full hug would easily make her blow up in anger. As he opened the door, he saw Nabiki getting up with a glass to her ear. Acting calmly, Ranma Blue stepped out while keeping Nabiki hidden from Akane's sight. He quickly closed the door before walking down the hall with the middle Tendo daughter. After a couple of steps she noticed that Ranma's hair was back to normal and his glasses were gone. The blue streak in his hair had even done a disappearing act.
"Glad to have you back, Ranma," Nabiki smirked.
"Yeah, sure," Ranma sighed. "I swear, I never thought sappy stuff like that would ever come out of my mouth. At least it wasn't me who said it."
"Well, according to everyone else... it was," Nabiki smiled, bringing a groan from Ranma.
Ranma knew that he had some serious hell coming his way pretty soon. If the fathers caught wind of how Urataros had been smooth talking Akane then they would start pulling every trick in the book to force them to get hitched. That would only alert the fiancées and makes them rise up in arms. Ryoga would be out for blood after the little performance that he was witness to in Akane's room. To top it all off there was an Imagin out there somewhere and it was after Suzume for some reason. No doubt because someone had made a wish.
He just had to find out who and why and what that wish was.
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Kuno was in his room, waiting for the Samurai Imagin to bring him his pigtailed girl. Unfortunately, the ones that the Imagin had brought him were the wrong ones. Kuno could've been specific, but this was Kuno we're talking about here and the specific (and logical) was not exactly a priority in his delusional mind.
"Ah, my beautiful pigtailed girl," Kuno sighed, "Soon, you will be mine and free from the clutches of the evil sorcerer Ranma Saotome." Suddenly, there was a thumping sound and Kuno turned to see the Imagin had returned and this time empty handed. "Well, where is my pigtailed girl? Answer me," he demanded sternly.
The Samurai Imagin growled. His hunt had not only been unsuccessful but had been interrupted as well. Den-O…once he found him again, he'd pay, but first he would need to complete the contract he'd made with Kuno. The Imagin was barely tolerating Kuno and would've outright killed him if it wasn't because Kuno was the only reason he was alive and solid in the first place. If Kuno was killed, he'd disappear as well. Of course, he could beat Kuno up but he'd seen the guy's memories and a beating wouldn't exactly help matters.
Also, he was short one sword because of that blasted Den-O. He'd need a new weapon before he went hunting again.
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Ranma had snuck onto the DenLiner as soon as everyone was asleep, exactly at 12:12:12. On board and in the dining car were Urataros and Momotaros. Hana was also there. Naomi was at the counter as usual. They'd been waiting for him.
"We have to figure out what that Imagin's after," Ranma said to all of them. "He was going after Suzume for some reason."
"Yeah!" agreed Momotaros, "Let's find the bastard and kick his ass!" Urataros flicked some of the foam off his coffee into Momotaros' face. "Hey!"
"Watch your language, Sempai," Urataros chided, "We are after all in the company of ladies."
"Ranma," Hana said. "Did the Imagin say anything when he wanted to capture Suzume?" asked Hana.
"Nothing in particular," Ranma replied, rubbing the back of his head. Naomi walked over to Ranma.
"Would you like anything, Ranma? Coffee perhaps?" Naomi asked cheerfully.
"Just a glass of water would do," Ranma told her.
"Hai!" Naomi saluted energetically and quickly went back to the counter to get to work.
"Actually, he referred to Suzume as pigtailed girl," Urataros spoke up as he sipped his coffee.
Ranma blinked and then his eyes narrowed. It could only be one person.
"Kuno…" Ranma growled.
"That moron in the samurai bathrobe and bad poetry?" Momotaros asked.
"Who else? The idiot made a wish from an Imagin, that's why this Imagin was going after Suzume," Ranma said angrily. Kuno had no idea what he was getting into, not like he ever did.
