Curse of Silence II:
Tofu
Version 1.1
by Bryan Neef
Original story by Chris Jones, continued with permission
Ranma arrives at the Tendou Dojo, transformed and angry. He meets Tendou
Soun's three daughters, Kasumi, Nabiki, and Akane. He soon discovers that
Akane is mute, the result of an auto accident that claimed her mother's life.
Ranma embarasses himself and the Tendou girls.
Genma pushes Ranma to Kasumi. Both Kasumi and Nabiki are prepared to spare
Akane from Ranma, and accept the engagement themselves. It is then that
Akane makes her proposal...
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Ranma walked on the fence next to Akane and Nabiki. Out of the corner of his
eye, he caught their conversation. He knew they were talking about him, even
though he didn't know sign language.
His thoughts were interrupted by two claps. He blinked and looked at the
sisters. "What's wrong?"
Nabiki smiled to herself. "We want to know why you're up there?"
Ranma saw Akane's nod. "Balance practice. The Old Man taught me to make
everything a training exercise. So, I practice on fences."
Both girls nodded in understanding. Akane pointed to herself, then the fence.
Ranma blinked in surprise before helping her up.
The trio continued on in silence. Nabiki, however, kept even with her sister.
She noted the smile in her sister's eyes and face.
So engrossed in their training, none of the group noticed Ranma's transfor-
mation until they made a jump over a gate. "Damn!"
The sisters turned to see the redhead jump from the fence. "I need to go
back and change."
"We don't have time for that. You'll just have to go as a girl today,"
sighed Nabiki.
She turned towards the school when she heard the claps. She saw Akane shake
her head and point in a different direction. Nabiki looked around, getting
her bearings. "We've got five minutes to get to school. We don't have
time."
"Nabiki, I really don't want to go as a girl."
"I know, Ranma, but it'd be best. We can probably get you water before
class. If we don't hurry, we won't be able to get inside."
"But..."
Three claps got Nabiki's attention. She watched as Akane pointed to Ranma,
held her breasts, pointed to herself, then touched her throat. Nabiki
looked at Ranma's nearly unreadable face. She touched her own throat before
looking back at Akane's level gaze.
Nabiki smiled. "You're right, Sis. We'll make a quick stop at Tofu's."
***
Ranma and Akane stood in the waiting room while Nabiki went to find Dr. Tofu.
Ranma looked at Akane, noting how her fiancee stood proudly in the room.
"Thanks, Akane."
Akane smiled, patting Ranma's arm.
"Were you and Nabiki using that sign language?"
Akane nodded.
"Don't you use the white board?" asked Ranma as she pointed to the board tied
around Akane's neck.
Akane quickly wrote on it. "It only works when I'm sitting or standing
still. Besides, signing is faster."
Ranma read the note, nodding. "True."
Before she could continue, a skeletal hand rested on her shoulder. She
screamed and jumped, nearly knocking Akane down. Akane's eyes widened in
surprise. Her instincts allowed her to jump back a meter.
"Hello!" greeted an exaggerated female voice.
Akane began to laugh silently when she recognized Tofu's signature introduc-
tion. She also heard Nabiki laughing from the doorway. She glanced at Ranma
as she dropped cautiously from the ceiling.
Tofu smiled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I thought Nabiki
or Akane warned you."
"D-don't worry 'bout it. I was talking with Akane."
"I noticed. I'm Ono Tofu, their family doctor."
"I'm Saotome Ranma. Pleased to meet you."
"What can I do for you three? Nabiki implied there was an accident."
Akane looked at Nabiki laughing in the door. She stomped over to her sister,
swiping the warm water from her. Nabiki continued laughing as Akane poured
the water over Ranma's head.
Tofu raised an eyebrow at the transformation. He waited for Ranma's re-
action. He was surprised when Akane placed her fingers on Ranma's lips,
shaking her head. She pointed to Tofu and took Ranma's hands in her own.
She smiled and nodded.
Ranma looked at her in confusion. Nabiki spared him from further embarrass-
ment. "She says you can trust him. We do."
Ranma watched Akane's nod. "I guess. He's a doctor and all."
Tofu smiled, patting Ranma's shoulder. "That's good to hear. You'll have to
tell me about yourself, sometime. Until then, you'd better go to school."
All three jumped with a start. They bowed their thanks and started to leave.
Tofu stopped Ranma before he left.
"Ranma, Akane's a special person. She doesn't give her trust to just
anyone."
Ranma looked at the man before nodding. "Thanks, Doc. I'll keep that in
mind."
Tofu nodded as Ranma left to join the Tendou sisters. He smiled.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Chris Jones, I've been able to solidify some of the more tragic
ideas I've had for Ranma and Company. Like his other stories, Curse of
Silence has inspired me further.
As always, Rumiko Takahashi owns these characters. They are trademarked and
copywrited by her and her agents (Shogakukan and Viz.)
Situations (c) 1999 Chris Jones. Continuation (c) 2000 Bryan Neef. This
story may be freely distributed, unaltered. If you wish to use any parts of
this for your own works, please obtain permission first from Chris, then
myself.
I'd also like to thank my ever-growing list of prereaders. They've been
helpful and very patient with me. Thanks all.
Comments and critiques are welcomed at amaranius@yahoo.com.
Author's Notes
I know there is a "rash" of these stories going around now. I will probably
participate, given time. I am also aware that Mad Hamlet is currently
writing a series of sequels to Curse of Silence. He is aware of my stories
as well. Hopefully, we won't get in each other's way. It'll be fun.
This series will be somewhat serious, but not nearly as angsty as my other
works (ahem, Ranma's Curse.) I will be following Chris' style for these
stories: not laboring over retelling the whole story. Instead, I will focus
on each of the major characters, and possibly a few minor ones.
Sit back and enjoy.
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