AKANE IS ENGAGED TO…
FEMALE RANMA!
CHAPTER 2
PREVIOUS CHAPTER REVIEWS/COMMENTS
FFN Mugen-Muse: Heh. Well, this story has definitely taken an interesting turn. Though I wonder if Kuno will hear of magic water that could "help" Akane. Either way, I look forward to seeing more.
Response: Though I did consider as to where the cursed water would come from, that is not what I decided upon. But that would be funny and totally in character for a nutcase like… anyone in their family. It does also make me curious as to what Kuno mother was like, I can't recall if she canonically declared dead or not, but she had to be her own kind of crazy given what her husband and children are like.
FFN Zero testarossa: This is so stupid...I want more
Response: Thank you, that is why I love this series. Every time I read a chapter of the manga, I first thought 'God this is so stupid' but then I would be like 'I want to know what stupid thing happens next and if it can top the previous one'. It is so stupid and crazy that you cannot help but laugh at it. Plus, it comes with the benefit for anyone writing fanfiction to go nuts with their ideas and the characters to not stray too far off from cannon to become essentially OC... unless they are a bad writer. In which case even this series cannot be a miracle worker.
AO3 flanbell: Your fanfic is so cool omlll
Response: Thanks for the praise, and if your liking it so far just wait till we get to the second main arc. Also, cute Shampoo animation for your profile image, I always loved her character more than Akane but slightly less than Ukyo. Hell, even Nabiki ranks higher for me than Akane, with her being second to last on the list as far as I am concerned in terms of girls who liked him. Kodachi just barely beat her due to being too crazy for a female main lead in a romantic comedy.
AO3 Hermione_Blackwood: Interesting idea but that just feels so mean to akane. Idk your plans for this fic, but a logical continuation here that helps akane could be: ranma takes the kettle from kuno and just yells "this is all a misunderstanding, just watch!" And she becomes a he and goes "see? This is how our dads engaged us, because of this stupid curse! Akane actually is a girl!" And so because everyone's dumb, they accept that akane's a girl but still think ranma is too, cursed to turn into a boy. And kuno being kuno, he still believes his own version, but at least the class doesn't think that about akane. It's just an idea. I just feel bad about akane having that sort of rumor, that would be so cruel. I'm still interested in where this goes but that idea immediately followed after reading it so I thought I would share it in case you wanted to try it
Response: That would be an interesting idea, but sadly that is not where this is going. Also to keep in mind, you said 'logical continuation' but the student body and teachers in both show, and manga have proven to be anything but logical. Also, I don't do it this way to bash Akane, but I just felt that for a story where she learns to better understand Ranma. She needs to walk the metaphoric mile in his shoes.
It will help take her ego down a few pegs to stop instantly thinking the worse of him in situations just because he is a guy and make actually trust him enough to listen to his advice or his side of a story.
Case and point, the episode where she first fought Shampoo. She knew she couldn't beat Ranma if he fought her seriously, and yet ignored him when he warned her to not fight Shampoo, even going as far as to punch him out a window and throw a table at him.
AUTHORS NOTES
I loved the responses I got so far from the story, and have a minor announcement to make that everyone might like. Though not fully written, rough drafts and keys ideas have been planned out for the remainder of the first main arc and the start of the second main arc. So I hope you all enjoy what lays ahead for the story.
JAPAN FURINKAN HIGH
COURTYARD
THIRD PERSON POV
As soon as classes got out Akane immediately grabbed Ranma by the back of his shirt and dragged them out as fast as possible. Akane heard some of the girls warn her to be gentler with her fiancé, but she couldn't care less at the moment. Right now, escaping Kuno and the horde of idiots who will likely follow them was her top priority. Unfortunately for her, the PE Teacher tried to stop them with him holding up his hand right as they were about to reach the gate after pushing through the mob of students.
"Hold it! I heard about your engagement and the truth, Akane Tendo. Just because you pretend to be a girl does not mean you can use it as an excuse to rough with another girl like they are-" he did not get to finish as a panda ran up behind him and backhanded him into the tree beside the inside of the gate.
