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Ranma 1/2: Kyuudan
A Ranma 1/2 Series
Copyright @ 1997 Mark Ranel M. Lambo (maramala)
All Rights Reserved
Side 1: A Mouse in Hand
*Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and all related characters are copyright (c) 1997
Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty Film, Viz, etc. All Rights Reserved.
Used without permission (and hopefully _they_ won't bother sueing such a
humble homage of their work. :) Everything else is all mine.
Author's Note: If this story ever gets to be recognized as a part of the
accepted Ranma-verse (ha! whenever that will be), this all happens right
before the end of V38 (specifically some time after the "wedding fiasco",
and a few days before classes).
A ** ** indicates the character/s thoughts
A _ _ indicates the word/s are to be stressed
A { } indicates what is written on the signs
A < > indicates animal sounds
A > < indicates special effects
A ' ' indicates a quotation
A / / indicates words translated from another language (i.e. Chinese)
Thanks to Eddyx John Ballesteros (eddyx@durian.usc.edu.ph) for help
and use of his account.
BEGIN SIDE 1
Today began just as it always had. The sun was shining brightly in
Nerima, with a few clouds dotting the clear blue skies. Every once in a
while, a gentle breeze would send the trees rustling. For once, the birds
were actually even singing. Everyone looked forward to a nice and quiet
summer weekend. Unfortunately...
A young man walked to the gates of the Tendo Dojo. The dust swirled
on the dirty red rubber shoes and faded blue jeans he wore, as his leather
jacket swirled in the breeze. He had a canvas knapsack (**Note: obligatory
for all travelling adventurer martial artists -maramala :) slung over his
right shoulder. Sunlight reflected on his mirrored shades as he
occasionally turn his head around. If it were not for the fact that he was
in Nerima and not elsewhere in Japan, he would be totally inconspicuous.
Seemingly a bit confused at his surroundings, he looks up at a sign above
the door.
"Hmm... Musabetsu Kakuto Ryuu... This can't be it." he said,
scratching his head. Smoothening back his spiked hair, he takes out a
little device from his right lapel pocket. Opening it up to reveal a
portable palmtop computer, he flipped the ON switch, and the monitor blinked
to life, displaying a map of the area. He pressed a few commands on the
dimunitive keyboard, frowning at the results displayed on the little blue
monitor screen. "But it says here... must be a mistake... Should've gotten
a local map instead..."
Returning the computer back to his pocket, he started to turn and
leave when a squeaking sound came from his other lapel. He reached inside
the pocket and took out a fluffy little white ball of fur. "Hey, Ne-san,
this isn't the place we're looking for."
The ball puffed out, turning into a cute little mouse. It
stretched itself for a few moments, then looked up at the sign with beady
little eyes as it sat on its hind legs on the open palm of his hand. Its
whiskers twitched.
"See? It says 'Way To Heaven School of Indiscriminate Grappling
Marital Arts Training Ballroom.'"
The mouse facefaulted on his palm.
"Ne-san? Are you alright?"
Recovering quickly, the mouse furiously wrote on a little piece of
paper using a fountain pen (which is a lot larger than itself). The mouse
then gave the note to the young man.
"Oh... I see, Ne-san." the young man nodded, pocketing the mouse
back in his lapel. "It means 'The Tendo School of Anything-Goes Martial
Arts Training Hall'. Oh, well... since that's the case, we better go in
now, ne?.."
Suddenly, a shriek rang out, nearly toppling him. It was followed
by yells and screams of anger from inside. Both the young man and the mouse
froze, taken completely by surprise.
"What was that?" he thought out aloud. "There must be a duel going
on, Ne-san." He then relaxed. "Cool. Let's go watch this."
With that, he slowly opened the door and casually strolled inside.
"That's odd, though." the young man spoke while walking towards where the
source of the screams came from. "That loud scream we heard... it changed
tone right in mid-scream. Strange, isn't it?"
, answered the mouse in agreement.
"Could the rumors be true?" The young man let the statement go
unanswered as he wandered into a garden. "Well," he spoke out aloud,
looking around, "I see that I am in a typical Japanese garden, with trees
placed in natural yet what seems to be strategic locations around the area,
with the dojo proper at one side, and a small carp pond where a young girl
is crawling out of on the other side..."
"Huh?" He echoed, staring at a young, cute-looking readhead,
looking just about a few years younger than him. She was wearing a male
Chinese mandarin outfit, which he could see is dripping wet from her dip in
the pool. The damp red cloth only served to emphasize certain portions of
the girl's anatomy which he could not help but stare at. He stopped himself
from whistling at the last minute, embarrassed at the thought.
After a brief moment, he swallowed and hesitantly spoke to the girl.
"Hello?"
The girl apparently didn't notice him, more preoccupied with
something else at the moment. "Hey, Akane," The girl shouted at someone in
the upstairs window. "Cool off, would'ja! I didn't even do or say anythin'
wrong at all THIS time, y'know!"
"Oh yeah?" another girl answered, leaping down from the second
floor, a weapon in tow. She was wearing a definitely feminine yellow dress,
but her tone of voice and expression on her face says otherwise. Her black
hair was cut short, probably because it would get in the way. He
immediately concluded that she was also a skilled martial artist, judging by
the size of the mallet she was currently holding with both hands.
"Ahem." He pretended to cough, trying to interrupt them.
They weren't paying attention. "You never appreciate everything I
do! Why are you so insensitive!" The girl, whom he deduced as the one
named Akane, ranted. "You are always so inconsiderate to others! Ranma,
YOU JERK!"
"Aw, give it up, Akane!" The girl called Ranma answered back. "At
least you could have warned us before trying to kill us off. That would
have been a honorable way for a warrior to act... but I guess you are just
an uncute tomboy and no martial artist anyway!"
Ranma was having a bad day. It was bad enough that Akane would
occasionally cook dinner, now Akane wants to take over breakfast as well.
**Why does she have to be angry?** he thought. **All I did was make a face
at the sight of the... the... thing on the table...**
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME? Why you rude, sexist... "
"Don't forget, better looking in any form than a certain dumb
kawaiikune I know of."
"...PIG!"
"Hey... isn't that P-chan?" Ranma-chan taunted.
"Um, excuse me?" the young man tried again to get their attention
to no avail.
"DON'T involve P-chan in this, you JEALOUS, pompous, half-man...
JERK!"
"What about my half-woman side? At least, I can do things a lot
better as a girl than you ever will!"
"Why you... you... RANMA NO BAKA!" With that, Akane swung her
mallet directly towards Ranma-chan.
All this time, the young man was observing the squabble between the
two girls. He noted that the girl named Akane was giving off a strong blue
aura, her chi energies focused in extreme levels. What was really odd was
that Akane was seething in rage, yet the aura was of peace and serenity.
Still, the ki output the girl generated was still very much less of a
threat, although the mallet, also surrounded by the same bluish aura, should
be taken into serious consideration. He filed this trivial bit of
information in his head for later discussions with his sensei before looking
over the other girl.
He was startled at the sight of Ranma-chan, who was generating
incredibly powerful levels of chi energy. She wasn't even concentrating
at all during the whole exchange. The young man was impressed at the short
redhead's probable skill and power levels.
What was really surprising, though, was the results of the battle.
Akane was strong, no doubt about it, but Ranma-chan was obviously stronger,
faster and more experienced. Yet not even once did she seriously attempt to
evade Akane's frenzied blows. Even when Ranma-chan finally went down due to
the number of serious concussions she received, Akane continued to pound her
down to the floor.
"How can anyone live through that?" He whispered to the mouse,
frowning.
, the mouse answered, preening its whiskers with its left
paw.
"I guess everybody's busy today... Maybe we'll come back later..."
"Yes?" the young man was startled by a voice from behind him. He
started to do a facefault, but immediately did five backflips and an
acrobatic spin in mid-air, performing the Eagle Kung-Fu stance when he
landed. He quickly glanced down to see that the mouse had already jumped
into his pockets and is now safely out of sight. He tensed when he saw that
he was facing an attractive woman, who looks a lot like Akane but taller and
with longer hair. He could not feel any chi energy coming from her, so he
relaxed as he slowly lowered his defenses.
Still, he remained in his battle posture, not feeling any safer
especially since this girl managed to get behind him without being noticed.
In any other situation, he would be dead by now.
"Who are you?" The girl asked, smiling radiantly.
