My Life's Stranger Than Yours
Introductions Abound: Here's Ranma!
Akane and Videl sat in the center of the dojo in awkward silence as a now Male Ranma was hammering planks of wood onto the hole in the wall.
"Alright, finished," Ranma said.
Wiping a layer of sweat off his forehead, Ranma went over to the join the girls.
"So...what're we talking about here?" Ranma asked attempting to break the silence.
"We were waiting for you to finish," Akane answered.
With a bead of sweat falling down is head, Ranma sat cross legged beside the girls.
"Okay, first off, my name's Ranma Saotome and I'm the heir of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts," he introduced himself.
Videl lowered an eyebrow in confusion. 'Anything Goes Martial Arts?' Deciding to ignore that bit of ridiculousness for now, Videl introduced herself.
"My name's Videl and I'm the daughter of the World Martial Arts Champion Mr. Satan."
"Mr. Who?" Ranma asked.
"Nevermind that now!" Akane interjected. "I think you're forgetting something Ranma."
"Forgetting what?"
"That you owe her and me an apology," Akane snapped.
Ranma raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I know why I owe her an apology, but why do I have to apologize to you?" he asked.
"For ruining my match with her!" Akane exclaimed.
"What match?"
"Before you and Happosai came barging in here, Videl and I were having a very serious match," Akane explained.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry already, geeze!" Ranma said raising his hands defensively.
Videl sighed. "It's fine since it was just an accident...it was just an accident, right?"
"Well duh. I was just trying to catch the old man. It's not like I meant to squeeze ya like that," Ranma replied.
Akane quickly smacked him in the head. "Can't you show any manners at all?"
Videl chuckled. "Akane, take it easy. I'm not exactly pleased with what Ranma did, but it happened, I already hit him for it, let's just move on."
Akane was faintly surprised that Videl wasn't as upset about Ranma's place in the previous mess as she was, but ultimately she took Videl's advice and let it go...for now.
"Speaking of that old guy," Videl began. "What was his deal?"
Akane and Ranma both narrowed their eyes. "That old shriveled prune is nothing but an old perverted freak who doesn't know when to beat it!" Ranma said.
"He's more than that," Akane added. "He's also a very skilled Martial Arts master. After all, he trained both of our fathers."
"A lecherous old martial arts master," Videl stated. "I've been there before, but believe me when I say that the one I've dealt with is completely tame compared to...Hype-O-Side?"
"Happosai," Akane corrected.
"Right," Videl paused as she tried to find a proper way tophrase her next question. "So...Ranma, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Was that red-haired girl really you?" Videl asked.
Ranma let out an irritated sigh. "Yeah, it wa-AAAAH!" Ranma yelped as he was splashed with cold water from seemingly nowhere.
"That ought to make explanations easier," said a smug faced Nabiki holding a water bottle.
"Nabiki!" Akane exclaimed.
"What the hell was that for!?" Yelled a now Female Ranma. "And where'd you even come from?"
"Well I was trying to get some snapshots from their fight," she said motioning to Akane and Videl. "But since my camera needs to charge for a while, I thought I'd come back and see if anything else exciting was happening."
Ranma sighed as she squeezed water out of her pigtail. "So yeah. Long story short, this is a curse. Cold water turns me into a girl and hot water changes me back into a boy."
"A curse? Like...like magic?" Videl asked.
Ranma nodded. "I'm not the only one. There are others with similar curses to mine, and they all activate through cold water," she explained.
"So if the curse activates with cold water...I guess that means you're normally a boy?" Videl guessed.
"Now you're getting it," Ranma added.
"So wait...when you transform," Videl added approaching Ranma. "You turn into a girl completely?" she asked placing a hand on Ranma's chest.
"If you're asking if they're real, the answer's yes now can you please stop that?" Ranma asked with a restrained annoyed tone.
Videl grunted. "Well you did it to me first, so now we're even."
Ranma giggled. "Alright, you got me there."
