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 5
While the battle between Upperclassman Tatewake "Blue Thunder" Kuno and the one known simply as "Bayonetta" was taken place…
"Yes?" asked Kasumi Tendo, as she opened the front door to the Tendo Household.
The mysterious platinum blond girl examined the eldest Tendo sister with a fighter's eye…
"Hello," said the girl. "I was in town for…personal business, when I came upon your sign."
"Oh?" Kasumi said, as she furrowed her brow.
"This is the Tendo Training Hall, yes?"
"Ah, it is," Kasumi said with a smile. "Are you here to challenge the dojo master or…?"
"Actually, I am looking for a place to train in, some place where I can also 'bunk' at."
"I do not think we can accept boarders at this time," Kasumi said.
"I can pay for every reasonable expense, either in monetary compensation or chores. Or both."
"I'm not sure-"
"Tell me, Miss…?"
"My name is 'Kasumi Tendo'."
"Miss Tendo, are you married, if I may ask?" the girl asked.
"I am…not."
"So, you take care of the household, then."
"Ever…ever since mother died, I have done so for my family," Kasumi said with a frown. For some reason, she felt compelled to be open with this stranger. Unknown to the eldest Tendo sister, the mysterious girl was using a subtle form of witchcraft to get Kasumi to trust her…
"But you are able to do things for yourself, such as school or hobbies?" the girl asked.
"I…I…I am happy helping my family get by," Kasumi said. "I want to make sure that my younger sisters can live in a well-kept household, before they graduate from school."
"Then what are your goals afterwards?"
"I…I am not sure."
"Maybe, you can use some time for yourself for a change?" the girl suggested.
"I do not understand," Kasumi said. "I am much fulfilled in taking care of my family's needs, ever since Mother passed on."
"And do you think your mother would want you to ONLY take care of your family's needs, over your own dreams?" the girl asked. "Do you?"
Kasumi wanted to say something, but realized the truth to this mysterious girl's questions…
"If I may ask, who are you?" Kasumi asked.
"I am 'Jeanne'," the girl said with a knowing smile. "I can help you find a balance between the obligations of family, and your personal desires…"
Pause.
"And all I ask is a place to stay for the time being," Jeanne said.
Kasumi looks away for a moment…
"I…I have to ask my father permission to take in a boarder," Kasumi said.
"Of course," Jeanne said, as she presents a business card to Kasumi, which only listed a phone number…
"I can contact you with this phone number?" Kasumi asked, after accepting and reading the business card.
"Yes, but due to the nature of my…occupation, the number will expire in 24 hours," Jeanne said. "If I do not hear from you, then I will determine other accommodations."
"I see," Kasumi said. "I will keep that in mind."
"Of course," Jeanne said, as she bowed slightly, before turning away…
"Oh, and Kasumi?"
"Yes?" Kasumi said, as she looked up at the departing girl.
"You are capable of far more than just housekeeping," Jeanne said. "Do not blow any opportunity to follow your dreams."
And, with that, Jeanne walks away towards her awaiting motorcycle.
Kasumi sighs, as she mulls over Jeanne's words. She cared for her family, and wanted to honor her mother by making sure that her family was well-cared for. But, at what point does one's obligation becomes a burden?
Putting such thoughts aside, the eldest Tendo sister continues her preparations for the evening meal.
Meanwhile, not far from the Tendo Compound…
"I told you, a little scratch will not kill me," Ranma-onna said, as she walked down the street towards the local medical clinic Akane Tendo and her older sister Nabiki.
"Don't be like that," Akane said.
"Like what, darling?"
"Like calling me 'darling', for one," Akane said through gritted teeth. "And for another, you are NOT indestructible, as much as you think you are."
"Humph," Ranma-onna said indignantly.
"Yes, who would have thought that 'Kuno-baby' managed to get in a few licks without being noticed?" Nabiki said, as she suckled on her lollipop. "And considering the fact that you challenged him to do better, I say that you won't be as lucky the next time you and he spar."
"As I said, I only received a few scratches, nothing more," Ranma-onna said. "He won't be so lucky the next time we have our little martial arts free-for-all…"
Pause.