"I'm sorry about that. It's my training... I mean... er, let's take
it from the top..." Subdued by her smile, he stammered in broken Japanese,
scratching his head. "Ah... I'm Jingai Kanzaki. I'm applying at this
martial arts school..."
*********************
They were all gathered at the living room of the Tendo household.
Jingai had taken off his shoes at the doorway and was seating crosslegged
next to his knapsack while facing the members of the Tendo family. He
immediately got aquainted with them in the short time that he was introduced
to the others. The eldest of the three girls sitting opposite him, who
spoke to him earlier this morning, is Kasumi. The other girl who just came
in wearing a fashionable jogging suit and is now seated next to her is
Nabiki. The third girl, the one with the mallet, is named Akane, who is
seated at his left, currently glaring at a bandaged black-haired pigtailed
boy, who was wearing the same red shirt as the redhead a while ago.
**Could it be..?** He thought. **But _he_ looks a lot older than
her... Jusenkyo?**
**Why the hell's he staring at me for?** Ranma thought to himself,
feeling uncomfortable of Jingai's piercing gaze. **Hey, you! Stop looking
at me like that... Man, I'm still hungry...**
Nabiki was appraising Jingai, nodding every once in a while at a
thought in her mind. She was initally disappointed by the young man's
unkempt appearance, concluding that he wouldn't have money on him, nor would
he have anything of interest to exploit. **Just another wannabe kid hero
who wants to be hot by learning martial arts**, she shrugged. She didn't
believe Kasumi and Akane's description of his entrance at the dojo, being
outside in her usual morning jogging while he arrived, thinking that it
would be nothing more than the usual exaggeration. **If he thinks Daddy's
martial arts is the best, he will be very surprised**, she nodded sagely to
herself.
"Impressive." Mr. Soun Tendo, the owner of the dojo and family
patriarch, glossed over Jingai's voluminous application. "Jingai Kanzaki,
age seventeen. Mastered five different martial arts and seven different
languages at the age of fifteen, graduated high school with honors at
fourteen. Entered eight Martial-Arts tournaments, including the Kakuto
Tenkaichi Budokai, winning five." He was very impressed, although he did not
show it.
**Oh, dear**, Kasumi thought. **I hope this one's not like Kurumi
and Natsume...***
**Hmph!** Akane thought to herself. **His papers sound like what it
is - a brag sheet. What a jerk! He's just like Ranma...**
"Remember, Soun," the other older man with glasses and a white
bandanna tied around his head spoke. "It takes more than fancy words in
flimsy paper to make the man. He must have proof of his actual experience as
well."
**That's a surprise, coming from a impotent old man like you...**
Ranma thought.
"Yes, I know that, Genma." said Soun. He turned to Jingai. "Young
man..." He started, stopping when he could see that this upstart young man
is not paying any attention to what he was saying. He wondered at what this
Jingai was about to do.
Jingai picked up a blank piece of paper and looked at it as if
looking for something. He then started folding it into strange patterns.
"What are you..." Soun asked, curiousity getting the better of him.
Jingai unfolded the sheet of paper and carelessly tossed it upwards
in the air. The paper slowly floated downwards.
There was a sudden movement, and the paper was ripped to little
shreds. Everyone except Jingai froze.
Moments later, the pieces floated down to the table like bright
confetti.
The rest of then weren't able to follow his lightning-quick reflexes,
and only saw a blur, but Ranma, who was observing him the whole time, opened
his eyes wide, stunned at the fact that Jingai only used two fingers of his
left hand in tearing the piece of paper apart in mid-air with surgical
precision. **The guy's a natural ...**, Ranma thought, unsettled by this
recent development.
"Wow." Akane remarked.
"Oh, my..." Kasumi added, her left hand covering her mouth.
Even Nabiki was intrigued. **Now how about that...**
"You are right, sensei," Jingai remarked, smoothening his spiked
hair. "It is merely splotches of ink on flimsy paper." He then picked up a
piece of torn paper, then flung it to the table. Half of the scrap of paper
went through the wood, the other half staying stiffly upright.
Akane gasped.
"But... even the frailest twig can fell the stoutest beast." He
said, smiling.
Genma, with eyes bulging out of its sockets, was starting to sweat.
**The paper went through solid wood...**
"Uh, Jingai-san" Soun repeated, changing his tone of voice. "You
are extremely talented and skilled in your chosen martial arts. Your
abilities have... exceeded the best we have to offer..."
At this remark, Ranma grimaced, then winced at his bruises.
"Why do you want to be a student of this humble dojo of the
Anyhing-Goes Martial Arts School," Soun continued, "instead of setting up
your own?"
The three Tendo sisters tensed as they picked up the change in
tone of her father.
**Uh, oh**, Nabiki thought. **This is it...**
"On the contrary, sir," Jingai politely answered. "I have so much
yet to learn, especially in the ways of the Unrestricted Style of Fighting.
And... I've heard so much about this place. The various... exploits of the
people who lived in the Tendo household has become famous stories around the
world... especially of the one named Ranma Saotome."
Soun began to grin widely, nodding as Jingai turned to a suddenly
surprised Ranma. "You were also cursed in Jusenkyo, are you not?"
"Uh, yeah, but how...?"
"You're that girl dressed up as a guy a while ago, right?"
"Oh." Ranma flinched, reminded by the shame brought by his curse.
"If you want to keep your curse a secret, you should avoid fighting
near a source of water." Jingai suggested, almost reading his mind.
At this, Akane and Ranma glanced at each other. Surprised that
their eyes met, both of them quickly looked away, cheeks turning red. The
others did not notice the brief exchange between them. "I'm... I'm not..."
Ranma stammered.
"Excuse me." Kasumi stood up, carrying the dishes with her.
"Here, Kasumi, I'll help." Akane offered, grateful for the
distraction. They went towards the kitchen.
"About the Jusenkyo..." Jingai spoke. "I am... shall we say,
familiar, with the place. Just checking for some... truth to the stories."
He then dismissed the topic by bringing out a small pouch from his jacket.
"I can pay for the training... and for temporary board and lodgings too, I'm
afraid, because I've just came to Nerima today and I've no real place to
stay. Do you have..?"
"Of course." At the words "pay", Nabiki immediately went into
business mode. "Well, wouldn't you know it?" She spoke. "I just happen to
be thinking of the very same thing at the moment."
Producing some papers and a pen (that she kept around at all times
just in case opportunities like this happen), she began scribbling some
offers. "It's quite a coincidence that we just happen to have spare rooms
in the house available for rent -- for the right price."
"Quite a coincidence..." Jingai nodded. "Let me see that..."
Nabiki handed him the note. "As you can see," she elaborated, "the
place is spacious, with all the comforts you will ever need, like water,
electricity..."
"Wait," Jingai interrupted. "What about the training fees?"
"Oh, that." Nabiki handed out another paper. "Silly me... Here."
"Hmmm... Will you accept gold ingots?"
"Huh? Ingots?"
Jingai poured out the contents of the small pouch, dropping some
little gold tokens on the tabletop. "Real gold..."
Soun choked.
"Um, oh sure, since they're real gold, although I have to charge you
20% conversion expenses on that... let's see, what was that rate again..?"
"2000 yen for one of these."
"Actually, that's 2167..."
"Of course..." Jingai smiled.
Nabiki paused, realizing that she had just been baited, giving away
her knowledge of financial matters. (Rule#1 in haggling: Never show the
fact that you really know what you are talking about. -maramala :)
"Hey... These fees are quite high." Jingai said as he looked over
the papers, interrupting her train of thought.
"No, they're not... Here, let me explain..."
Ranma wasn't able to keep up with the heated discussion the two were
having, and his gaze drifted off to Jingai's jacket. He noticed that every
once in a while Jingai would slowly reach for a handful of potato chips from
Nabiki's bag of snacks and stuck them to his pockets. Since the others
didn't seem to mind, (both Soun and his father had wandered off to one side
to play shogi) Ranma decided that it wasn't important and decided to grab
some chips to satisfy himself.
Nabiki didn't notice Ranma pigging out as she arguing with Jingai on
the total price for the training sessions, board and lodgings. Finally,
after some haggling, they were able to settle on a reasonable amount (to
Nabiki, of course). She drew up a document. "Okay. Here's the contract.
Sign here." She said, grinning as she indicated the spot. Jingai took out
a fountain pen, then proceeded to sign along the dotted line.
