My Life's Stranger Than Yours
(A/N: First off, let me say that I appreciate the positive feedback this story's been getting recently. Second, in response to Hawkcam1996...well, that Guest reviewer actually got it right. The Z-Fighters erased everyone's memories of Majin Buu's attack with the Dragon Balls so no, Ranma wouldn't remember any of that. Also, to that Guest, it's true Ranma could never catch up with the Saiyans, but what about the Earthlings? Well, that's a question for another time. For now, let's just get on with the current chapter).
Preperations Abound; A Reason To Fight
Ranma and Akane were making their way to school, Ranma as usual, walking on the fence besides her. To Ranma's confusion, Akane had been notably more cheerful than usual that morning.
"Well someone's in a bright mood," Ranma noted. "What's the occassion?"
"Oh nothing much," Akane replied. "I'm just glad I'll finally get to finish my match with Videl after school."
"Really? She's coming over to the dojo again?" Ranma asked.
Akane nodded. "No, I'm going to her place," she answered.
"Oh."
"This time, I won't let anything get in our way!" Akane exclaimed.
"Geeze, I don't think I've ever seen you this eager for a fight before," Ranma stated.
Akane shrugged. "What can I say. It's not everyday you get to go a round with the daughter of a world famous martial artist."
"World famous...?" Ranma paused. "What makes her so special?" he asked. 'Aside from her floating trick?' he mentally added.
Before Akane could respond, the pair found that they'd in fact made it to school, and on time for once. As long as they didn't run into...
"Akane Tendo!"
Surely enough, Kuno had exited the building and rushed right up to Ranma and Akane. As he approached them, Ranma bounded into the air and threw a flying drop kick.
"Mornin' Kuno," Ranma beamed.
"Begone you irritating fiend!" Kuno snapped swinging his sword at Ranma.
The pigtailed fighter kicked Kuno's weapon and bounded backwards off of it, landing back besides Akane.
"I've no quarrel with you right now Ranma Saotome. I only wish to inquire with Akane Tendo about something that has recently been brought to my attention," Kuno stated.
"And what would that be?" Akane asked her arms crossed.
"Please tell me everything you know about the black haired girl in this picture!" Kuno exclaimed.
Kuno reached into his robe and pulled out a photograph of her, Ranma, and Videl standing assembled before their attack on Happosai.
"Hey, that's from our fight with the old freak yesterday!" Ranma noted.
Akane narrowed her eyes as she replied, "Why do you want to know?"
Kuno placed a hand on his hip and hoisted his sword on his shoulder.
"Through the machinations of your sister, Nabiki Tendo, I've been able to witness this mysterious girl in action. That girl appears to have strength and skill comparable to yours, Akane Tendo. Yet she also seems to have grace reminiscent of that of the pig-tailed girl."
Ranma sighed as he was less than thrilled to hear one of Kuno's bogus samurai monologues. Akane on the other hand was steadily getting more and more irritated as Kuno continued.
"I wish to meet this girl in person and witness her strength first hand. Then I will do her the honor of allowing her to go on a date with me." Kuno proclaimed.
Akane sighed as she walked past Kuno uninterested in any of his plans, let alone giving him information to help him carry them out.
"Hmph, forget it Kuno," Akane said. "Helping you make Videl one of your 'beauties' is the absolute last thing I'm going to do."
"Pardon me," Kuno interrupted. "But am I correct in assuming that her name is Videl?"
Akane mentally kicked herself for letting even a sliver of information leak to Kuno. Either way though, she knew it didn't matter.
"It doesn't matter anyway," Akane responded. "Even if you do meet up with her, you'd just be wasting her time since she already has a boyfriend."
Kuno shut his eyes and spoke with the most 'dignified' tone. "Hmph. You are correct Akane Tendo, it matters not. For once she witnesses the Blue Thunder of Furinkan High, she'll realize that I'm much more man that whatever barbarian she currently clings to."
"Yo, Blue Wonder!" Ranma called.
Kuno opened his eyes wide as he felt an uncertain weight on his head. Glancing up, he found that Ranma was perched on top of his skull yet again.
"Cause I know you never pay attention to what others are doin', Akane left already."
Kuno looked around the schoolyard to find that Akane had indeed gone away.
"Ya know, you can probably still catch her if you hurry," Ranma joked.
"Don't dare mock me, Ranma Saotome!" Kuno exclaimed.
Before Kuno could make a move, Ranma hopped off his head and dashed to the school.
"I'd love to play with ya more, but my Mom'll give me hell if I keep gettin' to class late so...catch ya' later 'Senpai'!"
