DOJO YABURI SAOTOME RANMA 1/2 (EPISODE 2)
A Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction Story
Copyright (C) 1998 Mark Ranel M. Lambo (maramala)
All Rights Reserved.
*Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and all related characters are copyright (c) 1997
Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Kitty Film, Viz, etc. All Rights Reserved.
Used without express permission (and hopefully _they_ won't bother to sue
such a humble homage of their work). The concepts are all mine however.
This has nothing to do at all with the Elseworlds series (hi, Biles-san!),
although the theme involved is pretty similar. I wrote the original draft
way before I have heard of RAAC. The premise: what if Ranma was an orphan?
*Author's Notes:
A ** ** indicates the character/s thoughts
A _ _ indicates the word/s to be stressed
A { } indicates what is written on the signs
A ' ' indicates a quotation
A < > indicates animal sounds
A > < indicates sound effects
This story contains violence, Parental Guidance suggested (yeah, right).
*********************
"Mommy! Where are you going?"
"I have to leave, Akane-chan. To a place far, far, away, where no
one could hurt us anymore."
"Really, Mommy? Can I join you?"
"No! You must stay. Your family needs you."
"But... But... Mommy! I want to go with you!"
"I love you, Akane-chan..."
"Please, take me with you..."
"Sayonara..."
"Nooo! Mommy, come back..."
Silence.
"Mommy! Come back... Please..."
*********************
"Come back... come back..."
"Akane?"
"Please... come back..." Akane moaned.
"Wake up, Akane."
"Huh?" Slowly, Akane opened her eyes. She saw Kasumi's concerned
face looking down at her. "Wha..."
"Oh, thank goodness you're all right." Kasumi said, smiling.
Akane saw that she was lying on her bed in her room. Partially
hidden in the shadows, Nabiki stood still at the door, silently watching
them, her face impassive.
Strangely, Soun wasn't there.
Akane tried to sit up, but cried out in pain as her head began to
throb, threatening to explode. She tried raising her right hand up, but
couldn't.
"O... Onee... Onee-chan..." She tried to speak.
"Shhh." Kasumi placed a finger on her lips. "Don't talk. You'll
be all right. Just stay in bed for a while and let your body heal... Here,
drink this."
Kasumi held the glass of green syrup to Akane's mouth. Grateful,
she swallowed every drop of the bitter liquid.
Kasumi saw the questions forming in her little sister's eyes.
"Tofu-sensei came by. He patched you up, saying that the bruises were
minor, nothing really serious. He made that special medicine broth you
drank. You'll be up and going by the time school starts."
At the mention of Dr. Tofu, Akane's heart leapt. She looked up at
Kasumi.
"Yes." Kasumi replied, seemingly understanding the unspoken
question. "Ranma-domo didn't take our dojo's sign, after all. In fact, he
was the one who told us to call for a doctor... And what's more, he's still
here. He and father are discussing even now on who will be his fiancée.
Isn't that so nice of him?"
Akane stiffened. Somehow, she thought she could guess the outcome,
Ranma's choice...
*********************
"I chose Akane."
"Why?"
"Because... Well, I don't know. For the heck of it, I suppose...
As a fighter, she has potential. And she's not like the other girls..."
"You could say that... But do you like her?"
"I... I can't say... yet. She's... different. I... admire her...
fighting spirit, I think..."
"She hates you now, you know."
"For now. I don't really care, about that."
"Please forgive her. She's really a nice girl, once you get to know
each other better. It's her violent streak, sometimes..."
"I understand. Normally, I would have... Just be grateful that I
could still feel... pity."
The two watched the leaves slowly falling from the tree in the yard.
"You know, I would still end up with the sign, doing this..."
"Yes, I know, along with the dojo and everything else as well. I
just wish I thought up of this sooner, before..." Soun choked.
"I will have to settle down here, then. At least for a while."
"Stay then."
"I hope it won't be a problem."
"It won't."
"Then, is it settled?"
Soun slowly raised the cup of tea to his mouth. "Agreed."
Ranma-kun mimicked Soun's every move. They both drank together,
their eyes never taking off the other's face.