Soun was estatic, tears forming in his eyes. Genma silently nodded
in assent, while quietly turning the board around 180 degrees. Akane, who
was just coming in with Kasumi bearing a pot of tea and some cups, looked on.
Ranma noticed that the pen had been engraved (in a feminine script) with the
name "Nezumi Hatsuka". **Odd**, he thought.
"I'll give you a receipt later," Nabiki said as she rolled up the
contract, yen signs dancing in her head.
Jingai bowed, feeling the pinch in his budget. "Arigato." **Guess
I'll have to send an e-mail home for more money. This is really expensive...
I should've exchanged these for yen before I got here. Maybe I should have
gotten a credit card instead, like what Ken suggested... Nahh. O-Sensei
would've disapproved...**
"Since it is still morning, why don't we go practice in the dojo
before lunch?" Akane suggested to Jingai. **Maybe I should give him a
chance, after all, he is kind of nice...**
"Sure, why not?" Jingai replied, who stood up and started to follow
her. He paused for a moment as he glanced towards something in the corner,
then went out after Akane.
Ranma noticed the extra attention Akane was giving this new guy.
"Oi, Akane..." He called after her. **What does Akane think she's doing?
Stupid iinazuke...**
*********************
Kasumi stood up from her seat as the three left. She then started to
gather the rest of the plates and went off towards the kitchen.
Nabiki shuffled the papers in front of her, recalling the brief
conversation with Jingai. **Funny... Jingai lapsed into English several
times, which means there's more than what he's letting on. I mean, he is
even worse in reading Japanese as he fumbled at the document, groping at the
_strange_ kanji all the while insisting that he understood everything on it
word for word as he turned down my offer to help him -- even for free, to
boot. Oh, well. His loss... Strange for a well-educated natural-born
Japanese, who trained in the mountains with rural monks, to have a hard time
reading and writing the native language**, Nabiki thought. **Not even high
school dropouts won't have any problems...**
She paused, staring into the distance. **Unless... He's not telling
everything... I just know that he has something to hide from us... Something
useful...** She smiled.
"There's something awfully familiar about him," Genma said, wiping
beads of sweat from his brow. "Maybe, if we could investigate...?"
"Agreed," Soun added, sipping his tea. "We should find out more
about this Jingai Kanzaki. Something about him seems different, yet
familiar, somehow..." **Thank goodness Master Happosai isn't here...**
**Exactly what I was thinking,** Nabiki agreed. "Alright, then," she
spoke. "I'll make a phone call to some of my contacts, see what they can dig
up." **And maybe get some dirt on the creep, too.** She began to stand.
**This could be very profitable...** She picked up the nearly-empty bag of
chips. **Funny...**
Soun nodded, standing up after her. "Well then," he said. "I'll
check on something else that I remembered. Maybe it will help..."
"Soun," Genma said. "What about the game?"
"Later." Soun replied. "I was winning, anyway..."
Genma watched the three leave. "Kasumi..."
"I have to clean up," Kasumi answered automatically, bringing the
tray with her as she left the room and headed for the kitchen.
They left Genma alone on the living room. "But, but... what about
me?" His eyes darted around the room while trying to avoid looking at the
table and the scrap of paper still embedded in the wood.
A sudden movement caught his eye. He grabbed the nearest object --
a hot metal kettle -- and threw it at a corner, towards the shadow. "Show
yourself, ignoble daemon." The kettle hit something, then fell to the floor,
spilling its hot contents.
"Ow!" An indistinguishable pile fell on the floor next to the
kettle. It quickly rearranged itself to form Kuno's faithful ninja servant.
"You know," he said. "You are starting to sound like my master Kuno..."
"Satsuke," Genma said. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh... Oh... forgive me for my indiscretion, Master Saotome."
Satsuke bowed to the floor, quickly groveling for forgiveness as usual. "I
was merely following the strict orders of my esteemed masters..."
"Kuno sent you?" Genma asked, crossing his arms together. "What
for?"
"He wishes to know about anything odd that is happening in the Tendo
dojo... like the arrival of this powerful stranger today..."
"Obviously... Powerful? You know about this young man, Satsuke?
Who... What is he?"
"I... I can't tell you... At least, not yet..."
"Speak up, else you face my wrath if you refuse to tell me what you
know!"
"Er, um... ah... here, why don't you take my meal for breakfast
instead?" Satsuke offered a bento wrapped in cloth. "I know you all haven't
eaten yet..."
Genma took the packed meal. "You... you're bribing me?"
"No... no, no, no, no. Not at all. It's just... a... a... gift,
nothing more."
"Well, since you put it that way..." Genma quickly unwrapped the
package and just as quickly ate all its contents greedily. Satsuke smiled.
Moments later Genma felt sleepy.
"Huh? What's happening..?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention one small thing... Mistress Kodachi prepared
that herself today..."
"Why, you..." Genma tried to say something else, but his eyelids
felt heavy, and he immediately dropped down on the floor, snoring loudly.
Satsuke grinned. **That was fast... It really was a good idea to use
Mistress Kodachi's food for emergencies...** Then his face darkened, and he
frowned. **Jingai Kanzaki... Master Kuno will be very interested in his
arrival...**
His stomach growled. **I haven't have breakfast yet... Oh, well...**
Taking any evidence of his presence, Satsuke quietly left, leaving a
dozing Genma on the living room.
*********************
Akane was already wearing her karate gi and was doing her kata
exercises when Jingai got to the training hall. **Man, that was fast...** he
thought, watching her for a while. **She looks really good.**
Jingai looked around, taking in every detail carefully. New and old
floorboards and walls formed a complex irregular pattern which appealed to
his sense of aestethics. He was genuinely impressed by the durability of the
structure as a whole as he was feeling the wooden supports. "Looks like the
training hall was constantly used, and also maintained quite regularly," he
said to himself (or, to put it more accurately, to the mouse, but no one else
knows about that -- for now). "Except for that odd shrine in the center of
one wall, it's perfect. I like it."
"Well?" Akane asked. **I wonder how good he really is,** she
thought.
"Huh?" Jingai, distracted by Akane's voice, answered. "Uh... when
does classes start?"
"Doesn't he know it yet?" Ranma, who was just coming in (and
miraculously without his bandages, Jingai noted), asked a confused Akane.
"Hey... Didn't Nabiki tell you?" Akane asked.
"No..." Jingai replied, surprised at the question. The reason
suddenly dawned upon him. "Waitaminute... does this mean Sir Tendo does not
teach classes anymore?"
Both Ranma and Akane nodded, Ranma chuckling at the word "Sir".
"Not regularly," Akane said. "At least, not during vacations. Hey,
maybe you could get special sessions... If you can afford it." She let the
bit about Nabiki go unsaid.
Jingai's heart fell. **Damn...**
"Gomen... But this is a practice dojo," Ranma consoled him. "Maybe
you can brush up on your fighting skills." **As compensation, and I could
see how good you really are... maybe even learn your techniques...**
"What a waste," Jingai said. "I would really like to learn..."
"Learn what?" Ranma leaned closer, intrigued.
"The techniques of the Anything-Goes Martial Arts School, of course.
All of it." Something in that tone of voice did not seem right to Ranma. It
sounded so... dispassionate, almost clinical.
Akane asked, a little impatiently, "Shall we spar for a while?"
"Yes... Uh, could you wait for a moment?" Jingai said, taking off
his jacket.
"All right." Akane agreed. Turning to Ranma, she added, "Ranma?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you judge the match?"
"OK. I'm still resting from the beating _somebody_ gave me, anyway."
With that, Akane frowned at Ranma, who merely shrugged.
Putting his jacket down gently next to his knapsack, Jingai whispered
a few words of reassurance to Ne-san as he was taking off his socks.
Ranma noticed him whispering something to his jacket. **What's going
on?** He wondered.
"I'm ready when you are." Jingai bowed slightly.
Akane went to her fighting stance. "All right, prepare yourself..."
"Begin." Ranma declared.
Akane began to tense, preparing for whatever attack Jingai would do.
Yet Jingai still stood in place, immobile.
"Well?" Akane asked, wondering about his posture.
"Well, what?" Jingai answered, still not moving.
Akane felt insulted by his nonchalant stance, remembering the time
she first met Ranma and how they first sparred. Her anger rising, she swore
that she will not have another repeated humiliation from any man.
She ran towards Jingai. "KIIYYAAAH!"
Jingai's eyes narrowed.
