Ranma Saotome is the heir to the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, as we all know. He has gone thru more things than most ten people, from his training with his father for ten years to being away from his mother all that time. The Neko-Ken, the Dragon's whisker, and of course Jusenkyo he has survived it all.
But he is not without faults of his own, he can't stand to loose, an almost pathological need to win is ingrained in him by his father. He has been taught that he must be the best at all costs, and that need shows itself in a totally cockiness that, well lets be honest makes most people near him sick.
His background has shown that most social and mental skills that people take for granted he has not learned. He is stunted emotionally and socially, all he can do is fight to that end he pushes away all he cares for because that is how you show affection in his mind with insults and put downs. Cause that is how Genma showed affection to him with insults and put-downs.
He has developed an affection for Akane Tendo one of his would be fiancés. But he really does not know how to deal with that, he knows that he cares for her but he really doesn't know what love is. But the events with Saffron changed all of that for he had to kill to save Akane, and he knew he couldn't live without her, so he won like usual.
Later after the failed wedding attempt, and a brief time of respite where things were calm. Once the usual bizarre challenges started up again and things returned to usual. But someone lurking in the background has a plan that will change things for all their lives forever
And that is where we pick up, so welcome to the prequel to Only Human,
Welcome to Big Sister.
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Big Sister
By Verse12
[email protected]
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Disclaimer:
I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan, Pioneer LDC, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoe Tsukimura, Akira Toriyama) This is just fans of the shows expressing their love for it for fun, no profit is involved or expected thank you.
Note: this Chapter starts the week before the Only Human Prologue and ends at the end of it.
Also when people who know better refer to Ranma they will use the male gender for him regardless of his actual gender. But when I use narration I will use the actual gender be it male or female.
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Prologue
Beginnings Part One
Or
Ranma's Bad Day
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Nabiki Tendo has had a horrible day, heck a horrible week. Profits are down; that exchange student is trying to horn in on her business, and no one will tell her just what happened to Ranma and the others in China!
"What else can go wrong?" she mutters as she walks home from school her book satchel swinging in her grip.
Then in an alley a shadowy figure call out to her in a disguised voice, "Nabiki Tendo?"
Stopping in her tracks she turns a cold glare over to the hidden form, "who wants to know?"
"Uhm? . . . that's, um not important," the figure says trying to hide from her view. "What is important is that I represent some very important people and they want Ranma Saotome to learn some humility. So we want to make a deal, okay?"
Smirking at having the upper hand in this unusual deal she asks, "go ahead."
"Uh? Over on top of this rubbish bin is a case with 45000 yen! If you can give Ranma a lesson in humility then it's all yours plus another 47643 when you finish" the black shape says in a rush. (1)
Practically salivating at the thought of all that cash she smiles with a cold look in her eye. "I think I have just the thing, in fact this will be a pleasure. It's something I have been saving for a rainy day. How do I contact you when this is over?" she says to the alleyway.
Frowning she walks over to find it empty except for the case, smiling she pops the catch seeing the numerous crumpled low denomination bills and even some change.
Smirking she looks up at the buildings on each side and says to herself, "so that's how you want to play it huh? Fine we can do that, in fact this will be fun."
So with a smile and a jaunty whistle about her already improving week she strolls off for home with her bookcase and the money case in her hands.
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Leaning over the edge of the four story building the shadowy figure smiles as Nabiki walks off and says to himself, "ya we can play it that way and your right it will be fun."
Standing up he walks over to a female figure in a dark cloak holding a long object rapped in brown paper and tied with twine. "You ready" she asks?
Nodding his cloak-covered head the male figure replies, "yah, lets go to the next place we'll be needed."
And with that the two flicker and fade from view.
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Leaving Furinken High School
Walking back home Ranma laughs at a fuming Akane "I can't believe you said that, you, you, JJJEEERRRKKK," she roars at his retreating form.
Laughing while running on the canal railing he holds down his eyelid while sticking out his tongue "Beeeedddaaa."
"To slow tomboy," he laughs at her, jumping up out of the way as she swings her school bag at his feet missing every time.