"Just remember," Ranma-kun spoke, putting down his empty cup. "I
am not bound by this trifle. I can leave anytime I want to."
"But... what about honor? You must go through with this."
"Honor? Honor is for weaklings." Ranma-kun met Soun's gaze. "You
have three lovely daughters, Tendou. It would be a pity if something _bad_
happens to _any_ of them..."
Soun shuddered.
Outside, a small breeze scattered the leaves in the yard, forming
mysterious patterns in the air, before slowly settling into the earth again.
The tea ceremony is complete.
*********************
**I can't believe this,** Ranma-kun reflected as he stared at the
darkened ceiling. **Why didn't I just grab the damn stupid sign and go?
Honor? Feh. For 17 years I've lived without it, only to blindly follow
some stupid tradition just now? This is not good. I must be getting
soft...**
It was way past midnight, yet Ranma-kun couldn't sleep. The recent
events kept repeating themselves in his head. Images of Akane's smile kept
reappearing, superimposed by images of her grim and determined expression
during their fight.
Ranma-kun couldn't stand it anymore. Banishing the images from his
head, he began to sit up and look around his surroundings, his eyes slowly
adjusting to the gloom. The guest room must have been built for more than
one person, as there was enough room in the bed for three, even with him in
it. He felt comfortable in the large bed, a feeling he never felt for a
long time. He felt safe and secure in the soft covers. He felt like a king
in his castle.
He felt stupid for thinking such things. **Crazy... I wish that
Ryouga-P was here.** He stood up in the darkness. **I miss that stupid
pig.** He slowly walked out to the bathroom.
Minutes later, Ranma-chan returned, clad in only a towel. Wiping
the last of the moisture from her hair, she felt a wave of drowsiness wash
over her as she sat up on the soft bed.
**This is... nice. I haven't slept in a comfy bed before. Better
get dressed, before...**
She yawned. **Tired... musn't get...**
Her eyes drooping, she surrendered to exhaustion from constant
travel finally setting in, falling to a deep sleep before her head hit the
soft pillows.
*********************
The door to the guest room slowly opened. A figure slowly began to
tiptoe inside, then decided it wasn't necessary upon seeing the nubile
figure on the bed.
**Well, well, well... what do you know?** Nabiki thought, looking
down at Ranma-chan's naked body, fast asleep. **Perfect.**
She raised her camera, mentally noting to bring more negatives next
time.
**Jackpot.**
>CLICK!< >CLICK!< >CLICK!< ...
"Ryouga..." Ranma-chan moaned, turning around.
Nabiki froze. **Uh-oh...** Big sweat drops began to form behind
head as she held her breath.
After a few tense moments, Nabiki relaxed, seeing that Ranma-chan's
eyes were still closed. **Just a dream... I wonder what is it about?**
She continued taking pictures of Ranma-chan in bed.
>CLICK!< >CLICK!< >CLICK!< ...
Ranma-chan didn't even stir.
*********************
Akane woke up at nine in the morning. Feeling better already, she
sat up and stretched. The heavy bandage on her right hand reminded her of
what happened last night, and she frowned.
**Damn it...** She noticed a bonquet of flowers placed on her
bedside table. **Kuno? How did he...** Akane thought as she reached for
the card underneath them. She began to read.
To my future iinazuke, Tendo Akane
From Saotome Ranma
p.s. Hope you get better soon
She crumpled the white card, seething with anger.
Kasumi entered the room, bearing a tray.
"Oh, Akane, you're awake." Kasumi smiled. "Do you like the
flowers?"
Akane didn't reply.
*********************
"Man, what a hot day..."
Ranma-chan wiped the sweat from her brow. **That's five dojos so
far... man, at this rate, it's like they have a martial arts school for
every two blocks in Nerima.**
She was scouting Nerima, looking for worthy martial arts schools to
challenge later as a guy. Nobody would get suspicious with a cute girl
asking around, especially with the guys, who would think that she was just
admiring them (after all, that's why most of them took up martial arts in
the first place). She could tell their lecherous intentions by their lust-
filled stares at her as she sized them up carefully.