"So far, he hasn't caught the specific pigtailed girl this Kuno fellow had wished for. Wonder who it is?" Urataros questioned. Hana and Momotaros chuckled as Ranma shuddered. Ranma had told her about his curse and given her a demonstration with some cold and hot water to explain to her how it worked. Naomi walked over to Ranma and held the glass of water in her hand but she suddenly tripped and splashed it all over Ranma, triggering the change. Naomi gasped.
"I'm sorry, Ranma!" Naomi apologized. She too knew about the curse but was unfazed by it. Working on a time traveling train would do that to a person.
Urataros then looked at Ranma who'd changed into a girl. She was gorgeous! Urataros had to restrain himself from flirting, reminding himself furiously that Ranma was indeed a guy, even if his/her physical appearance had changed. Seeing her cursed form allowed for Urataros to fill in the blanks.
"I'm guessing you are the pigtailed girl this Kuno fellow wants," Urataros surmised. Ranma grumbled.
"Yeah, that's right." Naomi walked over with a kettle and poured the hot water over Ranma, turning her back to a he. Urataros sighed miserably. His host was awfully beautiful and well endowed.
"You know, this gives me an idea," Urataros said, rubbing his chin.
"What is it?" Hana asked.
Urataros had an evil glint in his eyes and Ranma shuddered , not wanting know what was going through the blue Imagin's brain.
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It was pretty obvious what Urataros' plan was. Ranma had found himself, or rather herself, on a street corner after the sun had set. The plan was for Ranma-chan to wait out in the open until the Imagin could find her and attack. From there, it would be child's play to defeat it and confront Kuno on his idiocy.
"I hate you so damn much right now," Ranma growled angrily.
The reason that Ranma was so upset right now was that she was in some very obvious female clothes. A pair of tight jeans that accented her hips nicely and a tight shirt which made the size of her chest somewhat obvious. The whole time she had been there, guys had been checking her out while girls were staring enviously.
'Now now, Ranma,' Urataros spoke. 'We need to make sure that you are recognizable as a woman. Otherwise the Imagin might think you as a boy with those other clothes you usually wear A fisherman needs the right bait to catch the right fish, you know.'
"What's wrong with the clothes I wear?" Ranma asked with a glare. Not that she had anything to glare at.
"Hmm, that body is wasted on you,' Urataros sighed in disappointment. 'You should be feeling proud of your feminine side. It's not everyday that someone gains the ability to learn how women think. So don't feel ashamed and try to hide it with boyish clothes.'
"I am not going to give perverts the opportunity to ogle me more than they do," Ranma huffed as she leaned against a streetlight.
'Perverts are people who grope and fondle women without their permission,' Urataros replied, though with some distaste in his voice. 'They have no respect for the opposite gender. Being 'ogled' as you call it is merely a compliment towards a woman's beauty and grace.'
'Oh, spare me!' Momotaros snorted. 'You just don't want to be called a pervert like those hentais at the high school!'
'On the contrary, Sempai,' Urataros argued. 'I have much respect towards women. I always ask for permission to get close before I do. I would never force myself on a woman.'
Ranma could feel that Urataros was telling the truth. He was putting too much emotion into his little argument. Usually when he lied he was suave and cool about it. He also seemed to have fun with it. His little argument at the moment put a little too much involvement for him in it. Urataros may have been an incredible flirt, but he did understand the meaning of the word 'no'. Well, if you really meant it anyway. Otherwise he'd keep trying.
As Ranma was in deep conversation with herself, Hana was hidden on the opposite side of the street. She just hoped that the plan would work. The Imagin had already seen Ranma Blue change into Den-O so if it saw the boy Ranma then their plan would be ruined. What worried her was that Kuno had seen the curse happen and even if he didn't accept it, the Imagin might see it and recognize Ranma's cursed form.
Right now it was a waiting game.
