My Life's Stranger Than Yours
Ranma vs. Goten; What Is This Incredible Power!?
Akane stared wide eyed at the scene. Complying with Goku's request, Ranma had attacked Goten with a serious punch, but not only did he defend against it, his counter attack knocked Ranma down...hard.
'What in the world-!?' Akane thought. 'Ranma just got taken down...by a little kid?'
"What...what just happened!?" she exclaimed.
"Looks like Goten got in the first hit," Gohan replied.
"Yeah, but something tells me Ranma may have still been holding back with that last attack there," commented Goku.
"Wha-!? How are they not-!?
"Akane," Videl placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Videl?"
"Believe me, I was just as surprised as you when I first saw Goten fight, but if you thought that one punch was shocking, then you'd better strap yourself in, because you haven't seen anything yet."
Akane looked at Videl with an expression of disbelief. "Believe it or not, this isn't the first time I've seen Ranma get beat by a kid before, except last time Ranma had lost all his strength and become extremely weak."
Videl paused and looked at Akane increduously. "Excuse me?"
"It's a long story. My point is, no little boy should be able to do that to Ranma so easily!"
As Ranma got to his feet, he rubbed the sore spot where Goten had punched him.
'What the hell happened?' he thought. 'Why does my face hurt so much? That kid couldn't have done that...could he?'
"Hey, are we still fighting?" Goten asked.
Ranma narrowed his eyes as he clenched fist tight, his hand shaking.
"Lucky shot..." Ranma muttered. "I held back a little cause your a brat...but this time, I ain't pullin ANYTHING!"
Ranma sprinted towards Goten and fired off another punch that the miniscule saiyan simply sidestepped. Ranma followed up with another punch which Goten deflected.
"Not this time! Kachu Tenshin Amaguriken!"
Ranma fired off punch after punch at Goten at inhuman speeds. To both Ranma and Akane's surprise, Goten was defending from them fairly easily.
'How is Goten/this kid blocking all that/this!?'
With each punch Goten blocked, Ranma steadily got more and more irritated, his eyes narrowing all the while. Stepping forward, Ranma attempted to try overwhelming Goten with pure pressure. Without realising it, his strategy appeared to be working as his attack speed began gradually increasing and Goten started to fall back.
"I've had...ENOUGH!"
With that frustrated yell Ranma pulled back and fired his own 'lucky shot' that nailed Goten in the face and forced him back a few inches.
"How'd ya like that!?" panted a smug faced Ranma.
"Ranma, don't gloat you jerk!" Akane yelled from the sidelines. "You just beat up a little boy!"
As Ranma's breathing began to slow, Akane's words began to sink in and Ranma's expression changed to one of frantic panic.
'Eep! Oh crap she's right! What've I done!?'
A guilt ridden Ranma slowly started approaching Goten who was shaking his head from Ranma's last attack.
"H-hey...you alright little guy?" asked a genuinely concerned Ranma.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" replied a surprisingly spry Goten.
"Oh, phew, that's a relief," Ranma sighed. The pigtailed fighter then did a double take as he glanced at Goten and realized what he'd just said meant.
'Wait, a second...he IS fine! Like...totally fine!' Ranma noted.
'Ranma's attack barely even phased him!' Akane mentally added.
"Hey Ranma, if you don't get serious, I think you're gonna regret it!" advised Goku.
'What?'
Ranma turned to Goku in surprise then back at Goten. He still didn't get why Goku was so adamant about him fighting Goten seriously, although after going that last round with him, he was beginning to see why.
"Alright then, this time for real!" Ranma proclaimed.
Leaping into the air, Ranma struck with a flying drop kick which Goten dodged by jumping. Using the momentum from his previous attack, Ranma bounded off the ground and leapt after Goten, firing off another punch at Goten.
The young boy avoided Ranma's attack by hovering and allowing himself to roll backwards in midair. As Ranma's attack whiffed and flew past Goten, the small saiyan countered by charging up his power and rocketing himself at Ranma. Unprepared to react, Ranma took the full force of Goten's skull crashing into his midsection.
Falling out of the sky, Ranma quickly fixed himself in midair and managed to land on his feet. Once he touched ground however, he hugged himself and fell to his knee with a strained grunt.
'Damn...what is this kid!?' Ranma thought. As Ranma tried to plan his next move, his attention was turned upwards by a still airborne Goten.
