Midsummer Days
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
6 June 1998 - by HK Miller
Major characters copyright Rumiko Takahashi and licensees:
Shogakukan in Japan and Viz Communications in the USA.
No disrespect intended by my unlicensed usage.
Lemon-scent warning, though this is only a little more
suggestive than the manga.
This is set after Vol 38 and is a sequel to "Much Ado,"
"As You Like It," and "A Comedy of Errors."
Previously, in "Much Ado": Akane and Ranma admit they love each other.
As a result of prodding by Nodoka, Ukyou implicitly recognizes
Akane's better claim to marry Ranma, and Akane impulsively
offers the future position of Ranma's mistress, implicitly
mandated by Nodoka, to Ukyou. Nodoka discovers that Genma
and Soun have never discussed which family name Ranma and
Akane will use after their marriage, and can't agree now.
Then, in "As You Like It": Happosai teaches Ranma the ultimate
technique of the Musabetsu Kakutou Ryuu: his ki-recharge
technique, involving intimate contact with the opposite
sex or their undergarments. Ranma subsequently teaches
Akane and Ukyou. Ukyou and Akane can recharge from any one
male; Ranma is exceptional in being able to recharge
simultaneously from Ukyou and Akane, an ability which
comes in handy when Rouge and Pansuto attack Happosai,
and each other, at Furikan High School. To research
the theory behind the technique, Cologne lends Ranma
a number of books in non-Japanese languages, and a
magical 'rensu' with which to read them. Soun and
Nabiki conspire to adopt Ranma as a Tendo, against
Genma's opposition, resulting in a *very* embarrassing
defeat for Genma.
Then, in "A Comedy of Errors": Nodoka has Genma declared mentally
incapable, and herself declared Saotome clan head. She
then initiates proceedings which result in the adoption of
Ukyou as a Saotome son, with the understanding that Ukyou's
future children by Ranma will be legitimized as Saotomes.
Ranma teaches Shampoo the ki-recharge technique, and finds
that he can simultaneously recharge from all three girls.
Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou all get hired as security personnel,
disguised as female caterers, at a reception for the speaker
at Nabiki's and Kuno's high school graduation. Shampoo is
also in attendence, as a subcontracting caterer, and unveils
her 'Emperor Wu-Ti's New Robes' technique, by which she appears
naked to Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou, though fully clothed to
everyone else. When this fails to attract Ranma's attention,
she resorts to a new passion mix, but, instead of Ranma,
Akane, Ukyou, and Shampoo herself ingest it. This new passion
mix has the permanent, but infrequent, effect of inspiring brief
spells of blind lust for any nude woman in the ingester's sight.
Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou are hired for more security work
over the summer.
These are all posted at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/5058.
Time: Mid-summer, during the summer break of Ranma, Akane, and
Ukyou's senior year. Between three and four months after
"A Comedy of Errors."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Midday, a campsite in a meadow in the mountains. Otoko-Ranma, Akane, and
Ukyou are lying down, face up, on the grass, evidently taking a rest during
a training session. A tent and the remains of a campfire are visible in
the background.
Ranma: I'm glad we had these few days off work. I'm starting to get
tired of spending so much time as a girl. You must really
need the time off, Ucchan: two jobs...
Ukyou: Well, I don't have to be at my restaurant full time any more.
My new assistant cook, together with Konatsu, can keep the place
going for a while. But I have to keep my hand in when we're not
working security, plus working on my kempo skills with you guys.
I *am* tired. I did need this, Ran-chan. It's so nice being up
here in the mountains with you...
Akane: ...Sure is... (puts hand in Ranma's hair)
Ranma: I think both of you are showing a lot of improvement. Akane,
your speed is way up, and you're jumping much higher. Ukyou,
same for you, plus you're still getting better at hand-to-hand.
I'm still not sure your new Saotome School should be "Anything
Goes", though; I think a hybrid approach would work better.