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The Samurai Imagin felt like it was going to blow its stack at any moment. It had taken forever to convince that moron Kuno to give it a new sword. He just told the idiot that it was part of the payment for his wish. His temper did not get better through to day. It had found three pigtailed girls but none of them was the one that Kuno wanted. Why couldn't the moron just be happy with one of the girls that he had brought him? A lot of them were very pretty and well-endowed but he wanted 'his' pigtailed girl.
Landing on rooftop, the Samurai Imagin began its search again. If it wanted to get to the past then it had to find the pigtailed girl that Kuno wanted. The problem was, where was she?
Looking down at the ground, he spied a redheaded pigtailed girl. She was alone and seemingly waiting for something. It was pretty obvious that she was a woman too judging by how her clothes clung against her. The Samurai Imagin's mouth split into a large grin. This was perfect! He was barely out for a couple of minutes before he found another girl. He was even sure that this girl wasn't one he grabbed before. The others had dark hair, not bright red hair. Not wanting to pass this opportunity up, the Samurai Imagin went for it.
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Ranma heard a loud thump just behind her. Turning around quickly, she was faced with the Samurai Imagin who had gotten his hands on a new sword. No doubt Kuno had helped with that. The moron had tons of them lying around.
"You will come with me, pigtailed girl," the Imagin spoke menacingly.
"Not a chance," Ranma smirked before she reached behind her into subspace to pull out the Terminal Belt. She would have to change into Den-O quick or she would end up facing a bad beating before she could pull out a win.
"Then I will force you!" The Samurai Imagin growled before drawing its sword and lunging at her.
"Woah!" Ranma cried as she dodged the strike. The thing was quick! She had barely enough time to avoid the attack before a sword came down where she was standing a minute ago. "Hey! Are you trying to kill me or something?!"
"My contract holder wants a pigtailed girl," the Imagin growled. "He never said she had to be alive."
Ranma gulped. Apparently Imagin were even more loose about the details of a wish than she thought. This Imagin must be at the end of his rope if he was willing to kill her just to get her to Kuno. The look in its three eyes was more than enough proof to see that it was willing to go through with its threat.
"Now," The Samurai Imagin spoke. "Are you going to come with me?"
"Not a chance!" Ranma shouted back.
"Then prepare yourself!" The Samurai Imagin shouted with another slash.
Ranma soon found herself hard-pressed to dodge the strikes. The Samurai Imagin was pretty fast and it had a lot of strength behind its blows. Thankfully, it had very little in terms of skill so Ranma was able to dodge. The Samurai Imagin was getting aggravated as the fight wore on. The anger was obvious on its face.
"Hold still!" it roared with a particularly vicious slash.
"I'm not as dumb as you look!" Ranma laughed as she darted back from the attack.
The Samurai Imagin growled and looked like it was ready to go nuclear at any second. Ranma was sure it was going to use another attack at any moment, but was somewhat surprised to see it just smirk before sheathing its sword.
"What's the matter?" Ranma smirked. "Giving up?"
"Heh," The Samurai Imagin smirked before it pointed to Ranma's side.
Ranma blinked at the odd move but complied. She turned to where the Imagin had been pointing before her eyes widened in shock. The streetlight had been cut from the last attack and was falling towards her. Ranma was quick to react as she leaped forward to avoid the collision. The metal pole hit with a loud clang that echoed into the night.
"Ha!" Ranma laughed. "Ya shouldn't have warned me about the stupid pole!"
KLONG! Ranma was down and out like a light.
What had happened was that while the streetlight had indeed fallen, it had rolled after making impact. As it rolled, the actual light had managed to hit Ranma on the back of the head as it came back down. Snorting a laugh of its own, The Samurai Imagin grabbed Ranma and hefted her over its shoulder.
"You had better be the right pigtailed girl," it growled before leaping off.
------------------DenLiner--------------------------
"Augh!" Momotaros cried. "That baka! How could he...she…whatever, let that happen!?"
"Ranma-chan was overconfident," Urataros shrugged. "Now the Imagin has the pigtailed girl that Kuno wants."