Ranma watched the scene with interest. Jingai was just standing
there as Akane charged, leaping at the last moment to perform a jump kick to
the head. **She's improving...** He marvelled, remembering an earlier, more
clumsier Akane, very different from the fighter she has become now.
In a split second, Ranma blinked -- just when Jingai moved. There
was sudden sound of a body hitting the floor. When he looked again the whole
scene was different. Akane was slumped onto a corner of the dojo a fair
distance from where they were at. Jingai didn't seem to budge at all, still
standing in his position. **Nani?..**
"Akane!" Ranma cried out, fear and concern in his voice as he ran
towards her.
Akane blinked, then looked around in a mixture of shock, fear and
horror. "How... how did he do... OW!" She cried out as she felt a large
bump on her head from hitting the floor.
Ranma went to Akane's side. "Are you alright, Akane?" **You stupid,
stubborn girl...**
"I'm so sorry." Jingai simply said. "I must have done it too
strongly, didn't I? I'll hold back next time."
"You... don't... have to." Akane said, struggling to stand. She
ignored Ranma's offer to help. "I can take it."
"Very well..." Jingai began to change position, using a more
conventional fighting stance. **I have to try to pull back my punches,** he
reminded himself. **No telling how will this match will turn out. It won't
look good if I beat up my potential teachers on the very first day.**
Akane took a deep breath, bowed, and took the initiative by charging
again. "KIIYYAAA...!"
While Akane and Jingai sparred, Ranma was studying Jingai's fight
patterns. He could see that Jingai was using various Chinese Kung-Fu
techniques, attack styles which Ranma himself is familiar with, having used
some kung-fu moves on several occasions. Jingai's techniques were similar to
those Ranma fought while he was in his training trip with his dad in China.
**He's really fast...** Ranma marvelled, feeling a pang of envy hit him.
Akane threw a roundhouse punch, which Jingai blocked easily. He
immediately countered with a Ja-Ken Double, then stopped short from her chest
at the last minute, performing instead a Mantis Slap. The blow was a lot
less stronger, yet it sent her reeling backwards. Not to be outdone, she
spun and performed a right spin kick to his face right after she regained her
balance. He ducked, dodging the blow, then in one fluid motion proceeded to
sweep her legs from beneath her. She started to fall, but managed to roll
away, and was able to stand up... just in time to see him somersaulting
towards her.
(**Author's note: A Ja-Ken, or Snake Strike, is a kung-fu attack
where you strike at your opponent with the tips of your fingers together, the
thumb below them, with the palm open, forming a snake's head. Double strikes
mean that you use both hands. It is most effective when you are aiming at
the vital areas, or are using atemi shiatsu techniques. A Mantis Slap is
basically sweeping your arm at your opponent, your wrist and elbow bent away.
A slow move, useful in a combo to get opponents off-balanced as the martial
artist then performs more damaging attacks. :)
Akane leaped, trying to avoid Jingai. She looked down in horror as
he sprang upwards after her. His feet connected with her rump, as she
started spinning wildly in mid-air. She then felt something strike her from
behind, and the next thing she knew she was lying on the floor. Jingai
landed a few feet away from her.
"Ooohhhh...." Akane moaned.
"Alright, round one's over." Ranma declared. "Point goes to
Kanzaki."
"Did you held back?" Jingai asked Akane. "Or is that the best you
can do?"
Akane, hearing that, became really angry, feeling insulted by
Jingai's apparently callous remarks on her martial arts skill. "I...
never... hold... back..." She stood up stiffly, eyes burning with anger.
"Now... I'm... really... mad..."
Both Jingai and Ranma saw the blue chi energy of Akane's battle aura.
Ranma placed his arms behind his back and leaned on a nearby wall as he
watched the fight going towards the second round with interest. "Uh, oh..."
Jingai watched with amazement at the glow. **Fascinating... Such a
sudden burst of power...**
"HAIAAAH!!!" Akane charged again, her fists blazing blue flames.
Jingai did not evade her slow advance, blocking her hastily thrown punch
instead. He was pushed a few feet backwards from the force of the blow.
"Wha..." Jingai stumbled.
Not done yet, Akane performed a U-punch. Both fists connected and
sent Jingai sprawling. "Wow..." Jingai remarked, rolling away. "Now...
that... hurt."
He stood up, rubbing the place where she hit him. **O-Sensei was
right when he said that overconfidence will be my downfall... I don't think
I'll win this match playing defensive, unless...** He started to draw back,
but stopped himself. **But I can't... I won't...**
(**Author's note: A U-punch, also known as a horseshoe punch, is
actually punching with both fists in different directions forming a U shape
lying on its side, although you do not have to punch both at the same time.
I think Akane used this move in the first Ranma 1/2 movie against Ki-rin. :)
Akane continued attacking as Jingai went on the defensive, blocking
and receiving her attacks. He was starting to have a hard time keeping up
with her frenzied assault, but somehow managed to stay on his feet.
Soon, exhaustion took it's toll on Akane, as she slowed down, the
blue aura fading away. Then she stopped completely, dropping to her knees as
she breathed heavily, catching her breath.
Ranma looked at Jingai. Despite the beating he received from Akane,
Jingai didn't seem like he was even fazed at all. "Er, a draw...?"
The truth is that Jingai was enjoying the whole match. **Wow. It has
been a long time... I never before had a fight with an opponent that fierce
and determined in years.** "That was a great match. You were good, Miss
Akane..." He offered his hand for Akane to shake.
Still on the floor, Akane stared at his open palm, then cautiously
accepted it. Jingai smiled, pulling her up to stand.
"And you were holding back." Ranma interrupted. Jingai turned
towards him as Ranma walked towards them, his smile gone. "You just didn't
take advantage of the situation. Akane didn't even stand any chance at all
against you."
Akane glared at Ranma as Jingai just stared at him.
"If I were a real judge in an actual tourney, Akane would get a
negative technical score, making more lousy mistakes that a _normal_ person
would usually breathe in a minute."
"Oh?" Jingai answered, bowing. "Thanks for the compliment."
Akane turned red with anger, giving Ranma a look that would turn
marble to dust. "Ranma..."
"She's such a klutz, unlike you. You're too good... Why do you want
to be a student here anyway, Jingai? I just don't get it..." Ranma
continued, still ignoring Akane.
"Ranma..." Akane growled, as she raised her right hand in the air.
"I have a lot to learn, Sir Ranma." Jingai simply answered,
picking up his jacket (while noting a sudden burst of ki energy in Akane's
direction).
"Oh? Then why don't you spar with a much more _superior_ opponent?
I'm ready..."
Suddenly, The Mallet(tm) materialized out of nowhere into Akane's
right hand.
"Two challenges in less than a day? I would like that..." Jingai
replied, then moved out of the way just in time as Akane swung her mallet at
them, connecting squarely with Ranma's head.
>WHAM!<
"ARRRGH! AKANE? WHAT IS IT NOW?" Ranma shouted, dodging as Akane
continued going after Ranma.
"Aren't you supposed to be RESTING, Ranma?" Akane angrily roared,
gritting her teeth. "You were hurt a while ago, RIGHT?" She raised The
Mallet(tm) again, readying another blow.
"Aw, that's nothing," Ranma replied, dodging her swing. "The
bruises weren't serious... and I'm a _fast_ healer, unlike some *other* ugly
tomboy I know of..."
"OH, YEAH? WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!!!" Akane screamed, uttering her
usual battle cry. "RANMA NO BAKA!"
"Aw, c'mon, Akane," Ranma said, dodging another swipe aimed at his
head. "I was concerned about you..."
Akane stopped. "Ranma..." She wavered, her eyes brimming. "You...
you really do?"
"Yeah... It would be an embarrasment to the School of Anything-Goes
Martial Arts if you would lose to a beginning student..."
Akane growled and swung hard. This time, the mallet did not miss its
mark.
>WHAM!< >WHAM!< >WHAM!<
Jingai watched the two squabble as usual (if you can call a guy being
chased around with a girl carrying a BIG wooden hammer a usual squabble at
all), and shrugged while the two of them kept yelling at each other and
completely ignored him. **Sheesh... rivals...**, Jingai thought, then
smiled. "This could be fun... I _could_ get used to this."
"Yeah, I know... kinda strange, right?" Jingai sat down, watching
Ranma and Akane fighting each other. "Makes you wonder why..."
*********************
"You sure...? All right, thanks." Nabiki said to the phone. "Call
me if you find anything of interest. OK? Yeah, yeah, that's 40% off your
interest for this favor. Of course I will. Bye."