"I do have another question though," Videl said, her face becoming tinted red. "If your female form is really female, did you have to flash your chest like that!?"
'I swear, she's even bigger than Erasa,' Videl mentally added.
Ranma shrugged. "Against the old perv? I do whatever works."
"Well you really need to start finding a better way Ranma," Akane scolded.
"Heh, you're just jealous that I'm still built better than you," Ranma teased, striking a flirtatious pose.
"Why would I be jealous of a half girl like you!?" Akane exclaimed pounding Ranma upside the head.
"What was that for!?" Ranma exclaimed.
"Being a jerk!"
"I'd rather be a jerk than a sexless tomboy like you!"
"What'd you say!?"
Videl sweatdropped as she watched the two go back and forth. Turning towards Nabiki, Videl asked, "Are they always like this?"
"Yup. Hard to believe they're engaged, isn't it?"
Videl paused as she slowly processed what Nabiki had just said. After a few seconds to take it in, Videl exclaimed, "ENGAGED!?"
Videl's outburst caused the bickering Ranma and Akane to momentarily freeze. They both then turned their eyes to Nabiki.
"Nabiki, why'd you have to bring that up?" Akane asked.
"What? It's not like it's a secret or anything," Nabiki defended.
Before anyone could retort, the sloppily thrown back together dojo door slid open (then fell) as Kasumi appeared before the group.
"Oh, are you two finished?" Kasumi asked. "Oh Ranma's back too! Aunt Nodoka sent me to tell you that dinner's almost ready, and the bath's ready if you two want to freshen up a bit," she said to Akane and Videl.
"Will you be joining us Videl?" Kasumi asked.
"I...I'll think about it," she answered.
Kasumi nodded as she left the dojo leaving the group alone.
All four girls shared glances at each other before they all exited the dojo. Nabiki returning to her room, Ranma to the kitchen, and Akane and Videl headed towards the bathroom.
[Meanwhile]
Akane and Videl were in the bath dressing room, undressing. As Akane pulled her gi top off, she let out a disappointed sigh.
"I can't believe we didn't get to finish our match," she lamented.
"Don't take it too hard," Videl replied. "At the very least I enjoyed-!" Videl froze as she pulled both her shirts off and made a startling discovery.
"Enjoyed what?" Akane asked. "Videl? Enjoyed what?" she repeated. Akane turned to Videl to see the girl frozen and it looked like her face was red (again).
"Videl, what's wrong?" Akane asked.
"My...my bra's gone..." Videl hesitantly answered.
"Aren't we about to take a bath?" Akane said confused.
"I didn't take it off yet..."
Akane took a moment to understand what Videl meant, then it hit her. "Happosai...!" she sneered dangerously.
"How!? I know for a fact that he didn't go inside my...! Urgh!"
[Elsewhere]
A small figure sitting at a campfire, took a puff from his pipe. "That new girl wasn't the best, but I'll be sure to have something to remember her by." On that note, he revealed a pink piece of cloth and let out a hearty laugh.
[Back at the dojo]
Akane and Videl sat together in the bathtub, basking in the warmth of the water. The last few moments had been pretty stressful for both of them and they both just wanted to relax right now.
"This is really nice," Videl said. "And after that mess, it's just what I needed."
"I'll say," Akane agreed.
The pair could've just enjoyed the bath in silence together, but frankly, there were still a few more things Videl wanted to know about Ranma.
"So Akane..." Videl started. "You and Ranma are really engaged?"
Akane's mood immediately soured.
"Not by choice," Akane answered. "It's something our Dad's arranged," she explained.
"Really? Hmph, that's almost the opposite of what my Dad did."
"What'd he do?" Akane asked.
"He says I'm not even allowed to date anyone unless he's stronger than him." Videl answered.
'Okay, now that sounds like Kuno's ridiculous rule,' Akane thought. "That's stupid, but it still sounds comparatively better than having your fiancee chosen for you."
"Yeah, but in the end, it doesn't matter what my father says. I have a boyfriend now, and we're happy together," Videl said a light blush on her face. 'The fact that he's way stronger than Dad too is just a bonus.'