**Feh. Being a girl does have it's advantages. I guess it wasn't
such a bad idea to stick around Nerima. The numerous dojos here would keep
my busy and in shape for a while, and the Tendo dojo would make a good base
while I go around with my giri (duties). Ryouga would love this...**
Ranma-chan paused to take a bite out of the fish balls-on-a-stick
she was carrying with her. **I must say though, that most of these guys
don't seem like they pose any real challenge at all... I guess they never
considered a dojo yaburi visiting anytime soon... or a girl dojo yaburi...**
She threw the empty stick away. "Hmph. Oh, well, their loss..."
She continued walking on, passing another training hall along the
way. **That's six...**
*********************
Lunchtime. Ranma-chan got home to eat. "Tadaima (I'm home)!" She
called out from the front porch.
"Oh, Ranma, you're back!" Kasumi peered out from the door to the
dining room. "You're just in time for lunch. Please, come and join us."
"Arigato (thanks), Kasumi. I'll be right there." Ranma-chan went
her room to change her sweat-soaked clothes, settling on a loose white shirt
and yellow boxer shorts.
As she began to eat, Ranma-chan noticed Nabiki's stare. "What is
it, Nabiki?" She stopped.
Nabiki snapped to attention, her thoughts interrupted. "Huh? What
was that you said?"
"I said, what is the matter?"
"Uh... oh, nothing really." Nabiki quickly spoke, waving her hands.
"Is anything wrong, Nabiki?" Kasumi asked, her voice filled with
the usual motherly concern.
"Well..." Nabiki turned to Kasumi, occasionally stealing a glance
in Ranma-chan's direction. "I was wondering if... if Ranma wears anything
underneath _those_..."
"Wear what?"
"You know... underthings..."
"Oh, I understand..." Ranma-chan reached for another helping of
shrimp tempura. "Well, I would like to, but my curse usually activates at
the wrong moment, so dressing unisex style won't put me in embarrasing
situations. I know it's a bit risque to my female side, but hey, it's still
acceptable."
**HE WOULD _LIKE_ TO?!?** Kasumi widened her eyes. "My, how... how
clever..." She quickly commented.
"Yes, how ingenious. Thinking ahead is such a good attribute for a
good husband." Soun added.
**He... er, she still looks good, though.** Nabiki thought, her
mind drifting off to just a few moments ago when she saw Ranma-chan enter
the room, her sizable assets, unconfined in a bra, freely bouncing in her
loose shirt. As she turned, Nabiki could see her soft butt stretching her
tight shorts, without the usual crease marks of any sort from panties...
"What am I thinking?" Nabiki exclaimed loudly, slapping her head.
"Thinking about what, Nabiki?" Kasumi asked. She too was wondering
what is going on with Nabiki, having noticed that she was acting strangely
since morning.
A big sweat mark formed on Nabiki's head. "Uh, ah, y'know, what
Ranma said..." With that, she glanced at Ranma-chan's direction.
Fortunately, Ranma-chan didn't seem to notice her cheeks turning red, having
concentrated back to the food.
"You should sympathize with Ranma, Nabiki." Kasumi said, slowly
nibbling her portion. "It must be really hard to cope up with being both a
boy and girl due to a curse she... er, he, got by accident. Isn't that
right, Ranma?"
"Yeah." Ranma-chan agreed. Finished, she placed her bowl down.
"You could say that... Say, where's Akane? I didn't see her today?"
"She didn't feel so good, so I brought her lunch upstairs to her
room earlier." Kasumi replied.
"Oh." **I guess she took it too hard... Gomen nasai, Akane...**
*********************
Evening. Akane spent the day staring out the window. She watched
the sun set, blue sky turning to red, then dark. The stars were beginning
to twinkle in the cloudless sky.
**I wish all of this was just a dream.** Akane thought. **No. A
stupid nightmare. I wish that all this would go away. Everything...**
Suddenly, there was a knock on her door.
>KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK<
"Who is it?"
Silence.
"Is that you, Kasumi?"
No answer.
"Nabiki?"
Akane could hear the shuffling of feet outside her door.
"Dad?"
No reply.
"Come in, whoever you are!"
Slowly, the door opened, revealing a nervous Ranma-kun. He peered
inside the room.