Do you need to get anyone's permission to incorporate Okonomiyaki
style martial arts moves into "Anything Goes" martial arts?
Ukyou: (thoughtfully) Well, I'll ask Dad, my real Dad I mean, not yours...
but I don't think he'll care. He never reached 'master' status
himself, though he is a good fighter. Probably I only need the
permission of the Founder, the master who first combined ninja,
kendo, and kitchen techniques in the first place. He's supposed
to have a Dojo in these mountains somewhere; maybe we can find
him and ask him during this trip.
At that moment there is a noise in the bushes to one side.
Voice: I'm sure the Sumo stadium must be right around here somewhere,
Akari.
Ryouga, Akari, and Katsunishiki emerge from the bushes into the meadow.
Ranma: Ryouga? It's been a while! Where ya headed? Hi, Akari-chan!
Akari: Oh, hello! I think we're a bit lost.
Ryouga: Ranma? Akane-san? What are you doing in downtown Tokyo?
Akane: Ryouga-kun! Akari-san! Nice to see you two. I haven't seen
you since the wedding fiasco, I think. How're you doing?
Ryouga: RANMA! What did you do with the Kokugikan sumo stadium? It
should be right around here somewhere! Katsunishiki has to get
there to defend his championship!
Ranma looks nonplused.
Ukyou: Sorry, sugar, but you may be out of luck. Tokyo is a half-day
train ride from here.
Ryouga hangs his head. Akari puts her arms around one of his.
Akari: Don't worry about it, Ryouga-sama. Why don't we just sit down
and chat with our friends a while?
Ryouga gets a smile on his face and a glint in his eye.
Ryouga: You do that, Akari. I need to do something else. RANMA!
I challenge you!
Ranma: Again?
Akane and Ukyou groan.
Ranma: o O (This should be no contest at all, since I've gotten so much
faster lately.)
(Bounds to feet) Sure, Ryouga, any time!
Akari and Katsunishiki come over to where Akane and Ukyou are now sitting
up. Akari sits down.
Akari: How are you guys doing? Ryouga-sama and I hardly ever see you
guys any more!
Akane: (giggles) We're fine. How are you and Ryouga-kun doing? When
are you two getting married?
Ukyou leans forward, smiling.
Akari: (blushes) We think in a few months, maybe, as soon as Ryouga-sama
can find his mother to ask; we have a lead in Kobe. We found his
father in a forest near Aomori. He was very happy for us. We'll
probably have a small western ceremony as soon as we have his
mother's permission. You guys'll be invited, of course.
Ranma and Ryouga have started fighting. Ryouga can't even come close to
hitting Ranma, and Ranma's blows are wearing away at Ryouga's endurance.
Akane: Let's see... chaos as usual with us. Ranma's learned a few new
techniques. Mariko-san tried to kidnap Kuno-sempai, but we
rescued him. A butterfly escaped from Ryugenzawa and came to
Nerima, followed by a Gecko lizard; they fought and wrecked a
few blocks. Nabiki-oneechan got into Chuuou University; she
wants to join one of the big trading companies after she graduates,
maybe Mitsutomo. My family adopted Ranma, so he's a Tendo now...
(blushes a bit) ...not that we have a new date set or anything...
Ukyou: (elbows Akane, chuckles) Mother and your father will have you two
married right after our graduation, count on it!
Akari: (blinks) o O ("Mother?" Ukyou's agreeing, even pleased?)
...I take it... something else has happened? Ukyou-san?
Ukyou: Oh, right, you wouldn't have heard. Ranma's mother adopted me as
a Saotome. I'm sort of Ranma's brother now, except that Ranma is
now Akane's brother. Hmmm... What else? (looks at Akane)
Akari: ....
Akane: Ranma won a Martial Arts Poetry Composition contest. Ranma fought
Pansuto-kun and Rouge-san again, at school this time. Kouchou
tried to use a cursed bunraku puppet to cut all the students' hair.