"Now, on the other hand, I would not mind sparing with the Blue Thunder in the 'marital arts', if he does manage to get 'lucky' next," Ranma-onna said with a giggle.
"Anyway, we're here at Dr. Tofu's clinic," Akane said, choosing to ignore Ranma-onna's latest moments of perversion. "Now, please, act normal. Wait, on second thought, DO NOT act normal."
"Why would you assume that I cannot behave around perfect strangers?" Ranma-onna asked innocently.
"Oh, how about the fact that you were flirting with that shopkeeper a few blocks back?" Nabiki offered.
"Flirting does not count, if you are scoring pork buns," Ranma-onna said with indignantly, as plucks a bag of pork buns from her cleavage. She then began to nibble on a bun.
"You want some, my dear?" Ranma-onna asked the middle Tendo sister.
"I think I'll pass," Nabiki said drolly.
"That is SO shameless of you, Ranma," Akane said. "All you're doing is using your girl body for selfish gain."
"And this is a problem because…?"
"Guys won't respect you as a person, you know. You have to make them."
"If you are an attractive young lady, do you think guys like you for your 'mind'?" Ranma-onna replied incredulously. "You think the lads who took on Kuno's challenge did so out of respect for your martial arts skill? Or did they see a chance to get you to notice them by them attempting to defeat you, so that they can make you go out with them?"
"Well, um, you see, um…"
"And that is difference between myself, being a worldly, and you, being naïve," Ranma-onna said. "I accept the notion that males do silly things to attract the attention of the fairer sex, whether they take on a ridiculous challenge or cutting you a break, just for the hope of winning the hand and heart of the object their desire."
"You make it sound like it's a zero-sum game that men and women go through," Nabiki said.
"Initially, sure. However, the trick is not how the relationship begins, but how that relationship is maintained."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, it will take some compromise from both within the relationship in order to achieve some degree of mutual respect," Ranma-onna said. "In other words, I would have to stop scamming for some buns, were I to date that shopkeeper."
"Sounds like some sort of business transaction involved in dating," Akane said, as she glanced over at her sister Nabiki.
"Relationships tend to be that way," Ranma-onna said. "We are selling ourselves in a sense, and both men and women are guilty of this. We all primp ourselves, by focusing on our attributes and capabilities, in order to attract the most suitable mates. That's the easy part. The hard part comes when we move pass the physical attractiveness to what we are within ourselves, while finding that reflective self in our potential mates…"
Pause.
"But enough of the philosophizing," Ranma-onna said, as she flicks away her used lollipop stick. "We're here."
"Huh?" Akane said, as she frowns a bit. Nabiki taps her younger sister's shoulder to get her attention.
"What?"
Nabiki points to the local "Free Clinic".
"Oh, um, okay," Akane replied. She then turned towards Ranma-onna, only to see her already entering the clinic.
"Hey!" Akane yelled.
"You snooze you lose," Ranma-onna said, before sticking out her tongue.
"Well, since I am not needed here, you two have fun," Nabiki said dismissively, as she begins to walk away.
"Hey, don't leave me here alone with that pervert!" Akane yelled.
"I'm NOT your baby-sitter, or your minder," Nabiki replied. "Ta…"
Akane rubs her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. With a sigh, Akane enters the clinic.
"That pervert better behave himself," Akane mutters, as she closes the clinic's door behind her…
A short time later, Luka Redgrave arrives, exiting the Nerima Ward's main subway station in the process. He takes in the scene before him, wandering if the information he has been receiving was accurate. He then takes stock of his situation, savoring the information that he was receiving via his senses.
Really, Cheshire, must you follow me around like some love-sick puppy?
"You always knew how to get underneath my skin, Bayonetta," Luka smirked. He then took out his pocket-size notebook, opens it, and reads off the name of the person he was suppose to meet…
"Really, you should not stick out like a tourist, Mister Redgrave," said a voice, which spoke in an accented English.
Luka looks up to see a teenage girl. She seemed to be dressed in a typical Japanese high school uniform, wore a short head of hair, and had the look of a person who was experienced in the art of deal-making.
"Um, pardon?" Luka asked.