"Is... is it alright for me to come in?"
"NO!" Akane screamed. "GO AWAY!"
Ranma-kun didn't move. "Kasumi asked me to fetch you down for
dinner..."
"I DON'T want to! I'm NOT hungry!"
Suddenly her stomach growled. Akane grimaced.
"I guess... you're still mad at me..."
"You're darned right I am, BAKERO (asshole)!"
"I... I..." Ranma-kun tried to speak, but the right words won't
come out. Instead, the wrong ones were spoken. "I told you not to tangle
with me. To fight a dojo yaburi is a fatal choice. You have to be the best
in your school to ever hope to stand a chance. You could have died..."
"So? YOU should have _killed me_ THEN, you _JERK_!"
"But... but... ah, stupid girl..." He turned and left, leaving the
door open.
"HEY! Come back here!"
"Yes?" Ranma-kun turned back around.
"Shut the damn door!"
"..."
After a moment, Ranma-chan entered the room. "Is this better?" She
asked.
"GET OUT of MY ROOM, you _FREAK_!!!"
Ranma-chan looked hurt. "Do you hate me that much, Akane?" She
moved closer to Akane's bedside.
"Don't _you_ DARE come near ME!"
"Aw, come on... I won't hurt you..."
With her undamaged hand, Akane swung her bokken lying conveniently
beside her at Ranma-chan. Ranma-chan blocked it, her metal bracers easily
shattering the wooden sword.
>CRACK!<
"Please... don't be angry..."
"I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" Akane screamed, bursting into tears.
"Aw, please... what a sloppy performance..." Ranma-chan grumbled,
sitting down beside Akane. "Even _I_ could do better than that..."
Akane's stomach growled again.
"See? You're hungry, stupid. C'mon..."
Akane swung with her left hand, slapping Ranma-chan directly on the
face.
>SLAP!<
"Don't start getting friendly with me. And GET OFF _MY_ BED!"
Ranma-chan didn't even budge. "Satisfied?"
"JERK! BASTARD! BULLY!" Akane slapped her again.
>SLAP!<
"Why are you so mad about losing? I didn't take your family dojo's
sign..."
"I don't want _YOU_ to be _MY fiancée_!" Akane slapped her harder.
>SLAP!<
"Then let's just be friends, OK Akane?" Ranma-chan held out her
hand.
Akane slapped the offered hand away.
>SLAP!<
"Why, Akane?" She offered her hand again.
Akane slapped her hand away again.
>SLAP!<
"Can't you let it go, Akane?"
Akane looked at her face as she started to say something, then she
saw the sad look on Ranma-chan's red and puffy eyes.
**He's... She's... been crying? How come?** Akane wiped the tears
in her own eyes away. "You don't understand..."
"I do, Akane." Ranma-chan held up her hand. "Please?"
Akane finally consented. They both went down to dinner, Akane
reluctantly leaning on to Ranma-chan for support.
*********************
At the same time, somewhere else in Nerima...
**Oh, no! What is this place? Where the hell is Ranma?**
"WHERE AM I NOW!!!"
>SPLASH!<
*********************
"I hope you enjoyed every minute of this, you bastard."
Ranma-kun stopped eating and closely looked at Akane's scowling
face. "I don't. But the feeling's mutual, if that's any consolation to
you." He continued eating, ignoring her hateful glare.
After a while, Akane gave up and ate. She didn't feel hungry at
all, but wasn't too eager to argue about it. Ranma-kun decided to change
back on the way down, 'just to make everyone happy', or so he said. Well,
she wasn't happy, not in the least.
While all this was going on, Nabiki studied Ranma-kun's face. She
noted the big bruises forming on both his cheeks.
"Now that he had coming." She said, to no one in particular.
*********************
The next day, Akane did in fact got well enough to go to school.
She grinned as she flexed her arms, the restrictive bandages off them. She
quickly rushed down the stairs, calling out to Nabiki. "Nabiki! Wait!
I'll walk to school with you!"
"Oh? Don't you think you should walk to school with Ranma? He is
your fiancée, after all."