Kuno growled as he tightened his grip on his wooden sword and raced after Ranma into the school.
[Meanwhile]
As Akane strolled through the hallways of Furinkan High, she couldn't help but notice all the looks she was getting from all the students.
'What's everyone staring at me for?' Akane thought.
"Akane!"
Akane turned to see Yuka and Sayuri approaching her.
"Hey girls, what's up?" Akane cheerfully greeted.
Instead of a friendly reply, Akane was met with two pairs of narrowed eyes.
"Akane, how could you!?" Sayuri exclaimed.
"What? What'd I do?" Akane asked defensively.
"How come you never told us you knew Videl!?" Yuka replied.
Akane let out a relieved chuckle. "Oh, so that's it. Let me guess, Nabiki?"
The two girls nodded.
As the trio walked off to their homeroom class, Akane gave them a brief rundown of her meeting with The Champ's daughter.
"Yeah, it's true," Akane began. "My sisters and I went shopping in Satan City and ran into her when we were getting set to go home. After that, she and I had a match at the dojo," Akane paused as she narrowed her eyes at the memory. "Then right when it was getting good, Ranma pops in out of nowhere and ruins it!"
"Really? What'd he do?" Sayuri asked.
"Well he was trying to catch Happosai, so I guess it wasn't entirely his fault," Akane reluctantly admitted. "Still, he wound letting Happosai get all over Videl and ended up dragging her AND me into his fight with him. I just wish he could've kept his chase away from our match!"
"Wow, you really wanted to finish that fight, huh?" asked Sayuri.
"That's an understatement," Akane replied. Though she hadn't told her friends about her admiration for Videl, they could already tell that losing a rare chance to match skills against a famous female fighter like her would be very upsetting.
Although, something about the way she told the story and her current attitude wasn't quite adding up.
"You know," Yuka began. "If Ranma and the old man did all that, I'd think you'd be a bit angrier about the whole thing."
Akane shot the two a sheepish grin.
"Well, honestly I probably would be if..."
"If what?"
"If I wasn't getting a chance to have a rematch with her after school," Akane excitedly said.
"Really!?"
Akane nodded. "Before she left our dojo, she gave me the address to one of her Dad's places in Satan City, so I'm gonna go back there after school and finish this fight!" she proclaimed raising her fist in the air.
Akane briefly got lost in her own fantasy of anticipation as she continued on to her homeroom class. As Akane steadily made her way out of eyesight and earshot, Sayuri asked Yuka, "Do you really think Akane can actually beat Videl?"
"Tough to say, it could probably go either way to be honest," Yuka replied.
"Still, I guess we should just wish her the best of luck."
As the two girls followed their friend to class, a shadowy looking eavesdropper snaked his way in their opposite direction.
[Later that day]
It was PE and the girls were playing volleyball. As the boys sat on the sidelines waiting for their turn, Ranma was approached by Daisuke and Hiroshi.
"So dude, how was she?" Hiroshi asked.
"Who and what are you talkin' about?" Ranma replied.
"Videl stupid!" snapped Daisuke. "We know you and Akane got to meet her!"
"Geeze what's the deal with that chick?" Ranma asked. "She seems cool and all, and she's a pretty good fighter from what I saw, but why's everyone makin' a big deal outta me and Akane meeting with her?"
The two boys stared at their 'friend' with the most blatant looks of 'Are you serious!?' on their faces.
"Ranma, you can't tell me you don't know who she is?" said Hiroshi.
"A martial arts chick who's admittedly kinda cute?" Ranma guessed.
"No she...well yeah, but more importantly, she's the daughter of the World Martial Arts Champion Mr. Satan!" Daisuke answered.
Ranma thought back to the previous day, and remembered that Videl had also introduced herself as 's daughter, as if that was supposed to be important. Ranma's response was, "Mr. Who now? Never heard of him." 'And who the hell names themself after the Devil?'
Daisuke and Hiroshi gave Ranma the most deadpan looks ever following that little 'revelation'.
"Ranma, you're a crazy strong martial artist and you don't know Mr. Satan!?" exclaimed Hiroshi. "I can't believe this!"
Ranma narrowed his eyes in frustration. "Look guys, why don't you stop acting all surprised and tell me who this Satan guy is and why I should care!"
"Dude, Mr. Satan is said to be the strongest man on Earth!" Daisuke began. "While it may be exaggeration a little, he is still undoubtedly strong," he paused. " You see, around 8 or so years ago, he defeated a monster called Cell that wiped out a bunch of cities and even threatened the whole world!"
Ranma raised an eyebrow in with a hint of both interest and skepticism.