"You are so uncute," he says dancing around her wild swings, staying perched on top of the fence. "Catch ya later Akane," he laughs at her before flipping back into a one armed handstand then back onto his feet running for the dojo.
Standing there literally furious Akane fumes to herself, her body covered in a blazing red corona of enraged power.
"that . . . that . . . stupid . . . obnoxious . . . arrogant . . . insensitive . . . JJJJJEEEEERRRRRKKKK!!!!"
Running into the Tendo dojo Ranma smirks at how finally he is in control of his life. 'Now no one can make me do anything I don't want too.' he thinks.
"And that feels so good," he grins to himself as he removes his shoes.
"And what exactly is that Saotome? Hum?" murmurs Nabiki with her usual dry and sardonic wit.
Looking up from taking off his shoes, Ranma frowns at her where she stands on the stairs. "Uh? Hey Nabiki how's it going," he mutters beginning to head for the kitchen, "surprised to see you home so early."
Leaning over the railing looking down on him wearing her usual orange top and tight shorts. "Yeah I had something to take care of here, and I didn't have detention like you and Akane did, and unlike you I learned how to avoid Principal Kuno's more crazy antics."
Grimacing like he could really care less he grumbles "yeah well uh, whatever."
"Just a minute Saotome," she calls out to him making him stop from entering the kitchen.
Looking up he frowns at her in confusion "what is it?"
"Come with me for a minute kay," she says turning around heading up stairs.
Confused the pig tailed youth shrugs and flips over the railing following her. Then he groans to himself and mutters, unfortunately for him, not quietly enough, "why me always bleedn me dry." He stops when he looks up at Nabiki at the top of the stairs her cold withering gaze freezing him in his place.
His face falling into a weak grin he weakly exclaims "A . . . sorry," he finishes in a rush, his hand rubbing the back of his neck while looking sheepish.
Her unblinking gaze boring into his head causes him to step back before he realizes he shouldn't be afraid of her. Then with one hand she points to her room. And as he smiles weakly going inside, she smirks at his back thinking 'this is getting good already, and now to really put the screws on him. I'll see if all those times I used those hidden video cameras I borrowed to from the media club paid off.'
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A Short Time Later,
Smiling widely at Ranma's stunned expression Nabiki pulls a tape from the VCR, 'dragging the family TV and VCR up here for privacy was worth it to see this' she thinks.
After some time with his eyes filling his face from shock he mutters weakly "no way! It's a trick!"
"No, No it isn't," she smiles widely at his discomfort. "I've been saving this for a loooonnnggg time, you see" she says grabbing her desk chair and sitting on it as he sits on her bed, "you see you've pissed off somebody real bad, and while I don't know who it is they have retained me to see you brought down a peg."
"So either you do what I say when I say or Auntie Saotome will see just how manly you are talking about how you want to take up flower arranging or saying you love Ryoga" she smirks? (2)
"And don't think of trying to just take the tape, I have copies stashed in safe places all over," she says with a smirk seeing him look longingly at the tape in her hands and thinking about all that lovely cash.
With a sigh his shoulders slumped in defeat, "what do you want?" he grumbles.
Smiling evilly she replies, "now that's the big question isn't it?" She says this while steepleing her hands over her mouth (think Gendo Ikari) "but theirs no need to rush things, you'll see very soon what will be required of you," then leaning forward she grins evilly "very soon."
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And so it follows for many days Nabiki holds the contents of the tape over Ranma's head forcing him to do all kinds of demeaning things. From the typical, having him pose for pictures as a girl, selling him for dates to the fiancés and using him to carry things for her and different businesses that she had an interest in.
And all these things Ranma put up with to keep the contents of the tape secret, they were nothing new, he had dealt with them before when dealing with Nabiki. But they did have the effect of causing Ranma to get pretty melancholy.
But then Nabiki begins to up the ante, using him in slight acts of, how shall we say enforcement? Nothing to major, no leg breakings or such just intimidation to pay up. But the missions he was being sent on by her were getting more and more unsettling to him, he didn't want to violate his code of honor even as loose as it could be at times.