"WHAT!" Akane turned around to face Ranma-kun, dressed in his usual
Chinese attire and carrying a school bag, walking towards them.
"'Bye, now!" Nabiki waved.
"But, but..."
"Isn't that nice." Kasumi entered the room, carrying a broom. "You
both make a wonderful couple. Take care, now."
Akane fumed.
"C'mon, Akane." Ranma-kun said, starting to walk away. "We'll be
late if we delay."
"All right, all right..." **Damn...**
When they reached the gates, Akane broke into a run. Ranma-kun
immediately followed.
"Why are you doing this for, Akane?" He asked.
"Doing what?" Akane snapped.
"Y'know... running... over-exerting yourself..."
"Practice." Akane replied, breathing hard. "Keeps me in shape.
You should try it yourself sometime, Ranma."
"I always do." When they reached a high fence next to a ditch of
water, Ranma-kun leaped up and continued running on top of the fence without
missing a beat.
">Huff<, >Puff< Why are you >Huff<, >Puff< doing that for?" Akane
asked, nearly out of breath.
"Practice." Ranma-kun simply replied. "Keeps my senses sharp. You
should try it yourself sometime, Akane."
"Hmph!" Akane turned away in disgust. "Just say you take perverse
pleasure in looking down at others."
"No way!" Ranma-kun said, looking down at Akane. "Well, now that
you mention it..."
When they reached a turn in the road, Ranma-kun jumped off the
fence... and splashed right into water.
>SPLASH!<
"Arrrgh! Damn it!" Ranma-chan looked down at her wet clothes. The
old lady who was responsible for this incident was an innocent bystander who
decided on that very day to splash water on the road to prevent dust from
scattering. "There goes my first day of classes..."
"You're going to cut school?"
"Hey, Do you want me to start school as a girl?"
Akane was thoughtful for a moment. Then she turned at the corner.
"Let's go, Ranma..."
"Hey, Akane," Ranma-chan called out. "Isn't the school _that_
way?" She pointed at the other direction.
"All you need is hot water, right?"
"Um, yeah."
"Well, c'mon. I know someone who lives nearby."
"Won't you be late for school?"
"I can't let _my_ FIANCÉE skip school now, can I?" Akane spat out
with obvious sarcasm.
Ranma-chan frowned, then followed her, shrugging. "Great. Thanks
for your _concern_."
*********************
"Boss?"
"Huh?" Nabiki was jolted out from her thoughts. She turned to the
girl talking to her. "What is it, Natsume?"
"You seem to be distracted lately. What's up?"
"Oh, it's nothing..." Nabiki waved her away.
"Aw, c'mon, boss..." Natsume leaned closer to Nabiki, her left arm
encircling her waist. "Don't clam up on me now..." She seductively
whispered in Nabiki's ear. "Tell me everything..."
"Do you mind? Not on public." Nabiki brushed her arm away. "Later
now, OK?"
Natsume looked hurt. "It's... it's a guy, right? Or is it another
girl?"
"Natsume!" Nabiki scowled. "I was just... thinking about my
sister's fiancée..."
"Oh, really? Akane?" Natsume giggled. "He must he a real hunk."
"Well..." Nabiki rolled her eyes at the thought. "You could say
that."
"I can imagine..."
"Yeah. They're so different, you know."
"And I guess you like him, huh? Well, I understand."
"Natsume! Stop that!" Nabiki exclaimed indignantly. "Besides,
he's not my type."
"Oh, yeah? I know you, Boss. Any guy who catches the great Nabiki
Tendo's attention must be really cute... and girlish, isn't he?"
Nabiki giggled.
"Did I say something wrong, Boss?" Natsume asked.
Nabiki playfully pinched her rear, causing Natsume to squeal in
delight. "I knew there was a reason I liked you more than the others. You
really put me in the mood. In a way, you're right, Natsume. He _is_ a bit
girlish..."
Natsume smiled. "I can't wait to meet him."
*********************
END OF PART 2 (DRAFT)
*(Author's Postscript: This has got to be the most disturbing series I
ever wrote. Send C&C email to maramala@geocities.com (no flames, please!)
'Till next time,
-maramala :)
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geocities.com/tokyo/ginza) (
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