"You are 'Luka Redgrave', are you not?" the girl asked.
"Um, yes," Luka said with hesitance. "And you are…?"
"Tendo, Nabiki," Nabiki said with a slight nod. "I was told that a foreigner wanted to see me about a woman named…'Bayonetta'?"
"You know her?" Luka said with excitement.
"Perhaps," Nabiki replied. "But I rather not talk so openly…here."
"Of course, of course," Luka said with a nod. "Do we have a place to…discuss this situation?"
"Certainly," Nabiki said. "Do you have my…'compensation'?"
"Of course I do," Luka said.
"Good," Nabiki said, as she took out an envelope from her book bag. "You'll find the directions of our next meeting…when we meet tomorrow."
"What?" Luka exclaimed. "But-"
"I assume you just arrived here in Japan, yes?" Nabiki asked.
"Well, sure, but-"
"There will be plenty of time for us to chat," Nabiki said. "Until then, enjoy your stay here in Tokyo."
With a nod, Nabiki turns and leaves the station.
Luka sighs.
'Great,' Luka thought. 'I'm reduced to making deals with teenagers…'
Meanwhile, Dr. Tofu Ono concludes his examination of his latest patient.
"Well, it seems that you are in good health, Ranma," Dr. Ono said.
"Are you…sure, doctor?" Ranma-onna said breathlessly, as she sticks out her chest in an exaggerated way. "I think I hurt…right here."
"Um, huh," Dr. Ono said, as he suddenly feel inappropriate all of a sudden. He had to forcibly maintain his professionalism with this…person. Besides, he had to stay true to his beloved Kasumi…
Akane grits her teeth, determined to make Ranma-onna pay for his latest acts of perversion.
Thankfully, someone stepped in to rein Ranma-onna's antics.
KLONK!
"Ow!" Ranma-onna yelped. She turned towards her father, who was presently in his panda guise.
"Father?"
"Don't act like a girl, boy!" said the panda's sign. "You are supposed to be a man amongst men!"
"You KNOW I can't help it, when I'm like this!" Ranma-onna replied, as she rubbed the back of her head. "Geez…"
"Well, I do not think it will be necessary for a, er, further examination," Dr. Ono replied jovially.
Just then, the phone to Dr. Ono's office rings.
"I'll be right back, so sit tight," Dr. Ono says with a smile, as he goes out of the examination area to answer the phone…
"You're shameless, you know?" Akane said.
"What is this…word called 'shameless'?" Ranma-onna said with a smile.
Akane merely rolled her eyes, thinking that it was yet another attempt to bait her into some nonsense.
Just then, Dr. Ono returns to the examination room.
"Um, heh," Dr. Ono said nervously. "Well, um, you."
"Me?" Ranma-onna asked.
"You're here for an examination, yes?"
"Um…"
"Uh, oh," Akane said.
"What?" the panda asked, via his sign.
"If Dr. Ono is this nervous, then he must have spoken to-"
"Here, let me check your injuries," Dr. Ono said.
"Pardon?" Ranma-onna replied.
One minute later…
"Well, that should do it, yes?" Dr. Ono said, as he calmed himself a bit. He then blinked his eyes at his handiwork.
"Ranma?" Dr. Ono said.
Amazingly, Ranma-onna was now a virtual human pretzel, like a professional contortionist.
"Oh, dear," replied the panda's sign.
Both the panda and Akane's eyes were wide open, at the state of Ranma-onna's body.
"Ranma, are you alright?" Akane asked.
"Actually, I am feeling fine, dear," Ranma-onna said. "Why do you think I do all those exercises to make me so…limber?"
"And here I thought I was actually concerned for your well-being…"
"Well, then, that's it," Dr. Ono said. He then turned towards Akane.
"Um, that was your sister, Kasumi," Dr. Ono said. "She wants you to stop by the market to let the shopkeeper know to expand the tab for food. Something about you have a new boarder in the near future?"
"Oh?" Akane said. She then turned towards Ranma-onna.
"Did you do something?"
"I do a lot of things," Ranma-onna said, as she straightens herself out. "Got to be more specific, dear."
"…"
Tbc.