Ranetta, Vol. 2! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and Bayonetta belong to the respective properties.
Note: This is a one-shot, semi-fusion alt-story. C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This is a Ranma 1/2/Bayonetta story only.
Author's Note: This is my way of testing the waters, after getting requests for a continuation. Enjoy…
Part 2
Within mere moments, Ranma-onna and Akane made it to the school grounds of Furinkan High School, with Akane still screaming in fright.
"-Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Akane said, as Ranma-onna screeched to a halt at the main gate.
"Oh, calm down," Ranma-onna said. "You do not hear me carrying on like that."
"YOU are not the one holding on for dear life!" Akane said, as she immediately hops off of Ranma-onna's back. "Running down the street like a maniac…"
"Well, whatever," Ranma-onna said, as she looked around the school grounds. "That's odd…"
"What?" Akane said.
"It appears that your secret admirers are in…mourning?"
"Huh?" Akane said, as she looked at what Ranma-onna was looking. All the boys, the ones that usually challenge her to a fight every morning were crying.
"What gives?" Akane asked.
"Maybe they realized what they have been missing out THIS?" Ranma-onna replied, as she struck a sexy poise.
"Ranma, you perverted jerk-!"
"Hey, you," Ranma-onna said, she points to the boy closest to her. "Why shed the tears, darling?"
"It's because we have learned that the Tendo sisters have been betrothed to someone who has yet to choose," the boy said. "I mean, how unfair is that to the rest of us?"
"I'm not marrying Ranma!" Akane said. "Get it?"
"Putting my companion's tantrum aside, how did you know this?" Ranma-onna asked.
"It was I, my dark goddess," said a tall, Japanese youth who carried himself like a samurai and an aristocrat. He took a whiff of rose, before turning his full gaze upon her.
"Oh, my," Ranma-onna said sarcastically. "It's Kuno, Tatewaki Kuno, upperclassman at Furinkan High School, also known as 'The Blue Thunder'."
"Ah, you remembered me from our first meeting, my dark goddess," Kuno said.
"I do remember planting my foot unto your face, while on my way to school," Ranma-onna said. "Shouldn't you and your crew be preparing for class?"
"I wanted to set the record straight," Kuno replied. "I only know from Nabiki Tendo that one Ranma Saotome is to be wed to one of the Tendo sisters…"
"I told you, I am not marrying Ranma," Akane said.
"Are you a sister that I was not aware of?"
"Let's see," Ranma-onna said thoughtfully, as her mischievous mind went to work. "I am…a cousin of dear, sweet Akane, and will be staying at her home until further notice."
"I see," Kuno replied with a nod. "Then, may I have your name, my goddess?"
"You may call me…Bayonetta."
"Ah," Kuno said. "Of course! Like your namesake, you pierce the hearts of your enemies…"
Pause.
"And your lovers."
"Ah, ah, ah," Ranma-onna said, as she wagged her finger. "Think clean thoughts, or you might be punished."
"I would gladly be punished by you in Hell, for a chance to grace your warmth in Heaven."
"Oh, I think I'm going to be sick," Akane said.
"Tell me, what is the purpose are these contests of yours?" Ranma-onna asked.
"Do you not see?" Kuno asked. "The beautiful Akane is like a fierce tigeress who needs to be tamed, and only I can do that. However, knowing that there are other male suitors who also appreciate this quality in her, I challenged them to defeat my thorny rose as a means of proving themselves worthy of her affections."
"Ugh, see what I have to deal with?" Akane replied. "The ONLY benefit from this stupid nonsense is that I get to practice martial arts."
"My, how epic," Ranma-onna said to Kuno. "And how do you fit in all this?"
"Naturally, I am superior to all who dare challenge Akane for her affection," Kuno said. "When they realize the error of their ways, it will only be me left to woo her as a noble man should."
"I see," Ranma-onna replied with a nod. She then turned towards her companion.
"I don't see why this stud of a young man has not tickled your fancy…besides other parts of your person."
"I'm just tired of being treated as an object of desire," Akane said. "Maybe YOU like that sort of thing, but I just want to be respected for my skills as a martial artist."
"A worthy goal, I suppose…"
"So, my lovely Bayonetta, would you care to be included in my affections?" Kuno said. "It would be my honor to date thee."
"I'm afraid I cannot merely accept such a proposal," Ranma-onna replied. "For one, your heart belongs to another, and, for another, I would only date STRONG men…if I was so inclined at the moment."
"Surely, you have heard of my prowess in the sword arts?" Kuno said, as he pulls his wooden sword (called a boken) from his sash. "After all, I am the captain of this school's kendo club."
"Oh, dear," Ranma-onna said, as she examines Kuno's wooden sword, using the tips of her fingers to travel along the wooden sword's edge. "My…how long and sturdy it is…"
"To better thrust…into my opponent for the kill, I suppose," Kuno said with a smile.
"I do like how it curves at an appreciative angle. I suppose it makes things easier for your blade to go in…and out…and in…and out-"
"WOULD YOU TWO STOP THAT?" Akane yelled.
"Right," Ranma-onna said, as she cleared her throat. "For a moment, I was getting carried away with myself…"
"Lady Bayonetta, my dark goddess, I, Tatewaki Kuno, would like to challenge you for a date," Kuno declared, as thunder and lightning roared and flashed.
THOOM!
"And I, shall accept your proposal," Ranma-onna said with style, as she twirled around in a sexy dance, before stopped in an erotic poise that produced fireworks. "With style!"
FLASH!