Oh, and the three of us got jobs working security at receptions
and conferences. I think that's the main stuff. One real weird
thing: all three of our grades are up, even Ranma's.
Akari: o O (So the official story is that Ukyou-san is now related to
Ranma-kun and they're no longer fiancees. I wonder what the
real story is?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ranma and Ryouga have paused, both breathing hard and looking at each other,
awaiting the next move. Ranma hasn't yet been touched; Ryouga is showing a
few bruises. Suddenly Ryouga smiles, then raises his right hand and points
one finger up.
Ryouga: NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON'T!
Ryouga disappears. Ranma gasps. A moment later, Ranma feels a HARD punch
to his stomach and he goes flying. Ryouga reappears, standing right where
Ranma was.
Ryouga: I'm going to win this one, Ranma! This new technique is
unbeatable!
Ranma: o O (Ryouga learned an invisibility technique? And he can fight
while using it!)
Ranma gets back up and tries taking a very defensive pose.
Ranma: o O (Got to listen, watch the grass...)
This time Ranma hits Ryouga before taking a kick himself, but it's clear
that Ranma got much the worse of the exchange.
Ranma: o O (I'll never beat Ryouga trading blows one-for-one! Try
attacking?)
Ranma charges at Ryouga and leaps. Ryouga disappears, and Ranma takes a
big hit when he lands.
Ryouga: (reappears, laughing) What now, Ranma?
Ranma: Mouko Takabisha!!
Ryouga: Shishi Houkoudan!!
Ryouga goes flying this time, as Ranma's Mouko Takabisha is stronger than
Ryouga's ever felt before, and Ryouga's Shishi Houkoudan is weaker than
usual.
Ryouga: Grrr... Well, I won't try that again. I'll just stick to my new
technique. (disappears)
Ranma: o O (Can't use the Mouko Takabisha without a target. Won't get
the time for a Hiryu Shoten Ha. Ryouga's not doing anything I
can see to copy. What now?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, another part of the meadow:
Ukyou: (blushing) ...and that's why I've stopped going to the public
baths. Now I just use the ofuro at the Dojo.
Akane: ...and my sisters won't take baths with me any more, only Ukyou...
Akari: (wide eyes) ...and it's PERMANENT?
Akane: (also blushing) That's what Tofu-Sensei says. We both had
another checkup last week. He now thinks the frequency won't
decline much over time, but the duration of each episode will
go down, unless... How did he put it? "Unless our minds get
accustomed to these feelings", in which case...
Akari: (sly smile) But I guess you both like Ranma-kun's curse better
now, nee?
Akane and Ukyou both blush very deeply.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ranma has taken a few more hits. Ryouga has also, but the effects are much
worse on Ranma.
Ranma: o O (Got to be some way... Can I use my new speed?)
Ranma suddenly blurs, racing across the meadow, then leaping into a tree.
Ranma: HA! Try sneaking up on me up here, Ryouga!
Ryouga: (Right below) Why? I don't need to.
The tree shudders to a sudden impact, then starts to fall. The trunk has
been severed at shoulder height.
Ranma: o O (Scratch that idea. Use the leaves' green dye?)
Before the trunk has completed falling, the tree has been largely
stripped of leaves. Ranma lands next to the trunk, shredding a green mass.
Ranma: o O (Watch the grass again... Listen...)
This time, Ranma smears the crushed leaves on Ryouga before he goes flying.
Ranma gets up a lot slower. Ryouga is still visible. His shirt now has
wide swathes of green on it.
Ryouga: Grrr... Clever, Ranma, but you're already almost defeated. One
or two more blows...
Ranma: o O (He's right... I'm not sure I can still dodge his blows, even
without the invisibility. I'm hurting.)
Ryouga disappears again. Ranma blinks.
Ranma: o O (What happened to the leaf stain?)
