At what cost?

AN: Well here it is the new story by me! (YAY) So here it is Akane finally snaps but unlike other stories Ranma is the one dealt the damage for her losing it and he ends up getting up and walking away and he goes to start a new life and ends up with his own life that he made on his own free will. Though as we all know it won’t be that easy for him once the he decided to face the past. Pairings are not pre-determined but I have a good idea what I am going to do so suggestions are welcome. (I’m hoping to make it a R/MCC)

MCC: My Created Character

So here we go…

“Speech”

‘Thoughts’

:Panda-man signs: If any

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Ranma was sitting at his favorite thinking spot atop of the Tendo dojo thinking about his life after the failed wedding and Saffron. He thought about how hard it was just to not blowup and unleash all his power that he had hidden from everyone but Happosai so he could gain his respect and to get him to teach him the real school not the one showed to his father and Mr. Tendo. And boy what amazing things he had learned from the man he had always though to be a pervert in life and the art, Ranma was now many times faster and stronger than before and had been able to start to accept his curse as something to be in his life for however long he lived. He also had started to come out of his macho unbeatable shell showing the world his knowledge was not only in the art but in all the subjects at school for all the time he had been asleep he had actually been paying rapt attention and same thing could be said when he stood out in the hall. His marks had soared and was now fourth smartest in Furinkan High just behind Nabiki and the other two. The relationship with his mother was better than ever and he had tried his best to avoid any attempts to be taken by the fiancées but alas no one had noticed this aside form his mother, the ever caring Kasumi, Happosai and Nabiki (because she was worried about him becoming smarter than her and wanted to learn of the things that he had changed.)

The changes did not stop there; he had even been able to make friends with Ryoga and only kept the fights to throw off Nabiki. His language had changed and now incorporated many swear words when he deemed it appropriate. He had even got himself a job, unkownst to the whole Tendo household and Happosai and mother. His long hidden sex-drive was now slowly coming to the fore.

He sighed realizing that there were only two ways out of the mess he was in and one meant he died and he was sure he wanted to live his life some more. The other option included him leaving his family and everything he had ever known and Kami-sama knew he tried to come up with a plan other than leaving the Saotome clan and going away from Nerima. Sure he didn’t mind leaving the hellhole that was Nerima but he could not begin to fathom leaving his mother behind (sure it would bug him to leave his friends but that would have been if he had any). The things that were pushing him to make a decision was the constant challenges from his rivals, the fights from the fiancées, and the main fact that being no one gave a fuck about who he was and what he wanted to everyone else he was a prize, meal ticket, training dummy, rival, breeding stock, or whatnot as the saw his potential for something else not the soul that made him who he was.

Ranma sat there for the next hour staring at the stars wishing he could venture into the cosmos and get away from it all. He sighed to himself before climbing off the roof and into the window, which led to guestroom, provided by the Tendo’s and hit the pillow and let his worries be lost as he drifted to his dream realm.

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Ranma awoke with a start as his danger sense kicked and told him to move NOW! He always did his best to listen to that instinct and rolled to his right as his father tried to grab him but missing. Ranma rolled into a crouching position and launched himself at his father; Ranma grabbed his father’s still outstretched arm and used it to throw the bastard out the window. He heard a satisfying splash followed by some growling as Ranma got dressed into his black kung-fu pants and decided to switch up his style today and grabbed a t-shirt from his backpack as it had been hidden from his father so he could not steal it. The shirt read “Procrastinators Unite…Tomorrow” and left the room pausing only to make sure his case was hidden from sight. Inside the case that he coveted so was his knew passion that showed him that he didn’t have to let his unnoticed emotions just sit there and fester in his soul. He thanked all the Kami for the gift that they had bestowed upon him letting him realize the freedom that he had been left out on, the freedom of speech and opinion and know he could just let it all flow out.

Ranma went down the stairs and into the dining area to find his father already sitting down with a plate of bamboo in front of him from which he had already begun to eat from. Ranma went and sat next to his father and began to empty his plate but slower than usual as if he meant to taste the food, and he did but the others didn’t know that. Akane came out of the Furo with some steam still coming from her hair and sat down across from Ranma as usual as she too began to partake of her meal. Ranma took a quick glance at the clock and realized that if he didn’t hurry up he would be late.