"I know that!" Momotaros raged. "What are we going to do about it?!"
"Hmm," Urataros pondered. "There are a few things we can do I suppose. If Ranma-chan is unconscious then her body is going to be free at the moment."
"Yatta!" Momotaros cheered as he leaped to his feet. "The Turtle had a good idea for a change! I'll kick that Imagin's ass!"
Momotaros then dashed down the middle of the car before vanishing into a haze of red energy.
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The Samurai Imagin was at Kuno's place and growled, "Here," as he dropped Ranma-chan onto the tatami floor. "Is this her?" the Imagin asked. 'Please, let it be the right one,' the Imagin prayed in his mind. It wanted so much to get this contract over with and travel to the past to cause havoc. It was what Imagin like him dreamed off.
Kuno walked over and kneeled down to study the face of the girl the Imagin had brought him. His eyes then widened with glee, "It is her!" He then swept Ranma-chan's unconscious body against his and proclaimed, "Yes, my beautiful pigtailed girl is finally mine!"
The Imagin grinned, "Good. Now, the contract is complete."
"Huh?" Kuno asked; confused as he suddenly felt a little funny. The Imagin's sword tapped him on the head and his body split in half to reveal a swirling green portal. The Samurai Imagin then warped into it before the portal closed.
Kuno had no idea what was going on but he did not care. He had the pigtailed girl so that was all that mattered. Suddenly, Ranma-chan's eyes snapped wide open. Kuno was too daft to notice that they were red.
"Ore…sanjou…" the girl muttered.
"Ah, so you have awakened!" the delusional idiot sighed. Suddenly, Ranma Red's fist met his chin with a sickening crack and sent him flying into the wall.
"Hands off, buddy!" Ranma Red growled as she dusted off her body. She looked around for the Imagin. Seeing no sign of it, she knew what had happened, "Kuso! I was late!"
Hana came in through the door, via the DenLiner again and came tumbling in. Seeing the dazed form of Kuno, she knew that the Imagin had gone back into the past. She walked over to Kuno and held a ticket over his head. The image of the Samurai Imagin appeared on the ticket along with a date.
"February 11th, 2005," Hana read. "But what happened that day?"
"Just a sec," Ranma Red sighed before she walked over to the unconscious Kuno and bopped him in the head again. Amazingly, the delusional kendoist woke up from the blow to the head.
"My pigtailed goddess!" he cried before grabbing her in a hug. "At last we are together!"
"Agh!" Ranma Red cried from his grasp before punching him again to make him back off. "Lay off, you perv! I've got a question for you!"
"I already know the question my love!" Kuno replied with a loving sigh. "I shall of course be happy to become your lover!"
Hana sweatdropped at the delusional fool while Ranma Red began to get mad again, "No you idiot! What happened on February 11th 2005?"
"Hmm," Kuno pondered while taking a meditative pose. "I remember that day well. It is the day that my father had left and I became the head of the household."
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Kuno stood outside his extravagant home while his father could be seen leaving into the sunset in a taxi. The man said that he was leaving to take extra training in the realm of being a principal. Many of the Kuno servants just believed that he was leaving to pursue his passion of Hawaii. Whoever was right, the facts were still the same. He was leaving and his two children were being left behind to deal with their lives alone. This also made Kuno the head of the household.
"Hark!" Kuno commented as he brought his hand to his chin. "It falls to me, Tatewaki Kuno, age sixteen, to uphold the honor of the noble and ancient house of Kuno. I shall not fail my noble ancestors!"
"Brother!" Kodachi shouted from inside. "Have you seen Mr. Turtle? I can't seem to find him anywhere."
"Nay, my twisted sister," Kuno replied, not breaking his pose. "Perhaps his terror of you has finally given him the courage to flee."
"You're so mean, Brother!" Kodachi cried from an open window. "Mr. Turtle would never do that!"
