Chapter Five: New Beginnings
I do not own Ranma ½, this is the sole property of Rumiko Takahashi
Reviews would be greatly appreciated since they'll give me ideas on how to proceed with the story. I am trying to make this different, yet funny. I have read too many where the characters are at each other's throats. This is just a different point of view.
"Now that Ranma had unlocked his mind and can hear you, Sakura, when will you be able to work on me opening up my mind so I can hear as well?" Pleaded Akane looking from Ranma to Sakura.
"As I had said earlier, Ranma would be easier since we share DNA and share the curse. Even though I have no freaking idea how I got cursed when I was NEVER FREAKING SPLASHED!" Both watched as the fire in her eyes flared before quickly dissipating. "We'll figure out a way to unlock your mind tomorrow. You said there is a neighborhood doctor we can see tomorrow. Asked Sakura.
"Yes, there is, his name is Doctor Tofu Ono, he's a chiropractor. He has been our family doctor since I was a little girl." Akane mentioned with a slight smile on her face.
Sakura noticed that along with the smile and that she was blushing. Sakura filed this away as she watched Akane turn away after telling them about the good doctor.
"What's wrong Sakura? Why are you watching Akane so intently?" Ranma wondered looking at Sakura as she watched Akane.
"I am simply curious; did she have a crush on Doctor Tofu? Her demeanor changed slightly while she was talking about him." Thought Sakura.
"Oh, how can you tell?" Sakura paused and turned to Ranma before thinking, "It's a girl thing, I'll have to ask her about it later."
Akane noticed the pausing in the conversation and pouted a little. "I really wish I could hear them. I know I should not be jealous of them, but that is very cool. They can have private conversations, and no one would be the wiser. I just hope I can be a part of that sometime soon.
"Dinner will be in a little bit would you like to take a bath before then?" Akane asked Sakura.
Sakura turned to Akane, "Sure that would be good." At the same time, she thought to Ranma, "Give us this girl time, Ranma. I am not forgetting about you. I know that is also our time."
Ranma nodded slightly, "No problem, have fun with your girl time. Find out what you can about her crush on Doctor Tofu."
"Okay, bro, see you later." Sakura waved at her brother as they exited the dojo and went upstairs to bathe.
********** Kuno Mansion – Nerima, Japan **********
"Why are you walking so funny Tatewaki? Why are you walking like someone kicked you in the jewels?" laughed Kodachi Kuno.
Tatewaki winced as he turned to look at his younger sister.
"I am walking like this Kodachi because I WAS KICKED in the jewels."
Kodachi stopped laughing and gaped as she remarked, "Who kicked you in the nuts?"
"Don't worry, it was an accident, she didn't mean to do it," Tatewaki mentioned adjusting himself as he sat down for dinner.
Kodachi watched him and noticed he was sitting on his thigh and not straight down like usual. "How hard did she hit you, brother?"
"As I said before, it was an accident, she didn't mean to kick me as she did." Kodachi stood and approached him.
As she came closer, he saw that she was staring at his crotch as she neared him. "She "accidentally kicked you hard enough to cause you to gingerly sit the way you are, brother. Why do I think she meant to do it, and you are just not seeing this?"
Tatewaki raised his eyes and knit his brows, "Kodachi, the fair Akane, and the female Saotome would never intentionally hurt the Blue Thunder of Furinken High School."
"Who is this female Saotome you speak of?" Kodachi inquired as she returned to her seat and picked up her chopsticks.
"She is a fair flower I will be plucking in the next couple of days. Just wait little sister. She'll be my new prize alongside the fair Akane Tendo."
Kodachi listened and savored the lobster she had been eating. Kodachi called Sasuke over and whispered something to him. He promptly left and returned moments later.
Tatewaki watched as the butler left and almost immediately returned and placed an item in front of Kodachi. She then rose and walked over to him and placed it in front of him. He looked down and nearly choked on his wine. In front of him was an athletic supporter with a cup already included.
"Why do you feel I require such a device Kodachi?" She rolled her eyes.
"Brother dear, this is just in case they "accidentally" kick you again. I would like to have a niece or nephew someday."
"It's a good thing she doesn't know that thing won't fit me at the moment because they're the size of grapefruits." Thought Tatewaki as he reached for the cup on the table.