Before either student could respond, the panda who was Mr. Saotome lifted them both up over his shoulder to sit there, as his other hand he held a tea kettle. A tea kettle that had a suspiciously similar looking face imprint in it that reminded the two of a certain swordsman from earlier. He would have arrived on time earlier, but a police officer saw him running with a tea kettle and stopped him. Though it was only a few minutes for him to get past the officer, it was too late as he saw the PE Teacher pulling Ranma. Who was in his female form, into the school calling them by name.
When he was dejectedly walking back, Kuno had come flying out of nowhere hitting the tea kettle and almost breaking it. The moment he saw the injuries on the young man, as well as his son's bad handwriting on his forehead, the father knew something was wrong. But the same police officer from before spotted him and accused him of attacking the young man, causing him to run away again.
"POPS!"
"MR. SAOTOME!"
Ranma and Akane both exclaimed in surprise as they saw him and he lifted them, only to suddenly use the damaged and now completely broken tea kettle to block a sword thrust. A sword thrust clearly aimed for Akane but could have also hit his son as well if he did not turn around and block in time.
"SO, THOU ARE TRULY THE PET OF RANMA SAOTOME! EVEN SO I WILL NOT SHOW MERCY IF YOU TRY TO PROTECT THAT FOOLISH YOUNG MAN PRETENDING, THOU IS A WOMAN!" Kuno told them, a fire in his eyes that, for lack of a better word, had scared Akane. Who had never seen Kuno look at her like that, and she could tell that for once he attacked her seriously, actually intending to cause harm to her.
Though he did not have the same natural talent his son or his friend's youngest daughter did for martial arts. Genma Saotome was still skilled with many years of experience to back it up. So, would he lose to Kuno? If he held back maybe, but so long as he took them seriously, it was so one sided even he would consider it bullying.
With a growl he deflected the sword downward and jumped up before delivering a kick from under Kuno's jaw. This had sent the young man flying just overhead of the horde of students Akane fights regularly. Despite them surrounding him however and still in his larger panda form, he was still highly fast and agile.
While his friend had focused on a rooted defensive fighting style, he chose to master a fighting style that was closer to their master, favouring mobility above all else. This mastery of his craft did not go unnoticed as he took out four or five students at once with a single attack. Helped due to his size and strength in panda form being superior to his human form, making his attacks stronger than usual.
"THAT PANDA IS AMAZING!"
"DO ALL PETS IN CHINA GET TRAINED IN MARTIAL ARTS TO DEFEND THEIR OWNERS?"
"HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A PANDA MOVE LIKE THAT?"
"IT MUST BE USING THE SAME MARTIAL ARTS RANMA DOES WITH HOW SIMILAR IT MOVES TO HER."
"Do you think those idiots will finally stop after losing to someone's pet in a fight?"
"Probably not, they were too stubborn to give up until now. So why would this stop them?"
Both the boys and girls discussed not caring for their fellow students who took part in the horde that bothered Akane every morning up till now. Luckily for Ranma and Akane, the vice-principal had no issues with what happened.
A panda beating up his students? As far as he was concerned it was a good way to teach them a lesson. Though he was concerned about the Chinese embassy giving them the third degree for abusing a panda. Under the impression most of them gave a damn about pandas enough to cause political issues over a random one in Japan.
Once all the students of the horde were defeated, the panting and exhausted Genma rushed back home. Hoping for an explanation as to what his son tried now to break out of the engagement and shaming their family in the process.
JAPAN
TENDO HOUSEHOLD
(EARLY AFTERNOON TO EVENING)
THIRD PERSON POV
As soon as they got back, Kasumi boiled some water for the two Saotome men so they could all talk about what happened, with Nabiki arriving right on time.
"So boy, you mind explaining why… YOU TRIED TO GO TO SCHOOL AS A GIRL TO BREAK OFF THE ENGAGEMENT AND REVEAL YOUR CURSE TO EVERYONE IN THE PROCESS!?" Genma in a furious and intense tone questioned, pulling his son up by the collar of his shirt.