Kuno just sighed before turning back to his home. As he was walking, he was considering his next course of action.
"As the new head of the household, I must ensure that the line is secured," he pondered. "But, where shall I ever find a beautiful enough woman who deserves to become part of the Kuno household? Where shall I find a woman who can show enough strength to catch my attention and thus my affections? Does such a woman exist?"
As he opened the door to enter, he found himself run over by a giant crocodile. Apparently Mr. Turtle really did decide to make a break for it.
"That didn't hurt," he mumbled, despite the footprint in his face.
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"Okay," Ranma Red blinked. The explanation only just further proved that Kuno was crazy.
"Enough of the past!" Kuno declared loudly before taking Ranma Red's hands. "We should look to the future! Now we may spend our lives together without that foul sorcerer Ranma Saotome coming between us!"
"Keep telling yourself that," Ranma Red groaned before releasing her hands and heading to the door with Hana. "It just might come true one day."
"Hark!" Kuno cried, dashing after the two women. "Do mine ears deceive me? Do not say that you are refusing my affections? This cannot be!"
"Oh it is!" Ranma Red laughed before he and Hana slipped through the door and shut it. Kuno dashed to the door and threw it open. All he saw was an empty hall.
-----------------February 11th 2005-------
Kuno was lying on the ground of the Kuno estate. Mr. Turtle had just run him over in a bid for freedom from Kodachi and whatever kind of experiment that she was most likely attempting to conduct on him. He would be back, but that was beside the point.
As Kuno 'rested' on the ground, sand began to fall out of his clothes and pool around him. The sand began to move with a mind of it's own before pooling into a large pile. From the pile, the Samurai Imagin rose and came into the world. There was a huge grin on his face as he drew his sword. He had an entire world to wreck so the timeline could change so he had better get started. Pumping energy into his sword, he watched as it began to glow a bright red. Moving in a swift and efficient motion, he stabbed it into the ground. The energy ripped into the ground and was shot forward to a building. The ground was torn up as it went, leaving a trail of broken sidewalk and asphalt. The energy finally stopped as it hit a grocery store, making it explode in fire and food bits.
-----------------Present----------------
Kasumi was walking through the streets as she went to get some last-minute supplies that she would need for dinner. She felt a little silly for forgetting about the spices that she would need but she might as well get them while she could.
As she spied the store, she began to walk towards the establishment while humming a small tune. She liked this store. It was family owned and had some of the best prices in town. With the budget as constrained as it was sometimes, finding a place that had cheap prices but nice quality was sometimes rather hard. This store was a blessing. Akane never liked to go because it was near the Kuno house. Kasumi had to admit that even she didn't like that Kuno boy and his sister because of how they harassed her little sister and Ranma.
'Oh well,' she sighed inwardly. 'Maybe Momotaros and Urataros will at least keep Ranma out of trouble.'
Kasumi was close to the store when she began hearing a tearing noise that was rather loud. She turned to the noise and gasped when she saw the ground tearing up from the Kuno house and heading towards the store. The eldest Tendo daughter was so shocked she didn't even know what to do before the tear stopped at the store. Kasumi's shock was even greater when she saw the store vanish into thin air. The only tings left were the people who were inside, who were now looking very confused at what had happened.
"Oh my!" Kasumi gasped.
------------February 11th 2005---------
The Samurai Imagin chuckled as it admired its handiwork. Looking for a new target, it started walking don the street. As it was walking, it didn't notice someone in a large brown coat and a broad-brimmed hat holding a pocket watch. The man seemed to be watching the unfolding events.
The Samurai Imagin continued on its way, causing people to scream in terror as it continued. To keep itself amused, it would slash a mailbox or cut down a streetlight. After a little bit of mindless destruction, the Samurai Imagin spied a very tempting target, a car dealership. Now the explosions resulting from that place would be something to see! Raising his weapon, the Samurai Imagin prepared to fire. Before he could actually use his attack, a familiar tune echoed through the air before DenLiner came speeding out of a vortex. As it came speeding closer, the front car's window opened and Den-O SF on his motorcycle DenBird came speeding out. He raced towards the Samurai Imagin and knocked him off balance before coming to a stop.