'Wait...he can fly!? Just like Videl and Gohan!?' Ranma noted. "So that's it..." he muttered under his breath.
'This kid can use ki too, and from the looks of it, he's pretty darn good at it.' Ranma thought. 'Well if that's the case, then I guess it's fair for me to do the same,' he smirked.
"Hey kid, you gonna hang up there all day, or are you gonna come back down here and fight!?" Ranma taunted.
A determined Goten flashed an excited but serious grin. "Okay, here I come!"
Goten let his energy flare before he rocketed himself downwards in a veritable freefall. The others watching expected Ranma to try and dodge, but to their surprise, he stood his ground and took a defensive stance with his hands pulled back.
"What's Ranma doing?" asked Videl.
"Looks like he's gearing for some kind of counter attack," noted Goku.
Akane watched the scene with a shred of worry evident on her features. 'Why's Ranma using that attack!?' she thought. 'He's just a kid...but then again...he's been outfighting Ranma this whole match so maybe...I don't know what to think anymore!'
'I probably shouldn't be using a move like this on a little kid, but judging from what's been going on thus far, he probably won't be too hurt from it. If he does however, then I apologize in advance. For now though, I'm gonna hit this kid with everything I got!' Ranma internally monologued.
Ranma held his ground as Goten quickly approached. As the young saiyan's descent steadily picked up speed, Goku and Gohan noticed that Ranma's energy was increasing rapidly.
'Ranma's energy is increasing?' they thought. 'I could feel he was stronger than most other Earthlings, but I didn't think he had this much power in reserve,' thought Goku.
'I wonder what he's preparing to do,' added Gohan.
Time seemed to slow as Goten nearly headbutted Ranma yet again. This time however, Ranma was prepared to strike back. Once Goten was barely a few inches away from Ranma, the pigtailed fighter steeled himself, and quickly thrust his arms forward shouting "Moko TAKABISHA!"
A bright yellow flash of light erupted from Ranma's hand and enveloped the both of them. In the next instance, the light's intensity flared up before resulting in an explosion that blasted Goten away causing him to hit the ground.
"Goten!" yelled Gohan.
"What...what was that!?" Videl exclaimed.
"Whoa! I didn't know Ranma could use an energy attack," noted a surprised Goku.
Videl let out a small inaudible gasp as she turned to Goku. 'No way...Ranma can do that too? What about Ryoga then? If they fight each other so often does that mean he can as well?'
After picturing Ryoga firing off an energy wave, Videl shook her head. She'd worry about that later. For now, she just wanted to focus on the battle currently taking place between Goten and Ranma.
Akane took notice of everyone's reactions to the last string of events and made a few mental notes. 'Despite the initial surprise from Ranma's last attack, they don't look too concerned about Goten's well being,' Akane noted. 'Do they really think he's alright after that attack, or are they just careless?'
While Goten picked himself up off the ground, Ranma panted as he lowered his smoking hands. "Heh, sorry I had to do that to ya kid, but if it makes ya feel any better, I only use that move on really strong opponents," Ranma taunted.
"Really?" came a surprisingly upbeat response.
Ranma raised an eyebrow as, despite some damage to his outfit, and a few minor indications that he'd taken some damage, Goten looked to be largely unharmed.
'No...freaking...WAY!' Ranma internally yelled.
"He's...alright..." said Akane.
"That's it Son, now show him what you can do Goten," Goku quietly stated.
"Man, I didn't think you'd use an attack like that!" Goten said dusting himself off. "But now it's my turn!"
Ranma paused. "Wait...your turn?"
Goten cupped his hands together and pulled them back.
"Kaaa...mee..."
To the Nerima fighters' surprise, the space between Goten's hands began to illuminate as a small ball of blue light formed.
'I...don't believe this!' thought Ranma.
Akane couldn't even comment as all she could muster was a string of surprised gasps.
"Haaaa...meee..."
The light from Goten's hands began to shine brighter and brighter at the last two syllables before the light all but engulfed his hands in a brilliant blue glow.
"HAAAAAA!"
Goten thrust his hands forward releasing a blue stream of energy right at a stunned frozen Ranma.
"Ranma look out!" Akane shouted.
Making the only play he could think of, Ranma jumped up high to avoid the blast. To his surprise, Goten appeared out of seemingly nowhere poised to strike.
"Hyyyyyyaaaagh!"
Raising his hands, Goten brought both fists down hard on Ranma's head laucnhing him back to the ground. This time however, Ranma couldn't recover and he hit the ground, face first with a hard THUD!
