Ranma Half Moon chapter 17, A Love Letter of Mystery and Promise, part 1

Author's note: This episode fits in around the same time frame as Sailor Moon episode 19, Tuxedo Kamen's Love Letter. This arc should be tightly married to the Sailor Moon episode.

Author's note: I now have a fiction press site for non-fanfiction stuff. If you want to check it out, do a search for "resop" at the "fictionpress" website. My story is called "A Dream of Roses". It is about a group of blossoming young girls who are giving it their all for an opportunity to shine brightly as professional wrestlers in Japan.

Author's note: In case you've only seen the dub, the character of Naru Osaka is the character called "Molly". Also, yes, this chapter starts a horrible tendency for cannon abuse!

"Mommy, Mommy, look at all the pools!"

"Naru-chan, I know it's right next to the mine, but those pools might be dangerous."

"But I want to go." Four-year-old Naru Osaka tries pulling her mother down the path but to no avail.

A funny-looking man appears, speaking Japanese with a very heavy Chinese accent. "Good morning! Would you like a tour of Jusenkyo, the Martial Arts Training Camp of Cursed Springs?"

"Mommy, he's funny looking!"

Naru's mother turns red. "Cursed springs?"

The funny-looking man nods. "Yes, yes. Each pool has its own curse. Whoever falls into one of the pools will take the shape of the last thing that drowned in the pool."

Naru's mother's eyes grow wide. "That's horrible!"

"Yes, yes. Very dangerous place. No one come to train any more."

Naru's mother bows. "Thank you, but I am here to dig in the mine down the road."

"Yes, yes. Good choice. Lots of valuable gems in mine. Much safer than this camp."

"Thank you for your time."

"Yes, yes. Come back when you are done mining."

...

Naru Osaka wakes from her nightmare. I know that a normal life for me is impossible, but can't I at least get a good night's sleep?

Naru wonders downstairs in her pajamas. Her mother was long gone, having to be at the Osaka Jewelry store at five in the morning.

Naru pauses by a large uncut gem hanging on the wall. It always brings back memories for her in her half asleep state.

...

"Mommy, mommy! I need some help!"

Naru's mother raises her helmet to see Naru better. It was against my better judgment to bring Naru on a mining expedition, but Naru was so insistent that I couldn't refuse. "Keep at it, dear. All you need is patience. You found it, I want you to bring it home."

Naru keeps at it until she frees the gem from the side of the cave. "I got it! I got it!"

"Naru-chan. I told you not to yell inside of a cave."

"Sorry, mommy." Naru whispers.

"I'm proud of you Naru, it looks wonderful."

...

Underneath the uncut gem is a picture in a frame on the hall table. The picture is a picture of Naru's mother, the Chinese tour guide and a third person in the middle of the picture who is obscured by a shaft of morning sunlight.

...

"Give us those gems or you're dead!"

Two masked men jump out of a tree in front of Naru and Naru's mother.

"Naru, run!" Naru's Mother pushes Naru down the path toward the Tour Guide's cabin.

Terrified, Naru runs as fast as she can.

"Should we get her?"

"Nah, that old guy can't hurt us."

Naru makes it to the cabin and bangs on the door. "Mister, mister, some bad people want to hurt mommy!"

The tour guide comes out. "Oh, you very strange people. This is lawless area. I thought you two were great fighters."

"Can't you fight?"

"Me no fighter."

"What about the pools?"

The tour guide looks at her funny.

"Any great fighter die there?"

The tour guide leads Naru over to a nearby pool and pulls out a tour book. "In this spring six hundred years ago a great fighter training to learn esoteric kung fu drowned. Very tragic ..."

Splash!

"... story. Young girl, you sure are strange one! No one deliberately jump in pool!"

A tall, handsome, well-built male comes out of the pool. Naru-chan's torn clothes hang off of him, barely covering him up. "I'm coming mommy!"

Naru-kun runs over and beats the two road side bandits to a pulp.

Naru's mother is on the ground hiding her eyes while this is going on. She finally peeps. "My hero! Who are you?" Naru's mother notices that the man has Naru-chan's clothes on. "What did you do to my baby!?"

The tour guide runs up with a pot of hot water. He pours it on Naru-kun and he transforms into Naru-chan.

...

The shaft of light moves to reveal the person in the middle of the picture is Naru-kun, wearing one of the tour guides spare changes of clothes. Naru's mother had mailed the tour guide a large sum of money for his help.

Naru sighs. I saved her mother back then, but now I live with a horrible secret. Were there others like me living with such a curse?

Naru walks into the kitchen. There is a note on the kitchen table.

"This came for you last night."

Naru looks at the letter underneath the note. It is a love letter from Tuxedo Kamen.

To be continued!