“Thank you for the delicious meal, Kasumi,” Ranma said as he stood up, Akane being Akane reacted first and pulled put her mallet whilst yelling “RANMA NO BAKA” as she tried in vain to hit which surprised the people around the table with the exception of Happosai and Kasumi who already new that he had been able to dodge the mallet since he had mastered the Moko Takabishi but had never dodged before.

“Akane you do know that a guest should at least try to be polite to his host especially one who can cook as well as Kasumi.” Ranma said as he headed out the door to the mudroom to get his shoes. Once again the room was in total shock again with the exception of Happosai and Kasumi who already knew he was very polite and gentlemanly.

Nabiki was of course the first one to recover from the initial shock and noted the time as she left. Kasumi and Happosai still continued what they were doing before Kasumi was kind enough to point out to Akane that it was almost time for school.

“Ranma you asshole how could you leave me here when it was this late.” Akane said as she hurriedly finished her breakfast and ran out the door. Kasumi and Happosai shared a look that let them know they were thinking the same thing ‘Well it’s simple really with the way you treat him I can’t see why he hasn’t left already.’

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Ranma had arrived at school earlier than usual surprising most. He walked into his homeroom and pulled out last night’s homework and got it ready to hand in. When the bell rang he noticed that Akane had not made it yet and dismissed as he passed his paper forward to Mrs. Hinako. About five minutes later an extremely annoyed Akane came bursting into the room and was about to rush at Ranma she was stopped by Mrs. Hinako and told she had bucket duty for being tardy. Aside from that class progressed normally or at least as normal in Nerima could get.

The lunch bell rang signaling the end to the hellish class but instead of leaving through the door Ranma not feeling up to going through the lunch routine he went out the window and jumped onto the roof hoping to find piece and quite. As he sat there eating his lunch his mind wandered back to the situation he was in at this point. He realized a vital flaw within the Tendo and Saotome agreement, it only stated that they were to ‘join the schools’ which could simply be done by learning the other style. So Ranma resigned himself to ask Happosai after school to teach him what he could about the style. As the bell rang Ranma could hear Akane, Ukyo, and Shampoo cursing since they had no luck in finding and feeding the ‘wild horse’ the lunch they had made especially for him.

Ranma being smart decided not give his hideout away he jumped down the other side of the school by the pool and went around the front to get to the afternoon classes.

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Ranma was walking him using the fence for what little challenge it had left for him instead of the sidewalk. Was ignoring Akane’s infamous whining about Ranma not eating her ‘heavenly lunch’ (read ‘new chemical weapon’) during the lunch period. As Ranma neared the Tendo complex he jumped ahead of Akane easily clearing the wall even though he was still one hundred feet away.

Akane could only stare as Ranma once again proved, even if unknowingly, that he was totally better than she was. Yet somehow she kept her anger hidden from the world so she could unleash when he least expected it and so it could the most damage.

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Ranma came into the dining room looking very tired and bruised. Ranma went and sat down at the table to get ready to eat, not noticing the others staring at her she began to devour her food once again at a slow pace but this time Genma was ready for this, he quickly lashed out upon seeing the boys lack of defense only to find both his chopsticks turned into a pile of dust.

“Pops at least heighten your speed above my level before you try that again.” Ranma said not missing a beat as she continued of eating. The room fell into silence except for the sounds of food being eaten.

This continued for half an hour before Ranma finished his food and stood up with his plate to take it to the kitchen and place it into the sink. Nabiki had finally had enough with the surprises of the last few months and spoke over the silence that had encompassed the room, “So Ranma, what’s with all the changes of late?’ She asked the pigtailed youth.

“Like?” Ranma answered as she came back from the kitchen not wet at all which was definitely different for the occupants who were all expecting to see a soaking wet Ranma from a broken water main.

“Well you being polite for one, another would be dodging Akane’s mallet, a third would be your harder language and the grades at school.” Nabiki said in a superior tone that would have many flinch but not Ranma she had faced much worse and had lived through to tell the tale now.

“I always have been but no one ever gave enough shit to pay attention to it, so your loss.” Ranma replied as she headed up the stairs to go to the guestroom and get some sleep not caring that she was still a girl.

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Akane did her best to leave her room without making a sound and did quite well considering her usual less than klutz grace. As she made it to the guestroom she ignored all the sounds she was making as she thought of the many ways she would get vengeance on Ranma for proving that he was better. As she opened the door she saw one form lying on a futon and immediately thought it to be Ranma but it was obviously not with the fat bulge that could be seen through the quilt.