And now she was sending him on a date with a guy as a girl, nothing hentai she says just to go out with this guy who didn't know his true nature. At first Ranma was emphatic about his denials but Nabiki is very persuasive so here Ranma is standing out side of a movie theater in slinky black dress.
Nabiki got everyone out of the house with different plans, Ranma just had to be back by 12 she said. What Nabiki didn't tell him was that Akane was at the same movies with her friends. But when Ranma's date shows up and it's Kuno? Ranma goes off. And Happosai then showing up to get in on the act, causes Ranma to realize he has had enough. He didn't care anymore; Nabiki says he has to go on a date with him? Well forget it!
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All these thoughts flood Ranma's mind, as she is standing there in girl form in a nice dress that Nabiki told her to wear as Kuno and Happosai fight among themselves over who will get to date her. The pig tailed girl wonders how Nabiki talked her into this in the first place and looking at the duo causes his mind to reflect on all the crap he has gone thru this week and he finally snaps.
"SCREW IT" roars the red headed boy turned girl when she sees Happy and Kuno turn to face her. And with a leap she attacks the perverts, kicking Kuno into a wall with a roundhouse kick as the kendo artist proclaims his love for his pig-tailed goddess.
Happosai though is still agile enough to avoid most of Ranma's attacks. But the anything goes heir is so good now the old pervert has to actually work at the fight.
Dogging and weaving around the blows thrown at him at an unreal speed Happy taunts him. "So my little pig tailed pretty you wanted to get a little sparing in before our date," he leers at Ranma.
Snarling at the little old man she yells at her, "You stinking old pervert I wouldn't date you for anything in the world!"
"Now, now Ranma-Chan you wouldn't want to ruin your nice dress now would you? What's say you put on this little number I liberated just for you?" He says holding up a see thru bustier with garters and stockings.
Shocked Ranma actually pauses at the sight of the riskay thing enabling Happy to use his pipe to toss her into a nearby wall. Pulling herself from the wall Ranma-chan starts to glow a livid red that even Akane would envy.
Standing there she bellows out in a fury "PPPPEEERRRRVVVVEEEERRRRTTTT!!!!"
Moving so fast she seems to disappear Ranma pops up behind Happosai slamming him into the concrete with a massive overhand dual fisted blow that shakes the ground like a bomb going off.
Standing there in the middle of the street huffing in wrath at his audacity she looks down on the unmoving little man and snorts, "weak old man, real weak I'm stronger than you ever were, heck I'm the strongest ever." Then turning away she slaps the recovered Kuno back into the wall with a snort.
As Ranma walks away heading for the Dojo the ground starts to shake behind her causing her to stop in her tracks. Turning around she sees Happosai standing in the middle of the crater he had been in, his form backlit by the massive power he was putting off.
"RRRRRRAAAAAAANNNNNNNMMMMMMMAAAAAAA!!!!!!!" He roars unleashing a massive blast of power at the boy turned girl causing him to pale at the sight.
'Crap' she thinks before she leaps to the side unleashing a quick moko takabisha at the side of happy's blast to help push it away.
Moving in close Ranma she tries to hit the midget master with a hard right to the jaw but he counters with his pipe, using his patented (yes patent # cb97643) move of flipping her away, but this time she's ready. Grabbing the pipe she flicks the man away causing him to hit the wall, its multiple imbedding making it crumble onto him.
Snorting she tosses the pipe onto the pile of ruble then turns to head home intent on giving Nabiki a piece of her mind. "She can just go ahead an show the world that tape, it ain't worth it anymore, heck thinkin about mom already said I'm man enough anyway. I just didn't want to disappoint her anymore," she says shaking her head.
Ranma should have kept up her guard though as her thoughts cease as a searing pain on her back causes her to stumble. Gasping for breath her thoughts muddled, Ranma turns to face the smug Happosai sitting on a rock behind her smoking his pipe and looking smug.
Turning over she stands up looking down on the little man she growls out, "what . . . did . . . YOU DO!"
Smiling smugly at the red head, the anything goes master takes a long drag of the pipe before answering. "You really shouldn't've pushed me my good lad. You need to be kind to your Sensei. But you had to push things."