"YES RANMA, EXPLAIN YOURSELF THIS INSTANT!" Soun Tendo demanded of his future son in law, upset that he may have ruined his daughter and his family reputation.
But to the surprise of the two men, Nabiki slapped them upside the heads and pulled Ranam behind her. "He didn't do anything, it was Kuno and the teacher's faults… and partially my own." Nabiki told them, seeing them turn their fury at her along with her little sister.
"IT'S BOTH YOUR FAULTS!" Akane exclaimed as she tried to punch Ranma only for him to pull Nabiki aside with him in a bridal carry as simply dodging it would make her get hit. As much as he was mad at her for telling everyone about the engagement, he could tell she was genuinely sincere about her mistake when she admitted to it. It was also obvious she did it by mistake, he also made his share of stupid comments that snowballed before today, so he knew how she felt right now.
"Now, now. Before you all get more violent, let Nabiki, Ranma, and Akane explain themselves." Kasumi told them, making it clear by the order of names that she thought Ranma would give a more honest explanation unlike her furious little sister who was blinded by anger.
It took them a while, but eventually Nabiki was able to reveal her mistake and apologize once the interruptions were done.
Ranma looked conflicted for a moment before sighing. "Well, they were probably going to find out about the engagement anyways, and its not your fault the teachers refused to listen to me when I tried to explain it to them." He told her, rubbing the back of his head.
"YEAH, RIGHT YOU TRIED TO CORRECT THEM YOU PERVERT!" Akane yelled at him, not wanting to believe him.
"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU I AM NOT A PERVERT!" Ranma yelled back, annoyed she was still accusing him despite how she walked in on him, which despite being her house she knew they had a guest staying with them at the time.
Before it could get worse Kasumi spoke in, a stern tone she rarely used, shocking Akane. "That is enough Akane, poor Ranma was embarrassed as you were when that happened. So, try to think how he felt about it. Now let him explain his side of the story." Kasumi told her sister, making it clear she understood that Ranma was a genuinely good person, but he just had a bit of a temper. Significantly less than her sister that even she had to admit could become a violent maniac for seemingly no or little reason.
Ranma began his explanation with the Kuno fight, the vice-principal and pe teacher, and Kuno outburst that happened in class which was the base of the mess. But as soon as he tried to explain how he made attempts to reveal the curse or correct the other students he was cut off again by Akane.
"YEAH, RIGHT YOU TRIED TO CORRECT THEM! BECAUSE OF YOU THEY ALL THINK I AM A BOY CROSSDRESSING TO AVOID HAVING TO TAKE OVER THE DOJO!" Akane accused him, lifting the table to smack him again with it, splashing him with the now cold tea from their teacups. This was when Nabiki quickly scrambled in front of him, with Kasumi placing her hands on Akane's shoulders, shaking her head in disappointment.
"I know you don't like men Akane, but I believe him when he says he tried to correct them and failed. If you had just got over your embarrassment and tried to speak up like he did, then you might have succeeded where he failed." Nabiki told her little sister, done with her antics.
"Nabiki is right Akane, unless you are going to say that both of them are lying about what Kuno said then I can't really find either of them to be completely at fault like you're acting they are." Kasumi told her youngest sister in a soothing voice, getting what she thought was the best response she was going to get.
That response was throwing the table sideways knocking both crying fathers into the pond. Not wanting to talk about this any further, Akane went upstairs stomping her feet, ignoring the two fathers popping up out of the pond.
"OUR FAMILIES AND OUR MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOL HONOUR!" Both fathers exclaimed in unison. With one of them doing it in a growl as both men hugged each other for comfort as they were practically brothers after all the training they did in the past.
Now their concern was not the curse itself, though a bit odd, it would not be a dishonour if people found out like Genma Saotome originally thought previously. His friend spent that morning explaining to him that Ranma behaving like a proper man would make it a minor issue for people to overlook. Something the bald man idiotically, like usual, overlooked like how it was his fault and not his son's fault they were cursed. Their concern was how fast the rumours of this misunderstanding would spread about their children being perverts.