She sighed as she replaced the receiver on the hook. **That's the
fourth try and still nothing... very strange... maybe I should try to contact
that mountain shrine that was his reference...**
"Nahh," She shook her head, saying to no one in particular. "I
don't think _they_ have any telephone lines there. Still, it doesn't hurt to
try checking it out..." **And while I'm at it, to call on some outstanding
debts some people owe me...**
"Nabiki," Her father called out behind her. "Did you learn anything
new about _him_?"
"No, nothing..." She replied as she turned towards his father who
was walking towards her. She noticed the nervousness in his tone. "Did you
find anything, Dad?"
"Not yet..." Soun said to his practical-minded daughter. "But I'm
sure I knew he reminds me of something... I just can't seem to place it..."
"Maybe he's a gaijin." Nabiki offered. "He certainly looks like
one."
"Perhaps..."
"Father? Nabiki? Time for lunch." Kasumi's voice called out to
them from downstairs.
"Okay."
As they went down towards the living room, Nabiki took out one of the
gold ingots and looked at them, feeling their weight. **Feels real, all
right... Better send these to the jewelry shop this afternoon... Something
tells me I'll be getting more of these pretty soon...**
*********************
"Ranma? Akane? Mr. Kanzaki? Lunch is ready." Kasumi's voice
called out to them.
"Lunch already?" Jingai thought aloud. **Time really goes by fast
around here...** "Coming..."
Jingai went to the Tendo living room, leaving Ranma and Akane alone
in the dojo. **What is between those two?** He wondered. "You know what...
If it wasn't for what happened just a while ago, I could have come to a
conclusion that they were mortal enemies..."
He saw almost everybody was already seated and beginning to eat when
he got to the room. Well almost everybody, since he saw Genma dozing on one
side of the room. "Excuse me..." He bowed, then sat down to an empty place.
"Hey..." Nabiki spoke right before Jingai started to eat.
"What?" He asked.
"Ranma usually sits there."
"Oh, sorry..." He moved out of the way, carrying his food with him.
While they were eating, Soun was trying to wake up a sleeping Genma.
"Saotome... Saotome... Wake up, old friend... It's lunch time..."
Soun shook him several times, to no avail. Genma kept on snoring.
"Strange... Genma never misses lunch... at least, not if he can't
help it..."
"Maybe Mr. Saotome's tired..." Kasumi suggested.
"Perhaps you're right, Kasumi..." With that, Soun gave up and went
back to eating his meal.
**With what?** Nabiki thought, silently eating her food.
Akane arrived. "Sorry I'm late... I had a little _delay_ in getting
here."
"Where is Ranma, Akane?" Kasumi asked.
"Oh, he's cooling off his inflated head, somewhere..." As Akane said
that, Ranma-chan crawled into the living room, soaking wet.
"Ohhh... what a pain in the head... Akane, lay up, will you?"
Ranma-chan rubbed the bumps on her head, then picked up his bowl and
chopsticks and quickly ate. "Hey... Kasumi, this tastes good..."
Kasumi merely smiled.
"Of course Kasumi's food always tastes good, Ranma." Nabiki replied.
"Yeah, at least it's a lot better than Akane's... UMMPH!" Ranma
spoke, but was cut off in mid-sentence by Akane, who shoved a whole bowl of
rice on Ranma's mouth.
"Ranma, don't talk while your mouth is full." Akane said. Turning
to Kasumi, she asked, "Kasumi?"
"Yes, Akane?"
"Have you seen P-chan?"
"No, I haven't, Akane."
"Strange..."
"P-chan?" Jingai asked, curious.
"Akane's pet piglet." Nabiki answered.
"Oh, I see..."
Everyone ate in silence. After a while, Jingai decided to break the
ice. "Uh, can I say something?" He asked.
"Of course you can, Jingai. Anything..." Soun answered, trying his
best not to feel uncomfortable.
Jingai thought for a moment, then began to speak. "Well, I just want
to ask Sir... er, Miss?.."
"Just call me Ranma." Ranma-chan snorted, resisting the impulse to
say something insulting.
"...Ranma, and Miss Akane."
"Yes?" Akane stopped eating and looked at Jingai.
"It's about the both of them, Sir Tendo, Sir... Why do you arrange
the marriage of two people who couldn't even stand the sight of each other?
I mean, is it really a good idea to let them keep on fighting, considering
the fact that they happened to be _engaged_ to each other?"
Soun choked on his food. Nabiki tried hard not to laugh, as both
Ranma and Akane, obviously very embarrased, looked down at the floor, hoping
that nobody would notice them turning a bright shade of red.
However, it was Kasumi who broke down. She started giggling.
"That... That's a... a joke, right?"
The others followed suit, except for Jingai, who was thoroughly
confused.
"Ha ha ha... It's not really like that at all, Jingai. Not at all."
Soun laughed, relaxing a little. "In fact..."
"Oh, dad..." Akane mumbled. "He doesn't know it yet..."
"Tell you what," Nabiki proposed. "Two more of your gold ingots for
the whole juicy story. Deal?"
"Uh... well..."
"Nabiki." Ranma-chan spoke firmly. "No."
"What?"
"You will not make money out of this. In fact, I'll tell him the
truth myself."
"Okay, if that's the way you want it... Fine. Suit yourself."
Nabiki shrugged. **Hmph!**
"It's like this..." Ranma-chan began. "My dad and Mr. Tendo, who
were once good friends..."
"And still are, of course." Soun added.
"Snort. Zzzzzz..." Genma continued snoring.
"Right. Like I said," Ranma continued, pointing at Genma. "The old
man and Mr. Tendo made a deal to marry off their children together so that
the School of Anything-Goes Martial Arts would be preserved, and to leave the
dojo in _good hands_."
"Without telling us anything about it first," Akane added.
"Oh. So that means that you and him, er, her..."
"Whatever." Nabiki interjected.
"Snort. Zzzzzz..." Genma continued snoring.
"...are both engaged then, Miss Akane." Jingai continued.
"Uh, huh... My dad is such an idiot..."
"You catch on fast, don't you?" Ranma-chan sneered sarcastically.
"Isn't it just great? Of all the girls I could have, I have to end up with
such an uncute macho tomboy, of all people..."
"Speak for yourself, freak..."
"Don't forget, that's _pretty_ and _cute_, unlike..."
"RANMA!" Akane lifted the low table, carrying the food with her.
She then used it to bat Ranma-chan out of the house, scattering the food all
over the place. Setting the table back with a slam, she proceeded to stomp
her way out. "I'm going to the dojo to practice. If _anyone_ is looking for
me, I'll be there..."
"There goes my lunch..." Jingai watched.
"Don't worry... there's more..." Kasumi said, handing Jingai another
serving.
"Thanks... What was that about?" Jingai asked.
"About what?" Soun asked in return.
"He said something about all the girls he could have..."
"Oh, that... this is free of charge, by the way..." Nabiki spoke up
before anyone else could reply. "Since that time, Ranma's father -- that fat
lazy lout sleeping in the corner over there -- over the years has managed to
engage Ranma to several other girls. At least three, maybe even more."
"Three?" Jingai asked, raising three fingers.
"At least."
Jingai whistled. "Wow."
"That's not all..." Nabiki continued. "There's a lot of guys going
after my sister, too. But, unfortunately, she... well, let's just say that
she doesn't like men..."
"That's awful." Jingai remarked. "What a mismatch."
*********************
Jingai finished his lunch first. **That was great. I've never eaten
food this good in all my years...** "Ahh... thanks for the great meal, Miss
Kasumi."
"No kidding... Ranma was right, today's lunch was really good.
Tasted a lot better than before, Kasumi dear." Soun added.
"Oh, you're welcome." Kasumi answered, gathering up the empty
plates. "I try my best to please you all."
**That's because we haven't had breakfast yet...** Nabiki thought.
Jingai noted his shabby condition and decided to clean himself up.
(Note: Remember, Jingai spent a lot of time traveling... -maramala) "Uh, Sir
Tendo? Can I use the bathroom?"
"Sure, Jingai, sure..." Soun replied.
"Miss Kasumi, where's the bathroom?" He asked Kasumi.
"Oh, it's just over the corridor, opposite your room... you won't
miss it." Kasumi replied with her usual smile.
"Thanks." **Kasumi's really nice...** He stood up and went
upstairs, carrying his canvas knapsack with him.