"Okay, beating something that ripped up a city or two I can buy, but who or what the hell has the balls or insanity to threaten the whole world?" Ranma exclaimed.
"Look it up Ranma, it really happened. Although back then, we'd all have been kids," Daisuke recalled.
"Well, that at least explains why I'm outta the loop," said Ranma. "I was on a training Journey with my old man 8 years ago."
As the two boys turned their attention back to the girls' game, Ranma began to process the new info he'd received.
'Hmmm...all this sounds like something out of a crappy shounen manga,' Ranma thought. 'Then again, I've had my share of 'Shounen Manga' moments like with Herb, Pantyhose Taro, and that Orochi, so I guess I can't really talk.'
Ranma paused in his thoughts and glanced over at Akane who was still in the heat of a fierce volleyball match.
'I already wanted to meet that chick again myself so she could show me her floating technique. But now, I'm curious to what her old man's made of too. Akane's goin' to her place after school so maybe she'll let me tag along.'
As Ranma continued to watch Akane and the other girls continue their game, he couldn't help but flinch as he witnessed Akane spike the ball hard.
'Then again, after that mess last night...maybe not,' Ranma thought. 'Oh...whatever, I guess it wouldn't hurt to just ask. I just gotta make sure I ask nicely.'
His plans for the day laid out in his mind, Ranma laid back on the grass to enjoy the rest of the girls' volleyball game...or take a nap. Whichever he was in the mood for.
[Afterschool]
The school day had let out without much of a hitch and Akane was out the door in a flash, quickly followed by Ranma. As the pair rushed home, Ranma attempted to talk to Akane.
"Yo Akane, wait up!" he called to her.
"What is it Ranma, I'm in a hurry!" Akane called back.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," he replied. "I know you're going to see Videl again, and I wanna go with ya'!"
"Not a chance Ranma!" Akane snapped.
Ranma hopped off the fence he was currently running on and landed next to the sprinting Akane.
"Why not?"
"After all that crap yesterday, I'm not letting you ruin my match again!" Akane answered.
"Oh you know that wasn't my fault!" Ranma exclaimed. "Besides, you're not the only one who wants a match with that chick!"
Akane slowed her sprint down to a casual walk. Ranma did the same, giving them a chance to continue their conversation at a more favorable pace.
"Wait a second Ranma, why do you want to fight her so badly?" Akane asked.
"That's my line," Ranma responded. "I asked you earlier, but you never answered."
Akane sighed. She'd already told her sisters, though it's not like it was ever really a secret anyway.
"Fine. The reason I've been so eager to have a match with her is because she's actually someone who inspired me to become a martial artist," Akane answered.
Ranma raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Wow...that was...unexpectedly kinda deep."
"Now do you get it Ranma?" Akane asked. "I thought yesterday would've been my only chance to go toe-to-toe with my childhood hero, but luckily I got a second chance, and I don't want anything to screw that up."
"No problem, I get it," Ranma assured her. "Believe me, if someone tried to screw with one of my fights with Ryouga, I'd wanna kick their ass too."
"Don't you fight Ryouga all the time?" Akane asked.
"Yeah, but thinking back, we don't have too many real showdowns. Most of our fights just sorta happen outta the blue." Ranma replied.
"Back on topic, why do you wanna fight Videl so badly?" Akane asked.
Ranma crossed his arms. "I saw the replay of our fight with the old man, and I don't know if you noticed something, but there was something she did in that fight that I wanna know more about," he answered.
"What'd she do?"
"When Happosai threw his bombs at us, she dodged them by floating in the air."
Akane had an expression of disbelief on her face.
"Ranma, what are you talking about?"
"I'm serious. I saw her float, and Nabiki can back me up on it, but the thing that interests me is that her floating move is some kind of Ki Technique," Ranma explained.
"A ki technique?" Akane asked, now invested.
"Yeah. When I saw her do it, I also felt her ki get lighter, and I've seen someone use ki to launch themself in the air before."
"Really? When?"
"Remember that time I got locked in girl form by that guy from the Cat Cafe?" Ranma said.
"The Cat...Oh!" Akane recalled a robed figure from the Cat Cafe. While she had seen many of Ranma's more intense battles, his fight with that guy was one that she'd missed.
"That Herb guy had a unique quirk to him, so at the time I thought only someone like him would be able to do that, but if a normal looking girl like Videl can do a similar move, then you better believe I wanna try it too!" Ranma proclaimed.
Akane took a moment to think about all Ranma had told her. While the thought of people flying sounded kind of farfetched, she couldn't deny that she's seen way stranger things (Ranma's curse for instance). Also, if Ranma was right and floating was simply some kind of martial arts technique, then maybe...just maybe...