The real Ranma was on the rooftop again staring at the stars contemplating the days training. He heard a huge thump followed by a girlish scream, which if you listened close enough, came from a set of masculine vocal cords. Ranma immediately realized who it was and what had caused and he laughed to himself as he thought about his father getting his just reward for fucking up so many people’s lives.

Ranma took pity on his father and hopped down into the guestroom and saw his father crying clutching his now completely flattened genitalia and couldn’t hold back the torrent of laughter that he felt and collapsed crying tears from the hysteria.

Akane was standing there before realizing not only was Ranma fine Genma was in severe pain not that she cared I mean who would. Akane gained her bearings quickly and launched herself at Ranma to get her revenge now that he was on the ground laughing. But once again to her ever growing annoyance of the pigtailed martial artist dodged again and she put a huge dent into the floor, which Nabiki would surely charge her for.

“Ranma you jerk why did you dodge my mallet? Now I have to pay for the hole.” Akane letting her rage be known.

“Why Akane I thought you were smarter than that, I mean the obvious reason to dodge a giant mallet about to be slammed on you is simple, it would hurt.” Ranma said still on the floor as he had rolled away to move out of the path of the mallet.

Akane stood there her rage shaking her body with interesting jiggling effects Ranma noted. She finally let loose in her rage and charged at him again but this time he moved to the side and waited for her to come at him again and she did but this time with an overhead swing to try to catch him off guard.

Ranma had of course expected this had moved in front of his father (unconsciously) and when he moved out of the way Akane hit the fat panda square in the head with a cry before removing all life from his now bone fragment filled cranium. But they didn’t notice since he was always fat and lazy they just assumed he was knocked unconscious or was lazing about.

The chase continued until Akane had finally exhausted all her energy on the production of the mallet and the both headed back off to sleep.

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Ranma awoke to the usual bucket of cold water via Akane Water Works Company and not the usual free air trip to the koi pond not that he minded being able to change without having to get all the floors wet and dirty. Ranma got dressed and left her father lazing about and headed down for breakfast expecting to see her father come rushing down when Kasumi called that breakfast was ready.

“Breakfast is ready.” Kasumi called into the house brining all it occupants to the table, well all except for one and that one was now dead still unkownst to the world. Kasumi called again and not getting a response from the guestroom courtesy of Genma she went up to see if he was okay or if she would have to bring him his breakfast in bed. The rest of the household received from her visit was a short but very audible cry from her followed by a thump.

Ranma was the first to get up to the guestroom to see what had upset Kasumi, she saw Kasumi lying on the floor by Genma’s form, still motionless. Soun went to his daughter and shook her until she woke up. Once Kasumi awoke the inevitable questioning began and her answer was, “Mr. Saotome is dead.” A gasp went through the room followed by a deafening silence.

“Well at least we know who the killer is.” Ranma said letting the sentence go unfinished.

“Who might that be?” Akane asked oblivious to the obvious as usual.

“You.” Nabiki answered for Ranma even though she was still shocked at the revelation about her sister having enough power to kill a martial artist with her mallet.

“W-what do you mean?” Akane asked her nervousness showing.

“Well I think she means that that mallet of yours killed him while on your rampage last night.” Ranma said in a saccharine voice keeping his rage in check, sure his father had treated him like shit but he was his only one and he loved him.

“B-but how?’ Akane questioned still not grasping what she had done.

“Well excuse me but I have to go to school I can worry about him later.” Ranma said using all the control he had in his power to hold back his rage and even then it showed a little. Ranma got up from the floor and went out of the room and headed to the gate to leave. Once he reached the gate he gathered himself and used the soul of ice for whatever help it would provide and left to school not wasting time on hopping onto the fence for training, he just ran.

Upon reaching the school he sees Kuno standing there waiting for “his” pigtailed goddess and fiery tigress. Ranma decides he doesn’t need this right know and jumps straight over the “True Blunder” and continues on his way to the classroom to gather his thoughts about what had happened last night and the revelation of this morning. He sat there in thought not noticing his surroundings and almost failed to miss being attacked fro behind by some anonymous person and would have been hit if not for his instincts drilled into him by his now deceased father. Class started on time as usual and Hinako skipped Ranma’s name thinking him and Akane would be late as usual.