"Ranma!" Akane exclaimed rushing to his side.
"I think that may be enough for now. Hey Goten!" Goku called.
As Goten rushed over to his father, Gohan and Videl went to go check on their defeated friend.
"Man...that fight was more intense than I thought," said Gohan.
"I'll say. Who knew Ranma could use the same kind of moves you guys can?" Videl replied.
"I was surprised when he told me he was familiar with energy, but I didn't think he actually had his own finishing move to boot too," said Gohan.
The couple paused as they witnessed Akane kneel down beside Ranma.
"Ranma...are you alright?" Akane asked.
Ranma slowly but surely began to pick himself off the ground, and judging from the look on his face, he probably wasn't alright.
"Do I look alright?" Ranma replied.
Akane narrowed her eyes. "Well excuse me for worrying," she snapped. "After all, you took a pretty harsh beating from Goten just now."
STAB!
Ranma flinched as Akane's words hit home.
"Yeah...go ahead and laugh why don't ya?" Ranma growled. "I just got my ass kicked by a seven year old!"
Akane paused for a few brief seconds before letting out a light snicker that quickly turned into a small giggle.
'I didn't think too hard about it until just now but he's right...Ranma just lost a fight to a seven year old...and he was being serious!'
"Whatcha laughin' at Akane!?" Ranma yelled.
"Oh nothing," Akane innocently replied.
A vein popped on Ranma's forehead as he scrambled back to his feet. He was about to retort, but was cut off by Videl.
"So Ranma...great match there," she said giving a thumbs up.
"What, are you gonna laugh at me too?" Ranma asked crossing his arms.
"Why would we do that?" Gohan interjected. "You actually did a lot better in that fight than I expected."
Ranma's eye twitched as he processed what Gohan had just said.
"What's THAT supposed to mean!" Ranma yelled.
Even Akane had to do a double take to make sure she heard that right. She'd been so busy taking in Ranma's 'humbling' experience, that she almost forgot about the impossible truth that lay before her.
"That actually reminds me," she interjected. "How is Goten that strong? Having skills at his age is one thing, but no seven year old should have his kind of raw power."
'Sure, seeing the novelty of Ranma losing to a kid is great and all, but honestly, no little boy should be able to come close to Ranma's strength like that.'
Gohan began to sweat a little. He was so caught up in the battle, that he'd forgotten to think of an excuse for Goten's insane power. Thankfully, Videl stepped in and gave an answer for him.
"Practice, sparring, and plenty of milk."
"Like Hell!" Ranma and Akane both yelled.
Though Videl couldn't help but chuckle, the questioning came to an end by the timely arrival of Chi-Chi who stepped out of the house with a couple of welcomed announcements.
"Hey girls, Ranma, your clothes are dry, and all of you, hurry and get cleaned up and changed, cause dinner's ready too!"
"Alright!" Goku and Goten exclaimed.
"Finally!" Gohan sighed. 'Perfect timing Mom.'
As the saiyans strolled off, Videl motioned for Ranma and Akane to follow them. "Come on you guys, let's go before those three take everything."
The pair followed after Videl, but a single thought crossed both their minds. 'We are NOT done talking about this!'
[A few moments later]
"Whooooaaa!"
Ranma and Akane stared wide eyed at the veritable smorgasbord that Chi-Chi had prepared. Everything from meat to buns to vegetables and everything in between was present.
"Chi-Chi, I think you've outdone yourself," complimented Goku.
Chi-Chi crossed her arms with a satisfied grin on her face. "Well we have guests tonight. With the way you and the boys eat, I couldn't just let you three take most of the food yourselves, so I made extra sure there'd be plenty for everyone."
"Uh Ms. Chi-Chi, with all due respect, don't you think this is a bit much?" said Akane.
"Nonsense. I've cooked bigger meals for smaller occassions before. This is nothing," Chi-Chi replied. "But that's enough chit-chat, dig in everyone."
"Alright!"
The trio of saiyans wasted no time in grabbing plates and filling them to capacity before subsequently scarfing down food at crazy speed. Gohan being the more well mannered one, at a slower more controlled pace, but still insanely fast.
Ranma and Akane both paused as they witnessed the pure spectacle that was saiyan consumption of food.
'What...what...even IS this!?' Akane questioned, her eye twitching.