Tatewaki huffed and pushed the cup away to the side of his plate, but he was looking at it and then at his sister for a moment.
"I shall take this under advisement sister, but only for the sake of your future nieces or nephews." Kodachi smiled as he pushed it alongside his plate.
"I seriously thought he was going to refuse it out of spite. I need to find out who this female Saotome is and see if I can turn this to my benefit in next week's match against Furinken."
Tatewaki smiled just as Kodachi smiled. As usual, he mistook her smile to be regarding his statement about his future progeny.
"I really wish the swelling would go down I can't sit like this forever. Hopefully, they'll be fine in the morning like the nurse said."
"I wish I could see how badly he's been injured, maybe I can return the favor to Akane or this female Saotome when I see them." Kodachi contemplated as she sipped her wine.
********** Tendo Practice Hall **********
Ranma stood after executing all twelve katas of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts. A few moments earlier he had felt himself change from a boy into a girl. "I wonder how the conversation with Akane is coming along?"
"It is fine, Ranma we're just getting in the tub. I'll let you know as we go along, okay?"
As he felt his body change back into a boy, "Sure thing sis," Ranma smiled as his sister was able to update him and Akane would not know about it unless Sakura told her.
"She knows we're talking as I am talking to her. She is watching me and can tell when you and I are speaking. I am being courteous and letting her know what you and I are saying."
Ranma gulped. "She is not angry, is she?"
Sakura shook her head, yet she knew Ranma would not be able to see her. "So far your good, oh paranoid one."
Ranma smiled, and thought, "I just don't want her knocking me out again. My head still hurts from that table." Ranma said, rubbing his head.
Sakura smiled, "She says you really need to watch your mouth and surroundings and you should have been able to avoid it."
Ranma stopped laughing immediately. "I have reason to believe you guys are laughing at me."
"We are brother dear we definitely are."
Ranma fumed as he cooled down. "I could have dodged the table if I had seen it coming."
"I am not so sure you would have, since I noticed you had closed your eyes when you were talking which is why you never saw it coming, brother dear."
Ranma could hear Sakura laughing as she relayed to Akane what she had just told him.
"How is it that I am not winning this conversation when one of the participants is my own sister?" thought Ranma.
"We're both women at the moment and you're outnumbered." Laughed Sakura again.
"Hey, I turn into a woman half of the time." He appealed.
"True, but at the moment you're not winning this one," Sakura assured him as he fumed. The girls kept laughing as Sakura relayed this to Akane.
"I'll get you for this Sakura."
"I love you too Ranma."
Ranma shook his head as he restarted his katas, before calling it quits and heading inside the house.
"Have you ever had a crush on Dr. Tofu, Akane?"
Akane nearly shot out of the tub when Sakura asked her that question. Sakura watched as Akane fidgeted and looked around. She waited patiently as they soaked in the tub. Sakura noticed the water was starting to cool. Akane oblivious to this looked at Sakura and then around the bathroom again.
"You can tell me, I already know you probably did have one on him when you were younger, but not now."
Akane hesitated before nodding. "I did, but that was when I was always getting hurt and he was the one we went to, to fix my breaks, scrapes, and bruises." Blushed Akane.
"Since he was always nice to me, I used to go to his office just to see him when I wasn't hurt. I also scraped myself a few times just so he would take care of me, and I could be close to him." Sakura wondered if Akane could blush any redder.
Akane watched as Sakura smiled yet looked like she was trying to get away from her as she got up and got out of the tub.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No Akane everything's fine, the water is just getting cold, and I don't want any surprises."
"Oh okay." Akane pouted as she smiled and exited the tub herself. Sakura noticed the pouting yet ignored it.
"I thought you were running away from me because I said that I hurt myself sometimes just to be near Dr. Tofu when I was younger."
"No, I got out because the water was cooling, and I didn't want to embarrass you by turning into a guy with you here in the tub."
"I would not have been embarrassed. Surprised as you said but not embarrassed." smiled Akane blushing again.
"The other reason I am getting out was that you blushed so red, I nearly got burned" snickered Sakura as she dried off. Akane could not help but laugh herself.
"What are you two hens cackling about? How much redder can she blush? I have not heard from you in a bit and this is what you are talking about." Laughed Ranma cutting in on Sakura's thoughts.