Ranma watches the grass carefully. When Ryouga is close, Ranma is suddenly
thirty feet away, breathing hard.
Ranma: o O (If this fight were serious, I'd go recharge now, but against
Ryouga that feels like cheating. But I can't keep this up; I'm
going to lose unless...)
Ranma runs back to the trees, this time at a reasonable pace. Looking up, he
picks his tree carefully, then jumps up into it.
Ranma: o O (Right. This beehive...)
Ranma grabs a beehive off the tree and jumps back down into the meadow. He
stands still, taking stings, until he sees the grass move towards him, then
throws the hive down at his feet and leaps away.
Ryouga: Ouch! Ouch! Ranma.. Ouch! Ouch! You'll pay... Ouch! for that!
Ranma, twenty feet away, slaps approaching bees out of the air and escapes
further stings. Half the bees are chasing an invisible, fleeing figure.
When his bees are down, Ranma just collapses in place, exhausted.
Ranma: o O (And now I'll have to go find the idiot after I've recovered
a bit, with him invisible yet! But at least I salvaged a draw...)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hours later. Ranma and Ryouga, both battered and stung, have rejoined
the girls at the campsite. Ukyou and Akari have made dinner and everyone
is eating.
Akane: (glaring at Ranma) Hey! I washed the vegetables!
Akari: How far is it to the nearest train station? Ryouga-sama,
Katsunishiki, and I really ought to get going after dinner...
Ukyou: There's a road about five kilometers that way; just follow it. If
*you* keep going downhill you can't miss the road. Then just
follow the road downhill and you'll come to a village with the
station where we arrived.
Ranma: So, Ryouga. Who taught you this technique, and where do I find him?
Ryouga: I just found this Dojo in the mountains on Okinawa a while back.
Master's name is Chingensai...
Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou: CHINGENSAI ?!
Ryouga: Ummm? (Looks at the three) You know him?
Ranma: Same size as Happosai, but with long hair, topknot, and a beard?
Ukyou: Master of kendo, ninja, and kitchen fighting techniques?
Ryouga: Uh... Yes. Why? (looks around, confused)
Ranma and Akane look at Ukyou, who looks back.
All three: You know him too?
Ukyou: Of him; he's the founder of Okinomiyaki Martial Arts.
Akane: (clenches fist) That pervert! He's just like Happosai-ojiisan,
a peeping tom! I don't want to go anywhere near him!
Voice: Ha! Don't mind bein' near you, girlie...
Akane, hearing the voice, grits her teeth and shudders. Ranma
rolls his eyes.
Ukyou: ...Is that...?
Ranma: Yep. Ukyou, meet the founder of your school...
Chingensai materializes out of thin air, standing right in front of
Ukyou, looking intently at her, eye to eye.
Chingensai: (smiling) So who're you, girlie? Who taught you
yer Okonomiyaki Martial Arts?
Ukyou: (uncertain look) Saotome Ukyou, but I was born a Kuonji.
My father and an uncle taught me.
Chingensai: Ha! I remember those Kuonji kids! Not bad, not bad!
Ryouga: What are you doing here? Why aren't you on Okinawa?
Ranma: (whaps Ryouga on head) Baka! His dojo's around here
somewhere!
Chingensai: Just through those trees over there, in fact, about
500 meters along a path. Why don't you young people come
visit me in a bit? Cheer up an old man? Especially you
girlies! (disappears again)
Akari tugs on Ryouga's arm as he glares at Ranma.
Akari: Ryouga-sama, we really need to get going...
Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou wave as Akari leads Ryouga and Katsunishiki
down the hill. Akane's eyes widen suddenly, flickering back and forth
between Katsunishiki and Ryouga's bandanna, visible against his black
hair. They're out of sight when...
Ryouga's voice: WHAT? BOTH OF THEM? IN ONE TENT? HE CAN'T TREAT
AKANE-SAN THAT WAY! RANMA!! PREPARE TO DIE!