"Ore Sanjou!" Den-O SF called as he faced his opponent.
"You again!" the Samurai Imagin bellowed angrily.
"Yeah, me again," Den-O SF grunted before getting off the bike. He then started pulling out the pieces of DenGasher. "I owe you for the stunt you pulled in giving that girl to the samurai wanna-be."
"Heh," The Samurai Imagin snorted while raising his blade. "I'd like to see you try to collect!"
"Oh, I will," Den-O SF snorted while completing his sword, making the blade appear. "Don't you know? From start to finish, I'm at my climax!"
"Bring it on!" The Samurai Imagin roared as he charged.
The two fighters charged at each other with their blades raised. Den-O SF began the assault with several slashes at the Imagin. The Samurai Imagin was proving his namesake as he blocked each attack with a strike of his own. After the fourth attack, the Samurai Imagin began his own assault, which involved several strikes which made sparks fly off Den-O SF's chest.
"Agh!" Den-O SF groaned as he staggered back. "What's the deal?! The turtle had a way easier time against him than I am!"
'That's because I had a longer reach than he did,' Urataros spoke calmly despite the situation.
"Shut it Turtle Boy!" Den-O SF snapped angrily. "I don't need your help!" The Samurai Imagin slashed down his sword, forcing Den-O to block it with the length of his own blade and then he elbowed the enemy Imagin away. "I can take care of myself!"
'Maybe so,' Urataros retorted, 'but he was my catch first and he escaped. Now, I wish to cast the line one more time to catch him.'
"Enough with the fishing metaphors and stay out of this!" Den-O SF growled as he swung his sword again, only for the Samurai Imagin to parry the strike and then striking Den-O SF across the chest.
'This isn't working!' Ranma yelled. 'Momotaros, you better switch with Urataros!'
"What!?" Den-O SF gaped. "No way! I can beat this asshole!"
'Well, it's my body, and I say Urataros is coming in!' Ranma shouted.
Den-O SF grumbled as he leapt back from a slash of the Samurai Imagin and reached down to the blue button on his belt. The symbol switched from red to blue as a new tune was played. Den-O SF then held the Pass over the buckle.
"Rod Form!" the belt announced as Den-O SF's armor detached itself from his body and reassembled themselves to form Den-O RF's armor. While this was happening, Momotaros was sent out of Den-O's body only for Urataros to take his place. The red visor of Den-O SF also vanished, to be replaced by the blue turtle that soon shifted into Den-O RF's mask. Meanwhile, the strange man wearing a coat and hat was watching the battle. He snapped his silver pocket watch closed before pocketing it and walking away from the fight.
"Mind if I string you along?" Den-O RF said as he reassembled the DenGasher into Rod Mode. The Samurai Imagin roared and then charged at Den-O RF. Den-O RF merely swung his rod in a horizontal arc and catching the Imagin in the head before he spun out of the way of the charging Imagin.
"Stay still!" the Imagin growled as he charged again.
"Time to show off my fishing skills," Den-O RF announced as he swung his rod again, releasing a line with the tip acting as a fishing hook. The line wrapped around the blade of the Imagin's sword and with a mighty tug, pulled it out of his hands. The Imagin then got a taste of the ground via the sole of Den-O's foot meeting his face and sending him reeling onto the ground.
"This time, for sure," Den-O RF said confidently as he passed the Pass over the buckle before throwing it aside. The Imagin was slowly getting up and Den-O RF took aim.
"Full Charge!" the belt announced as blue energy streams entered his DenGasher. The Imagin was slowly getting up and Den-O RF took aim. He then threw the rod like a javelin, allowing it to pierce the Imagin and forming the blue turtle shell shaped barrier. The Imagin was paralyzed and unable to move. Den-O RF then did a mighty leap and came down on the Imagin, colliding into it with a powerful flying kick. The Imagin was sent flying as the barrier shattered and then he exploded.