"Ranma!" Akane exlaimed.
The pigtailed boy flinched as he hadn't expected Akane to be loud.
"W-what!?"
"I changed my mind, I'll let you come along with me," Akane stated.
"Wha-? Really?"
"Don't get the wrong idea though," Akane interrupted him. "I'm only agreeing so I can keep an eye on you."
"Wait, whadaya mean, 'Keep an eye on me?'" Ranma asked.
"If I said 'No' and stuck to it, you'd have probably followed me anyway and done something stupid to ruin our fight again," Akane replied
"Stupid how?"
"Oh I don't know? Maybe something with one of your brilliant disguises?" Akane sarcastically remarked.
Ranma sheepishly put his hand behind his head and let out a nervous chuckle. 'Am I really getting that predictable?'
"Chill out would ya? I already said I wasn't gonna mess with ya." Ranma said defensively. "Look if it'll make ya feel better, maybe I'll go fight her old man while you're having your big rematch. I've heard some things about him from the guys, and I wanna see how much of it's true."
Akane grinned. "If that's your plan Ranma, then I wish you luck, you just might need it. I know you're really strong, but Mr. Satan's the World Martial Arts Champion for a reason."
'Although, if anyone realistically had a good chance of beating him in a fair fight, Ranma would definitely be high on that list.' Akane added. 'Buuuuut...he doesn't need to know that.'
"In that case, I'm gonna have to go all out!" Ranma proclaimed.
Ranma dashed off as the Tendo Dojo steadily came into view, Akane in hot pursuit.
[The Kuno Manor]
A dark clad figure snuck it's way into the Kuno manor where Tatewaki Kuno himself stood in the yard, his sword drawn before a dummy of Ranma
"Kuno-senpai!" yelled the dark clothed boy.
"Gosunkugi, what business have you here?" Kuno asked uninterested. "Can't you see I'm busy prepping myself to finally strike down Saotome?"
"Yes, of course, but I bring news that may be of interest to you!" Gosunkugi pleaded.
"And what news would that be?"
"Akane and Saotome are about to head out to see that girl from the picture Nabiki Tendo gave you."
Kuno's eyes widened in interest. "Is this true?" he asked turning to face him. Gosunkugi nodded his confirmation.
"Interesting indeed," Kuno said stroking his chin. "You! I want you to follow them and tell me where their destination lies!" he ordered.
"Yes sir!" Gosunkugi hopped over the fence, leaving the estate as Kuno went back inside.
'That fool better not screw this up,' Kuno thought. 'If he returns with the information I seek, I shall go intoduce myself to that Videl girl, and she can have the honor of loving me along with Akane and the Pigtailed Girl!'
As Kuno drifted into his own deluded daydream he let out a loud hearty laugh that was silenced by something droppig in front of him and exploding in a puff of smoke.
"Oh Brother dear, must you be so loud?" exclaimed Kodachi from the side. "I'm busy working on a new cookie recipe for Ranma Darling and you're boisterous laughing is distracting me!"
Kuno was unable to reply as the smoke from the bomb took it's effect and left him utterly paralyzed.
[Meanwhile]
A familiar young pair exited a bus after a surprisingly lengthy ride, arriving in Satan City.
"Huh. I know this place is named after that Champ guy, but it's WAY too nice here to be called 'Satan City'" Ranma stated.
"I know right?"
Akane pulled out the card Videl gave her yesterday and glanced over the address. "According to the card she gave me, the place we're looking for shouldn't bee too far from here."
"Alright then, let's get goin'!" Ranma instantly bounded off.
"Hang on Ranma, I'm the one with the directions!" Akane called chasing after him.
"I'll find the place. Who do you think I am, Ryoga!?"
"Ranma!"
With that, the duo raced off to reunite with their new friend.
(A/N: Okay, I'm gonna be straight, this Chapter is...basically all set up and a little exposition. I didn't even mean for it to come off like this, but ultimately I felt it was a necessary evil. After all, you can't have good action without some preparation, right? Yeah, this is undoubtedly going to be the weakest Chapter in this story, but hopefully, I'll be able to get to the fun stuff soon after...if I'm not distracted with Dragon Ball FighterZ! Seriously that game is SICK! It's already my second favorite DBZ Game (No. 1 is Infinite World for anyone who's curious) and it just came out. So, Ranma learns a bit more about Videl and her father and Kuno has his eyes set on Videl. Stay tuned as next time, Ranma and Akane return to Satan City and meet Videl again...for real this time, I swear.)