(loud crashing sounds dwindle in the distance)
Akari's voice: (faint) Ryouga-sama... Come back...
Ukyou: ...Sometimes I think Akari-san is a real saint to put up with
that jackass...
Ukyou turns to face Ranma and Akane. Akane is glowing blue and glaring
at Ranma with her fists clenched.
Akane: RANMA NO BAKA!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!?!?!
Ranma: (promise-poses, legs akimbo) o O (Uh, oh... Now what?)
Ukyou: (soothingly) Akane-honey, what'd Ran-chan do now?
Akane: HE'S P-CHAN!!! YOU KNEW ALL ALONG!! YOU AND YOUR STUPID
HINTS! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?
Ukyou: (eyes widen) o O (Uh-oh... This one might not be so easy
to smooth over...)
Ranma: (eyes wide with shock) o O (She figured it out NOW?)
Akane... bushido... Ryouga's weakness: dishonorable
to tell... And I gave my word... curse my fault...
Ukyou: o O (One thing I can try...) RAN-CHAN NO BAKA! THAT WAS
*REALLY* STUPID OF YOU!
Ukyou unholsters her battle spatula and swings, blade first, careful
to miss Ranma. Akane, shocked at Ukyou's reaction, stops dead and
stares at Ukyou. Ranma is promise-posed into a pretzel staring big-eyed
at Ukyou. Ukyou carefully glares at Ranma for thirty seconds before
abruptly reholstering her spatula.
Ukyou: Suppose you explain it all to us real slow, Ran-chan...
Akane is still gritting her teeth, but makes no move to attack Ranma
as he explains. As he finishes...
Akane: I am NOT happy about this, Ranma! Have you *ANY* idea how
embarrassing this is for me? You should have just told me!
I'm your fiancee, for heaven's sake; my honor reflects on
you too!
Ranma: (hangs head) Akane, gomen... shitsurei shimashita...
I just... I know. I goofed. I should've just told you.
No-one speaks for a bit. Ranma continues to look miserable. Akane is
sniffling. Ukyou is motionless for a bit, watching Akane carefully,
then gestures so that only Ranma can see it. Ranma slowly moves over
to take Akane in his arms. Akane puts her head on Ranma's shoulder and
starts crying. Ukyou silently stands and moves away.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Later that evening. The Chingensai Dojo. Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, and
Chingensai are sitting around a low table. All four have steaming
teacups in front of them. On the wall hangs a banner reading "Ichiban",
or "number one."
Akane: Master, how did you ever come to found a school of martial arts
based on Okonomiyaki? It certainly seems... not obvious.
Ranma: Was it derived from your invisibility technique?
(flashs back to Soun saying: "Knowing that the best place to hide
is in plain sight, in the Chingensai school of martial arts,
even kitchen items become deadly weapons, these whirling plates
for instance.")
Chingensai: Yep, that was during my 'kitchen period'. I invented
Okonomiyaki style martial arts, Sukiyaki style,
Yakitori style, and Agedashi-Dofu style all about the same
time. That must have been, oh, gee, almost fifty years
ago now...
Ha! I still remember the motto I drilled into each
one of my students, too...
Chingensai & Ukyou: (in unison) "Hungry for more punishment?"
Ukyou and Chingensai fall over, laughing. Ranma and Akane just stare.
Chingensai: (wiping eyes) Heh, girlie, I like you...
Ranma: Jiisan, we didn't realize we were this close to your
dojo. How did you discover us?
Chingensai: Oh, I was just practicing my "now you see me, now you
don't" technique. I kind of get out of practice during
the summer, you know, with the nearby women's college
dorm empty for summer break. And I heard your voices...
Akane: (clenches fist) o O (Good thing we found him before he
had a chance to peep on us tonight!)
Ukyou: (sweetly) ...and did you hear our voices today, or two
days ago when we got here?