"Oi, Jingai..." Nabiki called out to him. "You're room's at the far
end of the second floor, left side from the stairs..."
"Thanks."
As Jingai went off to the bathroom, Genma began to stir.
"Wha... you dastardly ninja... Huh? Where is he?"
"Who is?" Soun asked.
"Satsuke... was here." Genma explained. "Hey, when's lunch?"
"We already had lunch, Mr. Saotome." Nabiki said, doing an
exaggerated imitation of Kasumi's smile.
Genma nearly broke down into tears. "But... I'm hungry..."
"Well," Soun suggested. "We could play a game of Go, instead..."
Genma groaned. He ran outside to the garden and jumped to the pool.
The panda soon emerged, proceeding to forage the nearby bushes for leaves.
He held up a sign. {Ahh... This is better...}
"Don't eat the flowers, now." Kasumi said.
Everyone else facefaulted.
*********************
Jingai first went to his room to drop his knapsack. He noticed some
stuff being piled outside his new room. **Strange...** he shrugged. Taking
out a towel, he hid his knapsack before proceeding to the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Ranma-chan managed to crawl back to the house. "Man, that
crazy chick has done it this time... Hey, where did they go?"
"Akane's in the hall, taking out her anger as usual, Ranma." Nabiki
replied. "Jingai's taking a bath in the bathroom."
"No charge?" Ranma-chan sarcastically asked.
"Well, now that you mention it..."
"Hey, just kidding..." Ranma-chan headed for the kitchen, looking for
some hot water.
After changing back to male form, Ranma went to his room. "Gonna go
change..."
When Ranma got upstairs, his eyes widened at the sight that greeted
him. He stared at all of his stuff being piled outside his door.
"NABIKI!"
"Yes, Ranma?" Nabiki answered, doing an impressive imitation of
Kasumi.
Ranma wasn't impressed. "What the hell does this mean, Nabiki?" he
asked, waving his hands around his things being carelessly scattered around.
"Isn't it obvious? You're moving out."
"But... what the hell for?"
"It's for our new guest, Ranma. Jingai'll be staying here in your
place."
"Then what the hell was that about having _spare rooms_!"
"Well, you must understand, my dear Ranma... Jingai paid for his
board and lodgings along with the training fees. I have to give him a
decent, _male_ room. And since renovation on the house would take a
while..." **Not to mention that you don't count as a real _male_...**
"To hell with that. Where do you think I can sleep for now, huh?"
"You could sleep in Akane's room." Soun suggested, appearing out of
nowhere behind Ranma.
Ranma punted him away. "No way!"
"You could always try you mother's place." Nabiki suggested. "Or...
you could sleep in the dojo."
"The house isn't done yet. And even if I stay in the dojo, how do
you think I could study?"
"You could study with Akane..." Soun suggested, reappearing.
Ranma punted him again.
"Ranma... you don't need to study..." Genma appeared. "As a martial
artist, your primary duty is to..."
Ranma punted him in Soun's general direction. "Busybodies... Aw,
hell..." He picked up his bags. "Mom said last week that the house won't be
fixed for the next few weeks, so I'll move these stuff downstairs... I guess
I'm gonna crash on the couch for a while."
"What about the guest room? Even if your dad sleeps there, it's
large enough..."
"It's already occupied... I want someplace where I can be alone to
think... not with the old man." Ranma replied, referring to his father.
"Do you?"
"Very funny, Nabiki. Har, har."
"Don't worry, Ranma. We'll be having some renovations on the house
soon."
**Damn that Jingai Kanzaki guy,** Ranma grumbled. **Who does he
think he is, moving in here like he owns the place. Especially since classes
is starting in a week. I'm not going to let him get away with this...**
Going down the stairway, he passed by a surprised Kasumi who was going up the
stairs.
"Huh?" Kasumi wondered. "Nabiki, what's going on? Where's Ranma
going?"
"He's just moving his stuff downstairs temporarily... we are going to
have some changes around here..." Nabiki answered, a slight smile on her
face. "At least Ranma took it well..."
While all this was going on, Jingai was in the Tendo bathroom,
resting quite comfortably in the bathtub. Unaware of the commotion outside,
he was busy typing in his palmtop computer.
"...So, that's that." He remarked, turning the unit off. "I've sent
the e-mails, and now all I have to do now is wait... and train..." **Thank
Goodness for wireless modems... I wonder why the chat lines are down today?**
He heard some squeaking noises from his clothes discarded in the
clothes bin.
"Oh, I forgot about you, Ne-san." He said, taking the mouse out of
his jacket.
The mouse immediately shrieked, then handed Jingai a note with one
paw while covering its eyes with the other.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot. Heh. Sorry, Ne-san. I'm leaving... It's your
turn now." Jingai left hot faucet in the tub on, then went out of the room to
get dressed. **Hmm... maybe I'll look over the contract first. Something
sure is fishy about this arrangement. Too convenient...**
*********************
While breaking some bricks in the dojo, Akane sneezed.
"Is somebody talking about me now?" She wondered aloud. **Oh,
Ranma, you jerk... I wish Ryoga was here... At least he would understand and
listen to me...**
She proceeded to break more bricks.
After a while, Akane stopped, then went to her room to change. **I
wonder where P-chan is?**
*********************
Ryoga sneezed.
"Where am I?" he thought, dumbly looking around.
He was in a temple somewhere in Nekomi. He was sure this wasn't a
temple a while ago. He remembered walking around a mall, not sure where to
go next, when he took a left turn, then the next thing he knew he ended up
here. "Oh, no... Where is the way outside? I have to get to Akari..."
Scratching his head, he walked towards the nearest door... and stumbled into
a living room, bumping right into someone.
"Ouch!" The girl he bumped into exclaimed.
Ryoga, quickly recovering, pulled back. "I'm so...sorry..." he
stuttered, all the while covering his nose as the first signs of nosbleed
started.
He was staring at the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Her
hair seemed to flow downwards in ethereal motion. Her western-style clothes,
simple and plain, only accented her divinity. Eyes, both seemingly
inquisitive yet all-knowing, looked him over, as she began to smile sweetly
-- the most sweetest smile he has ever seen -- right at him. Ryoga resisted
the impulse to kneel and bow before her.
"Oh, that's all right." she answered in a melodiously divine voice,
sending Ryoga's pulse racing. "Who are you?"
Ryoga felt his nose trickle blood. **Oh, no,** he panicked. **Not
now... I can't hold on... much... longer...** "I... I'm... I'm..."
"Hey, sis!" A voice came from the room behind them. "What's going
on?" The door slid open, and out came another girl, a lot younger-looking,
with darker hair and wearing a red and white outfit, but just as beautiful as
the first. Ryoga started to faint, then recovered quickly as he leaned on
the door. She broke into a grin as she saw him.
"Hey," the girl said cheerfully, "You're Ryoga Hibiki, right? Good
afternoon, I'm Skuld, and this is my older sister, Belldandy."
"H... H... Hi... there..." Ryoga managed to say.
"Hello, pleased to meet you." Belldandy spoke, then turned to Skuld.
"Nice of you to bring your friends here, but please tell us in advance
whenever visitors decide to drop in next time."
"No way!" Skuld said. "He's one of those mentioned in the Advanced
Compleat Textbook of Notable Mortals... the one who's cursed with a total
lack of direction... Among _other_ things." Looking over at Ryoga, she
noticed something. "Hey, are you OK? You're bleeding!"
"Oh... yeah. So I am!" Ryoga replied, trying to smile while quickly
covering up his nose with a bandanna. "I'm alright. Just... er..."
"Just _lost_, huh? Well, we'll fix that." With that, Skuld then
immediately dragged Ryoga to the bathroom. At the sight of the tub full of
water, Ryoga cringed.
Skuld giggled. "Don't worry, Ryoga. We know everything that's
happened, so we won't immerse you in cold water. Sis?"
"Way ahead of you, Skuld." Belldandy cupped her hands together. A
glowing blue ball formed between her hands. It slowly floated above them for
a moment, then settled into the bath tub. The water rippled and wavered as
the ball dispersed underwater, heating the water up. After a few moments,
the water started boiling. Skuld bended over to check if the water is hot
enough for what she is about to do next.