"Really!?" Akane gasped, her own face turning slightly red. Truth be told, she hadn't figured a serious martial artist like Videl would have time or much interest in a relationship, but the revelation that she had a boyfriend served to pique her interest.
Videl could only nod with a smile.
"What's he like?" Akane asked.
"All I can say is he's probably the kindest person I've ever met...except maybe for Kasumi."
The two girls giggled.
"I haven't even met the guy and he already sounds like he'd be a better fiancee than Ranma." Akane groaned.
"While you're probably right, Ranma doesn't seem like he'd be a bad choice either," Videl commented. "If you can get past the whole, you know, curse thing, then-" Videl paused.
"Wait a sec, when Ranma's a girl does he-?"
"No, no, he still has a guy's mentality even when he's in female form," Akane answered.
'Well, that explains why he has zero modesty, at least' Videl mentally groaned.
"The curse isn't a serious problem," Akane grunted. "The problem is just...him!"
Videl gave Akane an inquisitive look. "What's the problem?"
Akane sighed. "I don't wanna talk about him right now. For now, I just want to relax a little."
Videl took a mental note on how quickly Akane wanted to drop Ranma as a subject. This really wasn't any of her business, but she was curious about Akane and Ranma's relationship, among a couple of other things.
[Elsewhere in the dojo]
Ranma had gone to the kitchen to fetch some hot water since the girls were currently occupying the bathroom. Once he returned to his male form, Ranma made his way upstairs to Nabiki's room.
"Yo, Nabiki!" Ranma called while knocking on her door.
A few seconds later, the door opened and Nabiki came to greet him. "Ranma, what brings you here?" she asked. "Is dinner finally done?"
"Almost, but that's not why I'm here," he darted into her room, pulling her in along.
"You said you recorded Akane and Videl's sparring match right?" Ranma asked.
"You're in luck! I just finished my first batch of snapshots," Nabiki reached under her bead and pulled out a small stack of photos of Videl and Akane grappling with each other on the floor. "Because you came at such a great time, I'l give you this first set for half price."
"I don't care about that right now," Ranma snapped. "I need to know if you got our fight with Happosai."
"Well, yeah, but I haven't even edited it yet." Nabiki answered.
Ranma smirked. "Good. You think you can show me the playback of a certain part?"
"Of course I can...for 500 yen." Nabiki replied.
"You're a tough chick to deal with, ya know that?" Ranma deadpanned.
"Pay-per-view Ranma, Pay-Per-View."
Ranma disdainfully handed Nabiki the money as the girl picked up her camera and fast-forwarded to the moment Ranma, Akane, and Videl started attacking Happosai. They watched the footage for a couple of minutes before Ranma shouted, "Hold it!"
Nabiki quickly paused the video. "What's up?"
"Go back a few seconds," Ranma ordered. Nabiki sighed but complied.
"Pause it, and then zoom in on Videl."
"What's the point of this?" Nabiki asked. The scene they were paused on was right after Happosai had deflected the bombs back at the three. Ranma could swear he saw Videl do something unusual, and he needed confirmation.
"Play it forward in slow motion and we'll find out."
Nabiki restarted the video and Ranma finally got his answer as he now had a vivid image of Videl dodging Happosai's attaack.
"Ha! I knew it, she was floating!" Ranma exclaimed.
"Okay...why is that relevant?" Nabiki asked.
"Answer me this, did Videl float when she fought Akane?" Ranma asked.
"I dunno, I wasn't looking," Nabiki sarcastically answered.
Ranma pulled out another 100 Yen and scornfully handed it to Nabiki.
"To answer your question, no. Videl was not floating when she fought Akane...although now that I think about it, she did do something similar back in the city?" Nabiki recalled. "Again I ask, why does that matter?"
"There's no doubt in my mind that her floating trick is some kind of martial arts technique!" Ranma answered.
"How'd you come to that conclusion?" Nabiki unenthusiastically asked.