Chingensai looks guilty. Akane and Ukyou give Chingensai the
flat-eyed look. Ranma's mind, however, is on another track.
Ranma: o O (This guy's as old as Happosai or Cologne. He must
know a lot. I should pump him for stuff. Got to be
polite, diplomatic, and subtle...)
Ranma: Jiisan, you must know lots of secret techniques. Mind
teachin' us some? Maybe a counter to your invisibility?
Akane flattens Ranma with her elbow.
Ukyou: (smiling, to Chingensai) Please ignore him. We can't
take him anywhere.
Chingensai: No, no, quite all right. I like you three, even if two
of you *are* students of Happosai-kun's "Anything Goes"
school. ...That name was my idea, too... And you've
livened up this old man's boring summer quite well...
Sure! I'll teach you a little something. Anything in
particular? (smiles at Ukyou)
Ukyou looks at Happosai warily. Ranma narrows his eyes as he gazes
at Chingensai. Akane glances at both.
Akane: Ranma badly wants to learn your "now you see me, now you don't"
technique, or at least a counter to it. Ukyou needs to
discuss the techniques she's to teach in the New Saotome
School. I'm happy to just listen.
Chingensai: "New Saotome School"? Not "Anything Goes"?
Akane and Ukyou explain. Ranma, bored, looks around.
Chingensai: Ha! Such a cute little girl, too... A student of my
school... Sure! Love to be your mentor!
Chingensai leaps up and walks around Ukyou, inspecting her. She looks
nervous.
Ukyou: Master?
Chingensai: Heh. Well, let's see how good you are, girlie. Let's spar!
Chingensai suddenly has a short battle spatula in his hands. Ukyou,
smiling again, leaps up and grasps her own. The two face off, then start
sparring. Ranma and Akane, seated cross-legged, watch, Ranma intently.
It takes twenty minutes for Chingensai to disarm Ukyou.
Chingensai: Ha! More rusty with this than I thought! But you're good,
girlie! Very good! I like you!
Chingensai suddenly whips out a few dozen wooden Yakitori skewers and
hurls them point-first at Ukyou. Ukyou parries them all with hand spatulas.
Chingensai: Well, if that don't beat all! Girlie, you may be my
favorite student!
Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou all bigsweat.
Chingensai: But that's enough for a bit. You, young feller, come over
here. So you want to know about "Now you see me, now you
don't"?
Ranma: Err... if you don't mind...
Chingensai: Anything for a friend of Ukyou-chan's! Besides, I taught
that other friend of yours already, might as well teach you.
The counter is to focus your ki into your eyes and
concentrate. The technique itself works by enforcing
disinterest in the subject, so you counteract it by
forcing your eyes to be interested in everything you see.
Just try it. (disappears)
Ranma looks around, trying to see everything, and focusing his ki into
his eyes. At first he can't see Chingensai at all.
Ranma: o O (Wait... I'm sliding my eyes over that spot... Try to
focus on it... force interest...)
Ranma turns to his right a bit.
Ranma: o O (Concentrate... Will my eyes to see... There!)
Ranma points right at Chingensai. Akane looks at her watch.
Akane: I think that's a new record for Ranma...
Ukyou has a funny look on her face. She's looking at the same spot.
Ukyou: Akane? I think I learned it too...
Akane: (astonished look) You too? That fast?
Ukyou: Try it yourself. (points at spot)
Chingensai reappears, then disappears. Ranma's finger tracks his movement
with just a bit of hesitation. Ukyou's eyes move around the hall too, her
face still looking surprised. Akane recalls Chingensai's words and
concentrates. After a bit...
Akane: (surprised tone) Hey... I'm seeing a blur there now...
(pause) This is freaky; you and I aren't supposed to learn
new techniques that fast...
Chingensai: (reappears) Ha! Pretty fast learner, ain't ya? Well, you
won't learn the main technique so fast; maybe we oughta wait
till tomorrow for that. Let's sit back down a bit and chat.