"What we are talking about are her and Tofu, and I'm going to kick your ass when I see you brother dear."
Ranma gulped, yet also smiled. "Bring it on sis, you know we're evenly matched."
"Yes, we are but I'm telling Akane what you called her, and you'll have to take us both on." Snickered Sakura.
"The more the merrier." Cackled Ranma.
"Who's a cackling hen now?" intoned Sakura. Ranma stopped laughing.
********** The Next Day Before School**********
"That was not fair, sis." Hissed Ranma.
Sakura and Akane shared a smile as they watched Ranma trying to walk on the fence. "Ranma, how come you're having trouble up there?" asked Akane smiling again.
"You both hit me with different things at the same time, and in the same spot. I think I'm still dizzy!" Ranma shouted.
**********Flashback**********
In front of the bathroom. Ranma waited for his sister and Akane to exit the bath. Sakura still smiling opened the door and was face to face with Ranma. "Who are you calling a cackling hen?"
Before she could answer a plume of water sailed past her and splashed Ranma instantly triggering his curse and turning him into his female form.
"I guess you are!" yelled Akane holding a bucket of water in her hands. As she instinctively avoided the water, Sakura turned away. Akane turned from yelling at Ranma and saw that Sakura just like Ranma had changed.
"Too bad she still has the towel on. I think she looks good as a guy." Sakura watched as Akane was checking "her" out.
"See something you like, or want to see?" Akane was caught off guard by the sudden question and looked from Sakura to Ranma who was eyeing her as she checked out his "sister." Akane not knowing what to say blushed even harder than before.
"Do you happen to have any hot water so I can change back, Akane?"
Akane shook her head and filled the bucket with a little hot water and handed the bucket to Sakura. She upended it and changed herself back. "You know she was checking you out sis, right?"
Sakura hearing this promptly answered, "Yeah I was watching her, I think she's really into boys despite having to fight them every day. She has been watching us whenever we change, I notice she mostly notices us when we are male. She doesn't really care about the female side, just the male." Sakura thought.
"I'll get you for that Akane, this time when I beat you, you'll know you've been whupped by Ranma Saotome." boasted Ranma. As he assumed his posture of superiority, he was immediately floored by a mallet Akane produced out of nowhere, and the stool from the bathroom by Sakura. The last he remembered was feeling smug about getting the better of them.
********** End Flashback**********
"I believe I might have a concussion." Barked Ranma as he almost lost his balance walking on the fence.
"Brother dear, I'll admit we may have hit you a bit too hard. However, if your mouth would not keep writing checks your ass cannot cash then, what happens, happens." Shrugged Sakura.
Akane smiled as she heard Sakura berating her brother. "I thought you loved me?" fumed Ranma.
"Ranma, I do love you, as usual, you just make it easy to want to whip your ass."
"Here's Doctor Tofu's office. Thankfully, he's open just before school starts." Pointed out Akane stopping Ranma from giving his sister the dirtiest look he could manage with a headache. They all walked in and looked around the waiting room. Behind the desk was an elderly woman that looked up from her book and immediately recognized Akane.
"Welcome back Akane, have you any newer injuries the doctor may have to re-set?"
"No, ma'am." Replied Akane bowing low. Watching this Ranma and Sakura bowed deeply as well.
"Who are your friends Akane?"
Akane stood and turned and indicated Sakura and Ranma each in turn. "This is Ranma Saotome, and his sister Sakura Saotome. They are staying at the Tendo Training Hall with my family." Once introduced Akane smiled.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. and Ms. Saotome." She said bowing as well. "If Akane is not here to see the good doctor, it must be one of you fine children."
Ranma smiled sheepishly. "It's me, ma'am, I have a slight headache from a mishap yesterday." Akane and Sakura nearly choked trying to hide their smiles.
"I'll let Doctor Tofu know you are here. Please sit in the waiting room."
Ranma, Sakura, and Akane turned and went into the waiting room. They watched as she left and went to an inner room. "Geez, I hope this doctor can cure my splitting headache." Thought Ranma.
"He should be able to brother dear." Replied Sakura looking around the office at the pictures and posters on the wall.