Nabiki let out a sigh at this, offering a hand to Ranma as he got back up. "I may not be a martial artist, and I may be greedy as they get, but I still take responsibility for my actions when they cause problems this bad. I will try to fix this since those two probably can't do it themselves." She told him, pointing out how pathetic their fathers were reacting to this news.
With a gulp, Ranma responded as clearly as possible. "My future is in your hands, Nabiki." Ranma told her, before he noticed the time. Nabiki and Kasumi noticed it as well, going wide-eyed.
"Oh dear, I haven't started dinner yet. I also still need to start preparing all three of your bento for tomorrow also." Kasumi said in a worried tone that made you think it was the end of the world.
"I can help you with the cooking so you can get it all done. But fair warning, I can only do basics like making rice or miso soup. Any fish grilling will require me to cook it outside." Ranma admitted, feeling bad he could not help all that much.
"No need to worry, getting help with the rice and soup are plenty of help from you." Kasumi told him, appreciating any help at all.
"Then I will try to clean up this mess before dinner and snap the two idiots over there out of it." Nabiki told them, surprised that Ranma could handle himself that well in a kitchen. But when she thought about it, such basic cooking skills were probably needed for someone constantly traveling like he did.
While all of this was going on, the fathers were lost in their own little world, assuming Ranma went off to the dojo for privacy like Akane did to her room. But rather than her frustrated talking out loud to herself, they spent their time crying and begging their dead (BY THEIR OWN HANDS) master spirit for forgiveness.
JAPAN
TENDO HOUSEHOLD
(NIGHTTIME)
THIRD PERSON POV
Dinner was slightly late, but they still managed to eat before it hit seven o-clock. Akane at least calmed enough by now to come down for dinner, even though she insisted on not sitting beside Ranma or Nabiki that night.
"OH! This is delicious Kasumi; did you try a new recipe for the miso soup?" Soun Tendo asked his eldest daughter, surprised as she never tried any new recipes since his wife passed away years ago. Not that he minded much as her cooking was always delicious and she did alternate what she cooked on a daily basis so they never ate the same thing two days in a row, except for maybe rice.
"Dad's right, it's different but really good." Akane told her sister, wondering if she should try again to learn to cook if her sister is trying new recipes out of nowhere.
"Oh, Ranma made the miso soup." Kasumi said cheerfully, recalling the quick but pleasant lesson of teaching him how to use spices.
"RANMA MADE THIS!" Both father and daughter yelled back in response, making the other three at the dinner table wince.
Genma Saotome on the other hand could not believe Kasumi when she told him this. "HOW DARE YOU MAKE HER LIE FOR YOUR EGO RANMA! I KNOW YOUR COOKING IS HORRIBLE AND NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AS GOOD AS HERS!" He exclaimed, both upset at his son for taking credit for someone else's hard work, but for also claiming to be doing the work of what he thought should be left to women in the household.
Kasumi who was there with Ranma, gave a pinched glare at Genma Saotome, shocking her family into an eerie quiet that he noticed. "Mr. Saotome, the reason Ranma cooking was barely passible was because on the road, all you ever gave him was the bare minimum to cook with like salt and pepper. And that was if he was lucky. No roadside meal prepared with so very few ingredients cannot compare to a proper meal made in a restaurant or at a home. So do not yell or blame Ranma for something that was your fault as a parent." Kasumi told him, hating that he was insulting Ranma and denying the effort and natural talent the boy had for learning to cook as quickly as he did.
Genma fell back on his ass, defeated as he could not argue with Kasumi any further or risk truly insulting his friend's eldest daughter and the only cook that was in the house.
"He also made the rice. He was very helpful in the kitchen, and it was quite fun cooking with him." Kasumi said smiling, thinking that this was how her mother felt when she cooked with her.