(loud whisper) Any man with a couple pretty girlfriends
gotta preserve his strength, know what I mean? (winks,
nudges Ranma in side with elbow)
They seat themselves around the table again, Chingensai having refreshed
everyone's tea.
Ranma: (hesitatingly) Sensei? Have you ever heard of a magical
artifact that lets the user understand other languages?
Akane and Ukyou give Ranma the flat-eyed look.
Akane: o O (That baka! He's trying to cheat on English tests again!
Why does he need to? His grades this year have been okay.)
Chingensai: Hmmm... Yep, heard legends... Never seen one, though.
Supposedly the Chinese secret society I studied with used to
use them, centuries ago, as ID. Small things, fit into a
ring or necklace. Tuned to individual people, somehow,
and glowed when in contact with those individuals, but
never otherwise. Magical language abilities.
Ranma's, Ukyou's, and Akane's eyebrows rise.
Akane: o O (But that sounds completely different...)
Ukyou: o O (I knew Ran-chan would find a smaller one so
Hinako-sensei can't catch him next time!)
Chingensai: Never heard how they're made. I don't think the society I
studied with ever made them at all. Must be a closely
guarded secret.
Ranma: o O (Hmmm... promising. Now what? Ah, I know...)
Sensei, just supposing... there were a technique for
generating and storing extra ki in one's body... I've
always wondered whether there'd be any side effects.
Chingensai: (laughs) Ha! Worrying about Happosai-kun's health, are we?
Well, I wouldn't. He can't get enough from women's underwear
to have any permanent effects. If you see him start to
touch more women physically, though, I'd restrain him
if you can. He's too old... You have to be young
whipper-snappers, like yourselves, for the real effects...
Especially if you use the technique during sex (winks,
elbows Ranma.)
(yawns) Huh, getting sleepy! Better get on to Ukyou-chan,
then. (beams at her) My favorite student! A real prodigy
with the spatula!
Ukyou: (reddens a bit in embarrassment) Th- thank you, master.
Umm.. I need to discuss the school with you, and what
I may be permitted to teach...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Later, another part of the woods. Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou are walking
back to their tent in the starlight, through the woods. There's no moon
out, but they appear to have no trouble following the correct path.
Ukyou: I'm nervous about this, I'll admit. No permission
to use "Anything Goes"; instead, he's going to visit us
in Nerima every few weeks to help me develop the New Saotome
School. And then the way he hugged me when we left...
Ranma: (under his breath) ...cause he likes you...
Akane: (worriedly) Ranma, what do you think he meant by "real
effects"?
Ranma turns to look at Akane, shrugging, but also looking a bit
worried.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day, morning. Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou are doing katas
in the meadow.
Ranma: 'Bout time to head on over. You guys comin'?
Akane: I'm not. I don't need that technique, and if I do,
I'd rather learn it from you later.
Ukyou: I feel the same way, Ran-chan, but it might be impolite
of me not to go...
Ranma: Ah, don't worry, Ucchan! I don't really feel all that
great about you spendin' time with him either. I'll
tell him you ate Akane's cooking.. OWWW!
Ukyou: ...Ran-chan, did you *really* have to say that?
Ranma is rubbing his head, glaring at Akane, who glares right back.
Ranma: ......No. I didn't. Sorry, Akane. (looks abashed)
Akane: (turns away, arms folded) Ranma no baka!
(but her tone is scolding, not furious)
Ranma grins, says "ja na!", and runs off.
Akane and Ukyou wave, then walk back towards the tent together.
Akane: Arigatou, Ukyou...
Ukyou: (surprised) What for?
Akane: (abashed tone) You stopped another almost-fight between
Ranma and me. You're so good at that, Ukyou...
Ukyou: Now, Akane, it's not just me; you and Ranma are both
working on it hard, and I've see a lot of improvement
in both of you. And I have something to thank you for,
as well.