"Call it a hunch, but since people can't usually fly like that, it's the only explanation I got." Ranma replied.
'Also, when she did that, I could swear I felt her ki get lighter. Kind of like the opposite of when Ryoga uses his Shishi Hokodan' he thought.
"Well it makes some sense, since she is a martial artist, but who knows."
With a satisfied smirk, Ranma zipped out of Nabiki's room, slamming the door behind him.
"Hmph, not even a 'thank you.'"
[With Ranma]
Ranma made his way downstairs thinking over his theory about Videl. 'If I'm right, then that girl can somehow use ki to propel herself through the air,' he thought. 'Last I checked, only Herb could do something like that, but that was because he was some kind of dragon guy. If a normal girl like that Videl chick can do it then maybe I can too. I just need her to show me.'
Ranma's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his mother calling. "Ranma, dinner's ready, can you get the others?"
'Although, that can wait until after I get some food,' he thought.
[A few moments later]
Videl was standing outside the Tendo home entrance accompanied by all three Tendo Sisters.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Kasumi asked. "We have plenty to go around."
"Thanks for the offer, but it's getting late and I think I should be heading home now," Videl replied.
"At least take this with you," Kasumi handed Videl a small box. "It's a few slices of the cake you got for us back in the city."
"Thanks!"
'I should be thanking you,' Nabiki thought.
"Videl...I'm sorry how things turned out today," Akane vigorously apologized.
"Believe it or not, I've seen some crazy things that rank pretty close to what I've been to today, if not exceeds them." Videl replied.
"Really?"
"It's true."
"I still wish we could've finished our match at least," Akane lamented. "I wanted to show you what I could really do!"
"I think I have a pretty good idea of what you can really do, but if you really wanna finish our fight, why don't you come to my father's dojo after school?" Videl suggested.
"Really!?" Akane's face lit up.
Videl pulled out a small business card with her father's face on it. "Here's the address. My cell number's on the back, so if you ever just want to chat, we can do that too." she said with a wink.
"T-thank you!" Akane shakily said.
"Well, this has been fun, but I gotta go now." Videl reached into her pocket and pulled out her jet capsule. After getting settled into the pilot's seat, the yellow vehicle levitated into the air and rocketed off in a blaze of flame and exhaust.
"Well Akane." The girls turned to see Nodoka approaching them. "It looks like you made a real nice friend."
Akane's hands shook as she clenched even tighter to the card in her hand. She didn't know how, and frankly she didn't care, but Mrs. Saotome was right. Somehow, she'd just become friends with her childhood idol! Her excitement was through the roof, but she was positive she was hiding it well enough.
"Akane? Why're you shaking?" Nodoka asked.
"Don't worry Auntie Saotome," Nabiki reassured her. "Akane's just feeling a little...ecstatic. Come on, let's go eat!"
"But what about...?"
"She'll eat when she's good and ready," Nabiki said shoving Nodoka into the dining room.
Akane looked the card over once more before placing it in the pocket of her dress. Finally calming down, she went to rejoin the others in the dining room.
[Elsewhere]
Videl flew through the skies of Nerima, on her way back to Satan City. As she exited the city limits, a single thought crossed the young girls mind. 'Just when I thought I'd seen it all this happens.'
"What have I gotten myself into this time?"
[To Be Continued]
(A/N: Ha! You thought you'd have to wait a long time for a new, longer chapter, but...I don't know how to make a 'But it was me Dio' joke out of this. In all seriousness, I started this chapter immediately after the last one. At first I tried to make this an extension of the last chapter, but ending right after the fight with Happosai just felt too right. So anyway, Videl's gotten to know Ranma a little more, but is left with more questions and Ranma has his own curiosity about Videl. Also, while I don't believe Ranma can sense power the same way Dragon Ball Characters do, I know he CAN sense a person's ki when they're using a ki technique, which is what flying is. Case in point, the aforementioned Herb. Tune in next time as, if all goes as expected, the Ranma characters may get a taste of Dragon Ball's craziness)