"Well, it was partly my fault that you couldn't make dinner on time, the least I could do was help you cook." Ranma lightly laughed in embarrassment at the praise he got for what he thought was a basic life skill. But also, happy that someone not only praised, but also defended him for once instead of picking at a fault of his or telling him he had to do better.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU BOY! I TAUGHT YOU TO BE A BETTER MAN THAN THIS!" Genma Saotome complained, his fire returning to him as he began getting in a position indicating he was about to stand up. Before he could stand up, he was splashed with a bucket of water and had the bucket itself thrown at his face by Nabiki.
"Last I checked, most professional chefs are guys, so I don't see why it makes him less of a man to help his sister-in-law cook dinner." Nabiki told him, getting sick man this or man that, if Ranma wanted to cook for them then that just meant less she would have to do in the future. Dinner became awkward and silent that night, with Ranma wanting to get away from their dads by helping Kasumi finish the bento boxes and cleaning the dishes. It was also partially because of how late it was and wanting to help Kasumi be able to get to sleep not too late.
"So Nabiki… where did the bucket come from?" Akane asked her sister.
"Plot convenience, don't question the author, it's bad for your mental health." Nabiki told her, making Akane worry that her sister hit her head earlier and hid it.
CHINA
THIRD PERSON POV
Ryoga Hibiki had been through a lot because of Ranma Saotome, at least in his mind he had been through a lot because of Ranma. But now he can add being attacked because he got mistaken as a friend of the annoying bastard. Even if he did help walk him home a lot of times when they were younger and were told to come home early.
"YOU TELL WHERE RED HAIRED PIGTAILED GIRL IS! NO PROTECT HER!" A girl with knee-length dark purple hair called out to him, getting into a fighting position as she stood in his way. It was styled with a fringe, had two strands hanging in front that are secured with ties making her seem even longer than it probably was. She wore a metal breast plate over her shirt like she was some sort of ancient female warrior, and her dark pink eyes burned with a fury deep enough to make even him step back unconsciously after meeting them.
Ryoga growled in frustration as this girl was like a brick wall when he was three years old, after he turned four, he started to become able to dent those brick walls. But this was the first time he would admit to not being able to literally smash his way through an obstacle other than Ranma. "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU!? I WANT TO GET REVENGE RANMA SAOTOME AND THAT PIGTAILED GIRL!" Ryoga told her, with her seemingly unable to believe he would chase someone as far as China because of the fact he was Japanese.
But right as they were about to trade blows again it began to rain, and she knocked his umbrella out of his hand. In mere moments he turned into a little black piglet, making the girl stop. When she tried to pick him up, he tensed up, but unlike the panda that tried to eat him, she looked at him curiously and smiled something wicked.
"I see, you fall in cursed spring. Pig tailed girl name Ranma responsible… have idea maybe you like. Shampoo is name." she told him, finally introducing herself to him after chasing him for three days. Cautious of this crazy Chinese girl, he listened to her broken Japanese as she explained her plan to him after bringing him and his stuff to a place to set up camp out of the rain.
She even helped to make a quick dinner for the two of them to share as they tried to talk more. Despite it being made of mostly nearby edible plants made into a soup with a small amount of rice to accompany it. It was incredibly delicious, far more so than what he could ever make with the same ingredients.
"So why exactly do you want to kill Ranma." Ryoga asked her, getting a tale of a random red-haired pig tailed girl calling herself by the same name as his rival, along with a panda eating her prize of food. Then according to her the girl had beaten her in a fight, forcing them to abide by her tribal rules to hunt her down and kill her.
She did not want to kill the 'Male Ranma' as she called his rival after finding out they shared a name, but he was fine with that. He would be satisfied if he managed to beat Ranma within an inch of his life after making him suffer hell. As for the red-haired pigtailed girl, or 'Female Ranma' as Shampoo called them, he did not mind Shampoo killing her as she caused him nothing but hell.
If the one that cursed him had been his rival, though pissed to all hell, he would still not want to kill him as Ranma had done some nice things for him in the past. But it would mean an extra hellish beating compared to what he originally intended to give his 'old friend' as that idiot Ranma probably saw.