Akane looks surprised.
Living at your house, with Happosai. I'd never have imagined.
It's only your example and your help that keeps me sane.
I've *never* had to worry about whether I'll still have
underwear in the morning before.
Akane: (giggles) Ojiisan *can* be a challenge...
Oh, by the way... did Ranma remember your birthday? I
reminded him, and suggested flowers...
Ukyou: (giggles) Yes. And how many times has he told you he
loves you this week? It should be three if he's listening...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cut to: the Chingensai Dojo.
Chingensai: There are two parts to my technique. You got to practice
both. One is what I call normal ninja invisibility:
you don't do anything to draw the eye, you remove your
thoughts from your opponent as a person, ideally you
don't move at all. The second part is the way you use your
ki to enforce your opponent's disinterest. You concentrate
on your opponent's eyes, his pupils. You narrow them, so
they can't pay you any attention.
Ranma is intently listening to this.
I got a few exercise you can try. Take you a while.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Late afternoon.
Chingensai: Ha! You're good, boy! I've never had a student learn
this so fast.
Ranma: (smirks) Yeah, well, I learn most techniques pretty fast...
Chingensai: Now better head back; your two girlfriends'll have your dinner
rustled up for you, and you missed lunch. Man with two girls's
gotta keep up his strength!
(slaps knee and guffaws, elbows Ranma with other arm)
Ranma: o O (Wonderful. And this guy's visiting us every few weeks?)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The campsite. Akane is washing vegetables while Ukyou stir-fries.
Ukyou: If Ran-chan masters the invisibility technique today, do you
think he'll try to sneak up on us with it?
Akane: That baka! Sure he will!
Ukyou: Because we never told him that we learned the counter...
Akane: (looks up, startled, then giggles) That's right! We can see
Ranma and he doesn't know it! We can have some fun; what
should we do?
Ukyou: How about...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A bit later. The edge of the meadow. Ranma pauses at the edge,
within the trees, and raises a finger.
Ranma: (whispers) Now you see me, now you don't! (disappears)
A moment later...
Ukyou: (turning to Akane) Hey, Akane, here are some baby
pictures of Ranma! (holds small pieces of paper)
Mother gave them to me.
Akane: Really? Let me see! (hurries over and kneels besides Ukyou)
Ukyou and Akane giggle over the pieces of paper for a few minutes.
Akane: Ah, look: chibi-Ranma's got a dirty diaper!
Abruptly Ukyou covers all the pieces of paper with her hands, and turns
to Akane with a serious look on her face.
Ukyou: Akane, what are we going to do about dinner, though? We've
lost all the food to those monkeys... You and I had lunch,
but poor Ran-chan!
Akane: And then we accidentally spilled water all over Ranma's
sleeping bag... do you think there's any chance it'll dry
before he gets back?
Ukyou: It better... he'll want to sleep outside the tent tonight,
since we haven't been able to get that cat out of the tent!
Ranma reappears right between Akane and Ukyou, fainting dead away. Akane
catches him and lays him down. She and Ukyou cuddle up to him on each
side.
Ukyou: Ah, honey... we'll make it up to you tonight...
THE END.
NOTES:
Regarding the spelling inconsistency, I just think 'Tendo' looks better
than 'Tendou'. Almost everywhere else I'm using the 'u' to
indicate the long 'o' sound, which is why 'Ryouga', 'Ukyou', etc.
'Promise-pose' is the position Ranma characters adopt with their index
and little fingers extended, and often arms and legs contorted somehow.
Chingensai is an anime-only character from the episode "Final Facedown!
Happosai vs. The Invisible Man." My apologies to manga purists, which
I normally am; Lukkosai just didn't work as well.
One concept is borrowed, with modifications, from Dr. Edward E.
Smith. Part of the invisibility explanation is modified from Larry
Niven's "A Gift from Earth".
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