"Wow." Ryoga gasped, spellbound, his mouth remained open as the
question on how they were able to guess his conditions remain unanswered. He
was observing the two sisters, trying to remember just what they remind him
of. **Now I that I think about it**, Ryoga reflected, **Belldandy reminds me
a lot of Kasumi**, he thought, at the same time admiring Skuld's rear as he
tightly held his nose. **She reminds me of Anna... and Akane...**
"Alright then, in you go!" Skuld ordered.
"Huh? Uh," Ryoga started, his reverie broken. "I... don't want to
sound rude, but... what for?"
"I can teleport myself and anybody with me anywhere on Earth, but
only if I use a body of water to pass through them. C'mon, get in." Skuld
explained, pushing Ryoga into the tub.
"What... wait... _glub_" Ryoga protested. This was all so sudden
that he was unable to react, much less resist.
Belldandy watched as Skuld climbed into the tub with Ryoga. The
water glowed as Skuld teleported herself along with Ryoga somewhere else only
she knows for sure.
Belldandy sighed. Skuld, her youngest sister, finally has the power
she has always wanted ever since she has finally beeen promoted to Goddess
First Class (Limited) and have been given Wishbringer status. Now Skuld
spends her time travelling around the globe, having fun in more places than
anybody else, even a Divine Being, would ever have known.
After a while, Skuld returned alone. "Well...", she started, but
stopped herself short.
"So... how did it go, Skuld?" Belldandy asked.
"Oh, nothing much," said Skuld. "Just had a busy day." She was
slowly stripping her clothes off in the bathtub, throwing her clothes one by
one expertly into the clothes bin in the far corner of the room. When she
was finished, Skuld sat down and rested one head on the side of the tub.
"Ahhh... this is the life. Work like a dog, sleep like a log, move in a bog,
think in a fog... I'm glad I got off work early today. NOw I can at least
kick back and enjoy a barrel of ice cream." Skuld smiled. "You'll never
believe the number of perverted wishes I end up with, Sis."
"I can imagine," Belldandy said, smiling at the memories of her
former occupation, up to the time she gave her beloved Keiichi his wish.
"At least, nobody was stupid enough to wish that I stay with them, at
least not yet..." Skuld said, quickly correcting herself when she saw the
look on her sister's face. "No offense to you, sis, of course."
"I understand."
Skuld brightened. "Hey Sis, why don't you come join me? The water's
fine." With that, Skuld burst out laughing, recalling Ryoga and the other
victims of Jusenkyo curses.
Belldandy nodded. "What's wrong, Skuld?" she asked while slowly
undressing.
It was only when Belldandy was finished and was slowly lowering
herself into the tub when Skuld answered. "I was just thinking... about the
Jusenkyo-cursed people. I wonder how they are getting along, now that the
water in Jusenkyo is gone, at least for a while..?"
"Ummm..." Belldandy nodded, sighing as the warm water soothed her
physical body, enjoying the stimuli it gave her. Divine Beings do not really
need to bathe, but that does not prevent them from indulging in such simple
"human" pleasures, like bathing, whenever the opportunity arises.
"Hey, Sis...?" Skuld spoke.
"Huh? Yes, Skuld?"
"Where is Keiichi, anyway?"
"Oh, he called a little while ago... he said that he'll be working
late. Something about the main spacefold drive engines disappearing..."
"I wonder..." Skuld giggled. "What would happen if Keiichi suddenly
walked in here on us?"
Even Belldandy giggled with Skuld at the thought.
"I was also wondering...", Belldandy said after a while. "How did
they resolve that multiple fiancees problem?"
"Oh, _him_... I don't know for sure, but that's why I sent Ryoga off
as quick as I can," Skuld answered. "At least Urd won't be able to meddle
in their affairs right away... Thanks for helping me out with that, Sis."
Belldandy nodded. "You're welcome... Where did you send that nice
young man, anyway?"
"Where else?" Skuld shrugged. "The Tendo dojo's bathroom. It's the
only place in Nerima that he's familiar with, with sizeable hot water at the
time. Hopefully, he won't get lost from there..."
Belldandy was silent.
"What's wrong?" Skuld asked.
"You shouldn't have done that." Belldandy answered. "Poor guy..."
"Oh... I forgot about that... oops..."
********************
Ryoga popped out of the Tendo bathtub, backpack and all. "Wh-where
am I?" He wondered, looking around.
**This is... this is the Tendo's bathroom! Great... Just when I was
trying to get away from here. What else could go wrong now... Well, I could
just say hi, for old times' sake, then beat it. Ranma's got Akane, so
there's nothing left for me here.**
**Hmm... my clothes are wet...** Ryoga thought, stepping out of the
hot tub. **At least my spare change of clothes are still hidden here...
Waitasec... someone's behind me!?!**
Ryoga turned around slowly.
His nose couldn't take all the pressure anymore, and decided to spurt
out a fountain of blood. "Waaahh!"
"AIYEEEEK! A PERVERT!" The girl in the bathtub screamed.
Ryoga collapsed, already unconscious before he hit the floor.
*******************
Ranma stopped, wiping the sweat from his brow.
He was practicing his kempo kata in the Tendo dojo, trying to sort
out the confusion of the day's events in his mind. His father and Mr. Tendo
was in the house playing shogi, Nabiki was out on some business or the other,
Akane was looking for P-chan somewhere, and Kasumi was doing chores in the
house. Being alone always help set his mind at ease, and he always treasured
this few precious moments to reflect and think.
Especially now. Having a rival is something he does not want right
now. **Less than a week before classes, and someone good has to show up! I
need more time for my studies, and not for warding off potential threats. I
need higher grades, or I'll never forgive myself...**
He swatted the air before him in an irritated motion. **I'll show
him to interfere... Still, he is _good_...** Ranma looked as his fists.
**He doesn't look that strong, nor is he really that fast either. How does
he do that paper tearing trick? Does he know of the Amaguriken technique,
too? This is not good...**
Suddenly, there was a scream coming out from the house. "AIYEEEEK!
A PERVERT!"
**Huh? Oh, my God...** "AKANE!!!" He ran towards the house. **If
he hurt her...**
*******************
Kasumi sighed. She was outside, taking down the laundry drying out
in the back yard. She hummed a tune as she worked, content in simple
pleasures such as housework and the laundry. Ever since her mother died, she
has been taking care of the Tendo residence, the sole mother-figure and
housekeeper who manages to keep everyone together. Once again, as she always
does every day, she takes down the clothes from the clothesline one by one,
humming as she worked.
She stopped in mid-tune as she realized that she wasn't alone. She
saw Jingai in the middle of the yard, sitting in a lotus position facing the
sunset. He seemed to be frozen in time, immobile and unmoving as he basked
in the reddish light of the sun. Kasumi stood and watched, fascinated by the
sight. Jingai finally took a deep breath, stood up and bowed at the setting
sun.
**Odd.** Kasumi thought, then immediately shrugged, filing it away
as just another minor incident of no importance. Her thoughts drifted to the
incident a few hours ago, when they all heard a girl's scream in their
bathroom. Everyone rushed inside to see Ryoga unconscious on the floor,
lying on a pool of his own blood. Of course he wasn't dead; he was merely
unconscious after having another nosebleed -- a common occurence in Ryoga's
case.
The odd thing was what could have caused the nosebleed, since Akane,
Nabiki and herself were outside.
"Hmm..." She thought, then realized that a few minutes have already
passed since sunset. **My goodness... I better start cooking...**
She hurried into the kitchen. **Now that I think about it... My
cooking has improved incredibly today. I wonder..?**
*******************
Ryoga floated in the dark and endless void. **Akane! Where are you,
Akane! ...No, that's not it... Akari! Where are you, Akari!**
In the distance, he could hear... voices? Sounds a lot like..?
A light appeared. "Ryoga?"
"Akane!" Ryoga screamed, swimming towards the light and the source
of the sound. "Akane..."
"Hey, Ryoga, wake up already..."
Ryoga opened his eyes to see Ranma grinning at him. "Wha... where am
I?!?" He asked.
"Where else, you dummy..." Ranma answered. "What happened?"
**Wait... I remember...** "Where's that strange girl?" He asked,
sitting up, seeing that he is now in the Tendo living room. Soun and Genma
were playing shogi at a far corner of the room. A lazy moon was overhead,
floating in a clear, starry sky. **I was out for hours...**
"What girl? Ryoga, you've got a lot of explaining to do..." Ranma
said, frowning.
"But... Ranma, I'm not kidding..."
"Yeah, right, P-chan..."
"Why, you..."
Kasumi entered the room, carrying a tray full of food. "Why, hello
there, Ryoga. Long time no see. Oh, Ranma, dinner's ready."