"Well, we're done here," Den-O RF said as he was about to depart but then he noticed something wrong. "Hm?"
'What's wrong?' Ranma questioned.
"I think a bigger fish is about to appear," Den-O RF said seriously as the Samurai Imagin's essence came back together and reformed itself. It was now over 20 feet tall with a body rippling with muscle. Its skin was black and it has three eyes and three horns. Its hands had claws and the feet were hooves. The Gigandeath let out a powerful roar, revealing rows of sharp teeth in its mouth.
'Not good!' Ranma said fearfully.
"Don't worry, help is on the way," Den-O RF said as the same tune that announced his transformation began to play. A vortex appeared and a white train made up of only one car with a blue front appeared. "Here we go!" Den-O RF leapt up and landed on the back of the train, which then converted into a large robotic turtle with red fins and a black head. The turtle detached from the main body of the train and then Den-O RF took flight after the rampaging Gigandeath.
"Here we go! Launch torpedoes!" Den-O RF shouted as the four fins of the robot turtle fired blade-like lasers. "Or, lasers, whatever works," he shrugged. The Gigandeath roared in pain as the lasers rained down on it. However, it still wasn't going down. It swatted at the robot turtle with its claws, and nearly got Den-O RF. Fortunately, luck was on his side.
'I think we need more firepower,' Ranma suggested.
The DenLiner tune, which was also Den-O SF's tune, began to play and Den-O RF quoted, "Ask, and you shall receive."
The DenLiner soon came through another vortex and trained tracks appeared in front and under it. The blue train's tracks then converged and merged with the DenLiner's tracks and picked up speed so that it was in front of the DenLiner. Both trains then linked up. At the same time, the robot turtle also recombined with the blue train and the hatch on the top of the train opened up so that Den-O RF could enter. Den-O RF mounted the DenBird and then looked at the viewing screen before pressing the button on the bike. The DenLiner then revealed its weapons with all its glory as Den-O RF accelerated.
The DenLiner raced around the Gigandeath, firing lasers, explosives and missiles. The ammo rained down on the Gigandeath with such ferocity that it soon couldn't take much more and exploded in a large haze of fire.
A vortex then appeared and the DenLiner raced into it, vanishing into thin air. As the long train vanished along with the warrior who used it, someone came out of hiding from alongside a building that was in full view of the battle. The familiar visage of Nabiki Tendo met sunlight as she let her camera rest. She had been heading to Kuno to settle some debts he had and she stumbled across the fight. She wasn't sure what she had seen, but she couldn't deny that what she saw had some serious potential to making a lot of money. Now, if only the armored guy could come back for more photos.
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Ranma heaved a sigh as he got back into the present through a door to a convenience store. He felt pretty good at the moment. He and his 'guests' had taken down another Imagin and had protected the timeline again. If anything, he felt like he had snagged the perfect job for a martial artist like him. There was just one last thing on his mind that had been bugging him. It felt like he had forgotten something pretty important.
"RANMA, YOU WOMANIZER!" Ryoga bellowed as he charged at Ranma, apparently out of nowhere. "PREPARE TO DIE!"
'Oh, yeah,' Ranma sighed internally. 'That's what.'
'Hmmm,' Urataros snickered. 'It seems that the dirty pig cannot stand a little competition.'
'You're the one who set him off in the first place!' Momotaros shouted back, still sore at being unable to beat the Imagin.
Ranma just shook his head as he took a battle stance. Some things never changed. Then again, some things got even better than before.
To Be Continued...
A/N: How do you like that folks? Urataros is now officially part of the team. Next up is Kintaros and I know you guys will want to see how he reacts to Ranma and his hectic life. You'll just have to see when the chapter rolls around.