To her surprise, she glanced over to see Videl eating rather nonchalantly in response to the saiyans' savagery.
'How is she not even phased by this!?'
Though initially just as shocked as Akane, Ranma shrugged it off and began to help himself to the food on the table.
'Hmph. Might as well get what I can.' he thought filling up his plate. After taking his first bite, Ranma also began to stuff his face at a faster than average pace...for him at least.
"Ranma, can you at least try to show some manners?" Akane scolded.
"Lay off would ya. I'm not in the mood," Ranma replied through chewing.
Akane was about to retort, but she quickly realized why Ranma was eating so aggressively. 'He's probably still upset about his fight with Goten,' she thought.
With a sigh of surrender, Akane grabbed her own plate, filled it with food and began eating with the others.
[A few moments later]
Ranma was getting to work on his third filing of food with Akane on her second.
"Ms. Chi-Chi, everything here is so good!" Akane complimented.
"Glad you two are enjoying yourselves," said a prideful Chi-Chi.
"Never thought I'd say this, but I think you're an even better cook than Kasumi," said Ranma.
Thanks...I think. But who's Kasumi?" asked Chi-Chi.
"My big sister."
"You have a sister?" asked Goku
"Two actually."
"Akane's the youngest of three sisters," Videl chimed in.
"Really?" Chi-Chi beamed.
"Yeah. Kasumi's the oldest and the resident chef of the house." 'At least unitl Auntie Saotome started living with us,' Akane mentally added.
"I've had Kasumi's cooking before and she really is an exquisite cook," said Videl. "Probably the nicest and most gentle person I've ever met too, and she's real pretty to boot."
"Ohh, she sounds like she'll make some guy a very lucky husband," Chi-Chi grinned.
"Yeah. Unlike some other girl I know who can't cook a decent meal to save her life," commented Ranma.
SNAP!
Akane's chopsticks snapped in half as she twitched and clenched her fist tightly.
"Sorry...my chopsticks broke...can I have another pair?" Akane strained through grit teeth.
Everyone at the table sweatdropped as they could sense a certain amount of tension eminating from their guests.
[A few more moments later]
Akane stared in astonishment as Ranma and the Saiyans each placed their now empty dishes on top of an already gargantuan pile of dishes before they each went for what had to be their final serving, judging from the amount of food left. She knew Ranma had a fairly big appetite, as evidenced by his 4 empty bowls, but Gohan and his family (sans Chi-Chi) ate nearly 3 times as much as Ranma in about the same amount of time.
'I don't think I've seen anyone eat that much since Ranma went up against that French guy with the freakishly huge mouth.'
Chi-Chi, with an impressive display of balance, picked up two large stacks of dishes and stepped out of the room and into the kitchen. As she placed the dishes into the sink, she was quickly joined by Videl who had her own stack.
"Hey Chi-Chi, you need a hand there?" the young girl offered.
"Much appreciated," Chi-Chi sighed.
Akane stared at the guys before turning towards the kitchen and darting after Chi-Chi and Videl. "I'll help too!"
A couple of minutes later, the girls had gotten all of the dishes into the sink, but before Chi-Chi could get started in cleaning them, the boys strolled in with the last of their dishes.
"So boys, how was it?" said Chi-Chi.
"Amazing as always," said Goku.
"I'll say," added Gohan and Goten.
"That had to have been on of the best meals I've had in a long while!" Ranma complimented.
"Oh you flatterer," giggled Chi-Chi."
"Thanks for dinner Ms. Chi-Chi, but I think it's about time for Ranma and I to get home," Akane bowed.
"Not yet..." Ranma paused. Turning to Goten, Ranma pointed a finger and declared, "I wanna rematch with you kid!"
Recalling Ranma's potshot at her cooking earlier, Akane decided to take the opportunity to pay him back for it.
"Oh is someone still upset because a seven year old boy kicked his butt earlier?" Akane taunted.
Ranma's eye twitched as he clenched his fist tight. His expression then changing into a twisted grin, he retorted, "Ya know what...I'm not gonna get mad about that. How could I after having great food from a really nice lady? Instead of some toxic slop from an uncute girl who looks worse than the trash she cooks."
CLANG!
The saiyans flinched as they watched a frying pan collide with Ranma's face, knocking him down.
"You wanna run that by me again?" Akane sneered, a pot in her hand.
Rubbing the sore spot on his head, Ranma shot back, "You heard me! You cook like crap and look even worse!"