"Uh, hi, Kasumi... Ranma, can we continue this after dinner..?"
Ryoga pleaded. "I haven't eaten for... um, er..." He began counting off his
fingers. "...for a while, I guess..."
"Aw, alright." Ranma relented, letting go of Ryoga's shirt. "For
now, that is..."
Soun and Genma stopped playing.
"That was a great match." Soun said.
"I agree, Tendo." Genma nodded. "Let's go eat dinner, and continue
the game afterwards."
They all sat around the table as Kasumi served them dinner. Nabiki
entered, a sparkle in her eyes and a big grin on her face.
"What's up, Nabiki?" Ranma asked. "Swindled someone big-time?"
"You could say that." Nabiki replied, sitting down. "Mmmm...
smelling good, Kasumi."
"Why, thank you, Nabiki." Kasumi replied.
Ryoga noticed Jingai entering the room, deep in thought.
"Huh? Who's he, Ranma? Another one of Akane's suitors?" Ryoga
asked, clenching his hands.
"No..."
Jingai blinked at the new stranger. **This is that pervert?**
"Hello," Jingai cordially greeted Ryoga, offering his hand. "I'm Jingai
Kanzaki. Pleased to meet you. You are..?"
Ryoga took his hand and shook it. "Ryoga Hibiki. Pleased to meet
you too."
Jingai took a deep bow. "So, you must be another one of Mr. Tendo's
students?"
"Huh? Why, no..."
"Then," Jingai looked up, curious. "Mr. Saotome's?"
"Oh, that... Nahh, mostly a bit I kinda picked up, here and there.
Nothing special, really."
"I see..." They're eyes met. "Then you must be one of Akane's
ill-fated suitors then."
"Wha... ah, no... er, I mean... that is..." Ryoga stammered.
"I'm... just... a... friend. Yeah, that's it. That's all, just a friend."
Jingai noted the sudden change in Ryoga. "Really?" **What a
depressing guy...**
"Yes." Ranma answered. "He _is_ a friend, and a sparring partner."
"It is wise of you to keep your friendship with Miss Akane platonic."
Jingai said, nodding. "There are other girls out there... Right, Sir Ranma?"
"Yeah, I think." **So cold...** Ranma thought. **What a creep...**
"Why, Ranma," Ryoga spoke, just realizing what Jingai meant by his
offhanded remark. "I never thought you, of all people, would agree to
something like that..."
The two began to laugh together nervously. Nobody noticed Akane
enter the room just then. She heard everything that was said between the
three _men_ from outside, which pierced her heart. She resisted the impulse
to break down and cry -- or break a chair over their heads -- as she sat down
and bit her lip. "Hmph."
Nabiki narrowed her eyes while she listened to them. **What a bunch
of self-centered macho jerks,** she thought. **Akane had the right
idea...**
Jingai wanted to ask Ryoga about the incident in the bathroom, but
decided to reserve the question for a later date, along with his plans to
clarify his contract with Nabiki. He had just found some anomalies in the
wording as he pored over the document the whole afternoon, trusty translator
beside him...
They had the best dinner they ever ate in their whole lives. Yet
Ranma could not help but notice Akane's sad expression as she ate little,
picking at the food before her.
"..."
******************
By the time they were finished eating, Ryoga decided that he hated
Jingai Kanzaki more than Ranma.
******************
Ryoga sneaked out of the house and quickly jumped into the pool,
hoping that he was unnoticed. It took P-chan over three hours to find
Akane's bedroom. **I wonder who designed the layout of the Tendo house?**
He wondered. **There's always something new to see every time...**
The door to Akane's room was slightly open, so he went inside. He
found her crying on her bedside.
**Akane?**
"Oh, P-chan, there you are." Akane sniffled, wiping the tears on her
eyes. "I missed you... Where have you been?"
P-chan approached Akane's bedside. She picked him up and hugged him
to her chest. "Why did they say all those things? It hurt... Do you think
they are all true?"
**What is it? Did Ranma do anything wrong again?**
"Doesn't Ranma love me at all... all this time?"
**Yep, right on target. Ranma's just using your
feelings, Akane.**
Akane looked at P-chan's eyes. "Am I really that ugly?"
**No, Akane! You are so beautiful...**
"I guess... They must have pitied me... They all planned this all
this time... Even during the wedding, Ranma must have asked Nabiki to invite
everybody, knowing that the whole thing would be disrupted... Including
Ryoga..."
**NO, Akane! I have nothing to do with it!**
"...since he is Ranma's friend, after all..."
P-chan's eyes widened. **What?!? No way...**
Tears began to flow, falling on P-chan's forehead. "I have
nobody..."
**Akane! I'm here for you!**
Akane lied down and cried herself to sleep, with P-chan in her arms.
"Ranma... you jerk... why won't you tell me the truth... don't you see...
I... I..."
**Oh, Akane... if only you could understand what I am
saying... I can't bear seeing you so sad... I had given you up for Akari, but
I guess she can wait... my happiness can wait... until _you_ can be happy
again... it's the least I can do to repay your kindness...**
P-chan's brows furrowed. **I won't let Ranma and Jingai get away
with saying those things about you, Akane... First Jingai, then Ranma... or
maybe Ranma, then Jingai... hell, I'll take them both if I have to, if that
will make you happy...**
A sudden image flashed in his mind. A beautiful naked young girl...
**Who was that girl?** P-chan wondered as he soon fell asleep in
Akane's arms.
******************
Unfortunately, Ryoga's excursion did not go unnoticed. She giggled.
"The pervert... Boy, is Oniisan going to be really shocked at this..."
******************
Ranma ended up in the guest room, since Genma was still playing shogi
with Soun, and won't be turning in for a while. Yet he couldn't sleep. He
lay in his futon, staring at the staring, as his mind repeatedly played back
the events of the day.
**Something's wrong,** he thought, sitting up. **Ever since that
Jingai guy came to the dojo, everyone's gone nuts. Akane's getting more of a
macho chick than ever, Mr. Tendo and the old man haven't stopped their
longest shogi game yet. Even Nabiki's been working overtime...**
He sat up. **Now Ryoga's starting to imagine things... Even if that
scream _was_ real... Well, at least Kasumi's cooking didn't go bad... On
second thought, her cooking felt different... it tasted a lot better than
ever before. It's like... something...**
He looked at his hands. "Could it be him?" He wondered aloud.
******************
At the same time, in Nekohanten...
Cologne hands started shaking for no apparent reason. She looked at
Shampoo. "Something is wrong..."
"Great-grandmother?" Shampoo wondered, putting down the dishes.
"Must be old age," Mousse muttered as he wiped the last of the grime
from the counter.
Cologne bopped him on the head with her cane. "Can't you feel it,
child? The ki in the air... so heavy and strong..."
"What is it?"
"The balance is being upset by something... or someone..." She
stared off into the distance. **Could it be him? It's been so long...**
Both Mousse and Shampoo noticed the slow smile forming on Cologne's
face.
**Huh?**
END SIDE 1
*(Author's Notes: Who is the strange girl? Why is Jingai in Japan?
What power is Ranma referring to? Why is Jingai so familiar to Soun? How
does Cologne and co. fit into this? Send constructive C&C and suggestions
at maramala@oocities.com. I'm also currently writing the Ranma 1/2 fanfic
"Kasumi: The Mist Fox-Ninja", alternating between the two as the mood
strikes me. Also finished with DOJO YABURI SAOTOME RANMA, and will post it
soon. Watch for it, as well as my soon-to-open WWW page, as soon as I get my
own account.
'Till then,
maramala :)
Coming soon: Ranma 1/2 Kyuudan: Side 2
"SHUT UP! I've had it having to put up with you! Let's finish this,
once and for all!"
"Huh? Ryoga, what are you doing?"
"Don't YOU recognize it? I am about to kill you, bastard..."
"Ryoga! NO!"
"Akane? STOP! Don't come any closer..."
"Please... DON'T DO IT!"
"I... I CAN'T...STOP... IT..."
"OH NO... No other choice... for Akane..."
"Akane... forgive me..."
"SHI"
"HI"
"SHI"
"RYU"
"HOU"
"SHO"
"KOU"
"TEN"
"DAN!!!"
"KAH!!!"
The ground split.
The sky fell.
Akane screamed.
"NOOOO!!!!!"
the dragon ate the lion, then died of indigestion...
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