Turning to look at the wall himself he saw in front of him a skeleton. Ranma instantly freaked out. He not only screeched but he jumped into the air. Sakura hearing him was startled to see a man holding a skeleton
"Hello Akane, how are you doing?" asked Dr. Tofu, still holding the skeleton.
"I am well Dr. Tofu," Akane replied bowing.
"Who are your friends you've brought this morning?"
Sakura bowed and mentioned, "I am Sakura Saotome, and the one hanging from your chandelier is my brother Ranma Saotome." Sakura stated pointing upwards.
Ranma watched the proceeding from his vantage point and was not amused by what had just happened. Cautiously he dropped back to the floor and bowed stiffly as he never took his eyes off Dr. Tofu.
"Great not only do I have a splitting headache from these two, this freaking doctor, has my heart racing like a jackhammer." Thought Ranma.
Sakura fumed slightly, "These two have names." Sakura thought back.
Ranma turned from Dr. Tofu to Sakura. "I know your names. I was just saying that you two caused my headache." thought yelled Ranma.
"Would you like another one, there is a table right here brother dear?" Thought Sakura pointing to the table.
Akane watched as they were verbally sparring within their heads. Doctor Tofu observed them as well. "What is going on with your guests Akane?
"Actually Doctor, that is why we're here to see you. They were cursed-" started Akane.
"Ranma and our father were cursed, I was just an innocent bystander to the chaos! I believe I also got cursed because I share DNA with our idiot father and dimwit over here." Sakura stated indicating Ranma.
"I see, could you please come into the office." Dr. Tofu pointed down the hall. "My office is to the right as you go down the hall." Ranma, Sakura, and Akane walked into the office. They noticed he had charts on the wall.
They noticed the posters and charts had pressure points, chi markers, chakras, and acupuncture points on them. "I guess to be a good chiropractor, you need to know the body." Ranma thought. Sakura nodded her head agreeing with her brother.
"Doctor Tofu, we are here wondering if you can help my concussed brother and our friend Akane with a problem we noticed yesterday?" asked Sakura.
"Surely, I can help your brother. Concussed you say? How did that happen if I may ask?"
Tofu watched as both Sakura and Akane hesitated not making eye contact.
"Okay, girls I think I know what happened." Smiled Tofu. Ranma rolled his eyes. "Ranma is it, you need to duck faster." As he tapped a few places along the side of his neck and upper back.
"Hey, Doc I'm not a pincushion, you know." Stammered Ranma trying to back away.
He then realized he could not move. "I am able to talk and think but I can't move, what gives?"
"He paralyzed you so he can fix your body, dumbass." Smiled Sakura.
"He could have warned me about that," thought Ranma.
"Would you have been so willing had he told you brother dear?"
Ranma thought about it and realized he would not have liked being paralyzed for even a sec much less allowing it to happen. "No Sakura, I believe I would not have let it happen."
"I think you did, since you didn't lift a finger to stop him, did you?" Sakura laughed as she watched Ranma try to fidget but could not.
Despite being angry with his sister, he noticed that his headache was gone. "This guy's good."
"Akane told you he managed her aches, bruises, and injuries for years. I knew he'd be able to help you too." Added Sakura laughing again.
Ranma fumed since he could hear her laughing but could not turn around to look at her. "I hate you Sakura."
"Aw, I love you too Ranma." Akane smiled as she watched the wordless exchange between the siblings.
After a few more seconds Dr. Tofu touched a couple of more pressure points and Ranma was able to move again. "Thanks, Doc, I really needed that," Ranma mentioned turning his head back and forth.
"I know they are not on our insurance, but how much Dr. Tofu." Asked Akane reaching into her backpack and pulling out a card.
"Don't worry about it, Akane. Consider this one a gift for introducing new customers to me." Smiled Dr. Tofu. Akane blushed a deep shade of crimson. Sakura saw this and smiled.
"She says that was a long time ago, but I still think she crushes on him now and then."
Ranma looked from Akane to Dr. Tofu as he assessed his neck and head. "Yes, I think you're right sis. She is definitely acting as if she might still have some feelings when she's around him."
Akane looked at the floor and then at Ranma and Sakura. She noticed she was being watched and blushed even redder. "Dr. Tofu, I have a question for you, if you don't mind."
He smiled as he watched Akane, and then turned his attention to Sakura. "Yes, what is it, Ms. Saotome?"