“Did I miss any ones name?” She inquired to the class and heard a familiar voice call out from his seat.

“Ya, me.” Ranma said his arms crossed across his chest and with his trademark cocky smirk continued, “Just because I usually am late doesn’t mean you should expect me to be late with my life the one big mess it is you should always be ready for the unexpected or weird.” He stated to her from his seat his eyes the only thing that showed his smile was fake but that was missed by all.

The days class continued calmly even for Nerima standards for one Akane didn’t show, or Nabiki, Kuno for some reason was still waiting for “his” women to come. The reason he probably hadn’t seen Ranma, as he was moving at speeds on the very best could see when he jumped over the wanna-be-samurai. At the end of the say Ranma’s mood had not improved in fact it had been worsened by the fact that Akane wasn’t here to hit anyone they were more daring with the cold water accidents. Ranma was fed up as he walked to the gate to see Kuno still standing there before turning around to see his archenemy “the vile sorcerer Saotome” and ask where his loves were.

“Saotome were have you taken my loves?” Kuno asked actually using what little common sense he had.

“Well Akane is at the Tendo Dojo,” Ranma said before displaying the amazing foot in mouth disease, “And your pigtailed goddess as usual is bound to me.” Ranma finished before slapping his head at his choice of words.

“How dare you, you vile cur I will punish for the name of justice.” Yelled the Nerima village idiot and charged the Saotome youth with the intent to free his loves from the clutches of the cur Saotome.

Ranma snapped, “SHUT THE FUCK UP! YOU DON’T KNOW A FUCKING THING ABOUT JUSTICE IF ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS TWO “GIRLS”! JUSTICE IS ALL AROUND NOT JUST FOR YOUR OWN PROFIT! I’M SICK OF IF ALL YOU EVER DO IS ACUSE ME FOR THINGS I HAVEN’T DONE AND THEN GO AFTER MY CURSED FORM! YES MY CURSED FOR THE ‘PIGTAILED GODDESS’ SO GO TO HELL AND MARRY AKANE” Ranma was ready to rip out a throat of two or at least cause serious damage to someone’s body and Kuno with his amazing endurance was a great candidate. Kuno of course was still off in his own world and just attacked Ranma, who unfortunately for him was ready and kicked his ass long and heard letting the snaps of bones and cries of pain and anguish cool his temper before sending the bastard in the direction of the insane asylum.

The students at the school were surprised to say the least, for it had become almost a constant in their lives that Ranma would always be calm and collected and would never fly off the deep end like Akane had done so many times and here was that young man completely snapped and ready to kill. The teenagers gave him a wide birth as he headed out of the gates and towards the Tendo Dojo.

Upon reaching the complex he noticed the depressed air around the house. He walks into the living room and finds Soun Tendo crying over the loss of his dear friend, Nabiki sitting on the couch her eyes host to a haunted look that told she had finally been broken, Kasumi had finally shed her mask and was crying on the floor, and Akane well she looked up to see him her eyes holding endless rage for the Saotome youth. She got up but didn’t summon her mallet as she walked toward Ranma once she got to him she slapped him sure he may have let her but she needed to take out her frustration on someone or something he just wished it wasn’t him.

“Hi Akane.” He said sadly as he felt the little sting that came from the hate filled eyes and no the slap across the cheek.

“You bastard how dare you leave me here and not take me to school you probably didn’t go at all and just went to the Amazons or Uchans.” Akane said accusingly with her hand haled high ready to either slap, punch, or mallet him and he was ready to take it so no one else would her harmed by the rage filled youth.

“(SIGH) You can believe whatever you want Akane it still won’t change that fact that I did what I did.” Ranma answered ready for the severe beating ahead knowing how Akane would take those words. And what do ya know she took them exactly as he had expected…

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Woo that took a while I’m sorry it took so long to get it out and the fact that I have been very busy with all the camps and trips I’ve been at. Do not expect me to be able to write this much for each chapter but I will try but I can make no promises. My other story “Among the Chosen” will be put on hold for a while due to Writers Block and this is how I am dealing with it I hope you enjoy this.

Sincerely,

SS4LINK

Random Quote

“ “When I started learning how to use the computer, I came across an interesting technique called…what was it? Oh yes, they called it ‘hacking’. It made things really easy.” Spoken by Navi in “The Legend of Ranma” chapter 4 by Hung Nguyen.