Akane was about to say something to Ranma-onna when she noticed how the boys, and some girls, were transfixed by Ranma-onna's impromptu performance.
"Um, I'll be right back," said one student, as he ran off.
"Yeah, I got to, um…go," said another student, as he disappeared as well.
And they weren't the only two students to suddenly have to disappear, which caused Akane to be livid.
"RANMA…!"
"But if we are going to do this, here are MY conditions," Ranma-onna said, as she steps away from Kuno, seemingly oblivious to what she had just did. "I will go out on a date with you, should you defeat me in our little sparring match. However, should I defeat YOU, you are to leave Akane alone, and treat her as an equal, not as an object to be had."
"Ranma?" Akane said in a confused manner, thinking that it was weird for anyone to stand up for her.
"But, Lady Bayonetta-" Kuno began.
"No, buts," Ranma-onna said. "A true man is not a man based upon his looks and his wallet; a true man is one of good character and nobility…"
Pause.
"So, Tatewaki Kuno, are you that man of good character and nobility?" Ranma-onna asked.
"I am," Kuno said. "And I shall accept your conditions with honor."
"Good boy," Ranma-onna said. "See you after school…"
As Ranma-onna and Akane walked towards the school building, Ranma-onna took a hot tea kettle from…somewhere.
"That was really nice of you, Ranma, sticking up for me like that," Akane said, as Ranma-onna poured hot water over her head…
"Well, it's Cereza's idea…unfortunately," Ranma said, as he shivered at the thought of what he…SHE had done.
"'Cereza'?"
"It's the name of the woman who died in the Jusenkyo pool I fell in," Ranma said. "When I talked to the caretaker there, after I had gotten the curse, he had said that on occasion, a pool can imprint not just the body onto the pool's victim, but the dispositions as well. In fact, in the super rare occasions, memories can be included into the mix as well."
"So, you think you're being possessed?" Akane asked.
"I don't know. Sometimes, I think so, since I'm always having mental conversations with HER."
"Um, okay…"
"Look, I'm not crazy. It's just…dang it, I can't explain it. All I know is that if there is a cure for my curse, I don't know if I want that cure, if it means that Cereza will disappear forever."
"This…Cereza means a lot to you?" Akane asked.
"Well, she's the one who has kept me out of trouble, especially where Pops is concerned," Ranma said. "Plus, she's helped me in my martial arts training."
"Ah…"
Pause.
"So, how much of you is you, and how much of her is you?" Akane asked.
"It's weird," Ranma said thoughtfully. "Right now, I'm me. Occasionally, I hear her voice in my head, but that's about it. But when I am in my cursed body, my mind becomes different. I…I remember things that I know that I haven't experienced. And…I start thinking about boys and being sexy and…ugh. I really think about girl stuff. And I'm afraid that the longer I am in my cursed body, the more likely I will…accept it, and no longer want to be the old me…"
Pause.
"I don't want to be a different person, Akane," Ranma said. "But I don't know if I want to give up that part of myself, if it means giving up Cereza in the process."
"I didn't know you felt that way about your…condition."
"Yeah, well, I don't need anybody to feel sorry for me-"
"Fine, be that way!"
"BUT…thanks," Ranma said with a smile.
"Um, you're welcome?"
As Ranma and Akane entered the school building, Nabiki, who was watching things from the second floor, near the entrance of the school, straightens herself.
'Hmmm,' Nabiki thought to herself, as she munched on a poki stick. Although she enjoyed the chaos that Ranma-onna had caused, as a spectator, Nabiki really liked the fact that she just acquired new information on her.
"'Cereza', eh?" Nabiki mused aloud, as she turned away from the window…
Meanwhile, somewhere along the waterfront of the city of Tokyo, a lone passenger of a freighter from China disembarks.
'Finally, I made it!' thought the purple-haired maiden, as she looks around at the land where her prey supposedly went to. She had used her family's extensive network to acquire the proper documentation to come to Japan. Still, in spite of knowing what country her prey had gone to, it will still be a while before she is able to actually find…the witch.
"[And when I find you, I will make you pay for what you have done]!" declared the purple-haired maiden, who spoke in a dialect of Chinese that very few actually spoke fluently. "[So says Xian Pu of the Joketsuzouko]!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a man sits alone, contemplating what to do next with his life…
'Get it together, Luka,' thought the man, as he scans old photographs of his favorite target, the one he had once thought was responsible for the death of his father…
'Bayonetta has been gone for many years, now,' Luka said. 'And you're getting older, not to mention side-tracked career-wise…'
Luka sighs, as he closes the file filled with pictures.
"Man, how I actually miss Bayonetta calling me 'Cheshire'," Luka said, as he tosses the photo-filled file back into the drawer. Before closing the drawer shut, he pulls out a lollipop.
"Humph," Luka said, as he looks at the lollipop once, before tossing it back into the drawer…
And then, he hears a knock on the door to his office.
"Um, who is it?" Luka asked.
"It's me!" said the person on the outside of the door.
"Alright, Enzo," Luka said, a he gets up from his desk to open the door…
"What is it?" Luka said tiredly, as he greeted the informer.
"Rodin sent me to get you," Enzo said.
"About what?"
"He thinks he may have a bead on Bayonetta's whereabouts," Enzo said.
"Then, what are we waiting for?" Luka said, as he grabs his coat. "Take me to him!"
"Alright, already," Enzo said. "But don't get your hopes up. From what I know, her trail is feint."
"I don't care, just take me to see Rodin," Luka said. "Whatever happened to Bayonetta can allow me to put all this nonsense to rest…for good!"
Tbc.