"Sakura, please, Ms. Saotome sounds too formal, thank you." Smiled Sakura blushed slightly from being addressed like an adult.
"Ranma and I because of our curse can hear each other's thoughts. Is there any way to allow for someone else to hear our thoughts as well as project their own for us to hear?"
Dr. Tofu thought for a moment, and then stood and walked over to his bookcase and pulled one of the thicker books down, and searched through the pages. "Ms. Saotome, I mean Sakura, I have read about something like that being possible. I am not sure exactly how it can be done. If you would like, could you all return to my office after your classes, and we'll discuss this further?" Akane and the Saotomes nodded and bowed again.
"We'll see you later Dr. Tofu." Smiled Akane as she picked up her backpack and turned to leave. When she faced the door, she again noticed Ranma, and Sakura was watching her attentively. Fighting to keep from blushing she motioned and said, "We don't want to be late two days in a row." Ranma and Sakura agreed and high-tailed it to school.
They managed to arrive five minutes before the bell. Akane tensed as she approached the gate. Ranma and Sakura were watching the front door to the school and noticed the boys were not there to attack Akane like they had done the previous day. "Where are they?" Asked Ranma. Akane was wondering the same thing herself.
"Are you wearing the light-colored underwear we talked about yesterday, Akane?"
Akane turned and nodded to Sakura as she stared at the front door to the school. "You seriously talked her into using that ploy if they had attacked her?" Asked Ranma.
"Yes bro, it couldn't hurt. Anything we can do to give Akane an advantage over them." Smiled Sakura.
Ranma shook his head but kept watch on the front door. After a minute, no one came out. Let us get inside and get ready for homeroom. As they walked into the school Ranma looked back to the front gate and noticed a man carrying/leading Kuno to the front door. He saw that Kuno was still walking very gingerly. "Sis, can you see Kuno? I think you broke him."
Sakura turned to the front door and saw Kuno herself. She could only grimace when she saw how he was walking. "Do you think he's stupid enough to try that again?"
Yes, sis, I think he is that freaking stupid."
Noticing them standing in the front hall of the school, Kuno shrugged Sasuke away from him and brought himself to his full height, and promptly bent back over again. "Dumbass." Thought Ranma. Sakura nodded her head in agreement.
Kuno reached into his belt and pulled something out and threw it at Sakura. She reached up and caught the red rose, he had thrown to her. "A plucked rose of exquisite beauty for the un-plucked beauty that is the female Saotome."
"I think I'm going to be sick." Mentioned Ranma holding his stomach.
Sakura looked from the rose to Kuno. "What the hell is your problem? Didn't you get the message yesterday when I kicked your nuts into your throat?"
"I forgive your accidental throttling of my genitals. Would you please do me the honor of going out on a date with me, the most beautiful female Saotome? Asked Kuno bowing slightly mostly from the pain from his injured testicles. Akane and Sakura noticed his bow but misinterpreted his reason for the bow. Ranma seeing this knew he was in pain because of the way he favored his injured giblets.
"My invitation is not just for you, oh no. It is also for you fair Akane Tendo, you both shall have the honor of dating me."
Akane blushed again but this time due to embarrassment. "Upperclassman, I don't think it would be wise. You can hardly walk."
Kuno grimaced as he stood up as continued down the hall. "I shall be mended in time for our date, fair Akane Tendo, and female Saotome."
"My name is Sakura, not the female Saotome!" yelled Sakura. She looked up and noticed Kuno standing before her holding her hand and kissing it.
"Then I definitely accept your acceptance to date me this Friday, Sakura Saotome." Sakura almost heaved when he pressed his lips to her hand. Akane could only gape as he kissed her hand. While she was watching him, he instantly turned and grasped her hand and kissed it as well.
Ranma almost lost his breakfast when Kuno kissed not only his sister but his fiancé's hands. "He is stupider than I thought." Thought Ranma.
Sakura pulled her hand away and immediately rubbed it on her pants. Akane did the same and smiled when they looked at each other doing the same thing.
Kuno saw their smiles and took it to mean they were happy with dating him. "I shall see you two ladies on Friday." Kuno gingerly walked back down to his homeroom as the Saotome and Tendo looked on.
"What the fuck just happened? Asked Ranma.