CLANK!
Akane struck at Ranma with the pot, but Ranma quickly grabbed the pan she threw at him and parried her attack. The two struggled against each other until Chi-Chi stepped in between them, wielding a rolling pin.
"Alright you two, break it up!" she exclaimed.
"Don't look at me, she started it!" accused Ranma
"No I didn't, you insensitive jackass!" Akane shot back.
"I'd rather be a jackass than a sexless, talentless, shrew like you!"
"RANMAAA!"
THWAM!
With a fierce uppercut, Akane launched Ranma through the roof, out of the house, and into the forest.
Everyone in the room froze following Akane's attack, the saiyans all taking a collective step backwards.
'I knew Akane was an intense girl...but not this intense,' thought Gohan, a bead of sweat rolling down his head.
"Hey uh...Goten, I think we'd better go get Ranma back," said Goku.
"Okay."
"I...think I'll call Grandpa and see if he can come fix the roof," added Gohan.
On that note, the saiyans darted out of the room, all three of them shaking.
"Never thought I'd see the day, but I think your friend has an even shorter temper than your Mom Gohan," commented Goku.
"Hehe, and I thought Videl already fit that bill," Gohan chuckled.
[Back in the kitchen]
As the boys disappeared, Akane finally began to calm down following a string of deep breaths.
"Think...you went a little overboard there Akane," Videl commented.
"You heard what he said right!? He totally had that coming," Akane snapped back.
Placing her hands on her hips, Chi-Chi chimed in, "That may be true, but I still think punting him through the roof and messing up my kitchen was way out of line young lady!" putting emphasis on the kitchen part.
Akane let out a sigh. She and Ranma fought on a nigh consistent basis, and though not all of their bouts end with Ranma going skyward, she knew that Chi-Chi had a point.
"In any case, until Goku gets back with Ranma, Akane, you can help me with the dishes. Do that, and we'll call it even for the hole in my roof." Chi-Chi ordered.
"Yes ma'am."
"I'll help too Chi-Chi!" Videl interjected.
"Oh I appreciate the thought Videl, but this is Akane's debt, you shouldn't-"
"Chi-Chi," Videl cut her off. "There's a much bigger than normal workload here, trust me, even with Akane's help you'll need the extra set of hands. Besides, I've done this song and dance before and I've got nothing better to do."
After taking a short pause, Chi-Chi gave the girls a warm smile. "Well if you insist." She then tossed them a pair of aprons. "Well you know the old saying. Roll up your sleeves and let's get to work."
All three women immediately got to work on the large stack of dishes, with Videl doing the washing, Akane drying, and Chi-Chi stacking them in place. After a short while, of nigh silent work, Videl broke the silence.
"Akane, do you and Ranma always fight like that? I've seen you two hurl insults before, but that was kind of new," Videl asked.
Akane flinched but didn't answer. That silence however, was all the answer Videl and Chi-Chi needed.
Chi-Chi sighed. "You kids. If you and Ranma both don't clean up your acts, neither one of you will ever get married."
Akane and Videl both froze, the former dropping the dish she was holding.
"H-how'd you know Ranma and I were engaged!?" Akane squealed.
Now it was Chi-Chi's turn to freeze.
"...YOU TWO ARE ENGAGED!?" Chi-Chi shrieked back.
While Videl couldn't resist letting out a grin at Chi-Chi's intense reaction, Akane couldn't help but curse herself after letting that bit of info slip out, cause judging from Chi-Chi's reaction and the expression currently adorning her face, that little fact might've been best kept secret.
'Me and my big mouth.'
(A/N: I'm back y'all! In case you missed the A/N on my profile, my computer crapped out. Luckily I was able to save what I'd already started with this chapter and my most recent one of 'Shattered Academia', but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to update since, if you remember the A/N from last chapter I'm out of work right now and as of this chapter, have had no luck in getting a new job (yet). Still, I had my old tablet to fall back on. It's not my preferred way to type, but it gets the job done. I'll keep trying to update regularly, but my already slow update time may have gotten slower. So onto the Chapter itself, Ranma finally got a taste of what a Saiyan can do and Videl got an even better grasp of what Ranma's really made of. On top of that, Gohan and his family got a sneak peak into Ranma and Akane's general routine and may learn a bit more when everyone's favorite [or least favorite, depending on who you ask] anime housewife starts pressing Akane for all the juicy details she's got. Stay tuned!)