Getting into the little man's face she grabs his gi and snarls, "What did you do!"
Smiling he takes another drag before answering, "I should think it would be obvious even to you."
And at her anger-ridden gaze he looks her dead in the eye and answers "the ultimate weakness moxibustion."
Shock covers her face as she steps back away from the gloating little man, "you didn't do that again? why?"
Hoping down he taps out the pipe on his shoe before putting it away and walking over to the red head, he answers with a sneer "I did it just to piss you off."
"YOU &*#!$%" she roars coming in on him with a high right to try and pound him into the ground. Happy simply stands in place smiling at her as the blow lands on his head with absolutely no results.
Shock fills Ranma's being as she realizes the little perv was telling the truth, "I'm weak again?" she mumbles in disbelief stumbling back from Happy.
"Told ya kid," smiles Happy hopping up onto a near by bench. "You know you really should use your head more. You need to learn that as strong as you are yull always come across someone stronger. Or more tricky," he says with a little flourish.
"Undo it!" growls out the petite red head thru grit teeth.
Relighting his pipe Happy looks at the sky in evident contemplation before he looks at Ranma and shakes his head no with a little smirk. "You need to learn to respect your sensei. So no I think a little lesson in humility, a few months maybe, as a weakling will do you a world of good. Oh and I figured out how to alter it a bit so the cure Cologne-chan has won't work anymore that will teach you that you need to respect your betters."
"YOU ARE NOT MY BETTER!" she screams attacking with a flurry of blows, all of which Happosai simply ignores.
"Then why can't you hurt me then my pretty," grins the little perv lecherously.
An inarticulate growl roars from her throat as all of the pressure Ranma's been under come out in a flurry of ineffectual attacks.
"PIG-TAILED GIRL!" yells a recuperated Kuno clutching a surprised Ranma to his chest, tears coming from his eyes at the joy of the moment.
"NOW MY LOVE WE CAN BE TOGTHER FOREVER!" he yells in a moronically blissful tone.
Struggling ineffectually against Kuno's embrace Ranma pounds weakly on his chest with her tiny fists, "LET ME GO MORON!"
"A my love I see that the fiend Saotome's evil influence is finally weakening on you. He can't keep you from my loving embrace anymore, come let us go together on a joyous DDDDAAATTTTTEEEEEE!!!!!!" His last comment trails off as he disappears into the horizon, courtesy of a suddenly appearing Akane's swift boot to the head.
"Hotcha! Akane! Let me have a good rest on your bosom" Happy cries out joyously only to join Kuno on air Akane.
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As Akane stands there seething with anger looking at a panting and angry Ranma she thinks on how this night has changed. She had gone to a good movie with Yuka and Sayuri and as they were leaving she spied a sight she could not believe. There in a slinky dress, was Ranma HUGING KUNO! In fact she realizes now that he was in her dress! And Ranma wasn't beating him up? Was Ranma so perverted now that he was going out with Kuno?!
So cloaked in Anger she stomped over to Kuno and proceeded to kick him and Happosai over the city. And so as she stands there she glaring at Ranma he has the absolute GALL to yell at her for butting in.
Not noticing how really shaken up the boy turned girl actually is at the recent events she sees only what she wants. Ignoring any other words to her she screams "PPPPPPEEEEERRRRRRVVVVVVVEEEEEERRRRRRRTTTTTTT" and a hard uppercut sends him on his own journey into the air. Luckily in a different direction than the pervert twins.
Fuming she turns to her friends still standing outside the movies where they wait for her, their questions to her ignored by the youngest Tendo as she heads for home.
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Still conscious Ranma soars thru the air feeling glad that her constitution is still good even under the ki blocking influence of the Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion.
"Stupid Tomboy," she mutters spying where she is going to land.
"Great all the way in the night club district," she mutters trying to spread out her body to increase wind resistance as she closes in on the ground.
And with an explosion of concrete she lands in an alley the people who see this quickly find somewhere else to be. A moment later the pigtailed girl rises to her feet bruised and aching muttering about uncute girls. Stumbling out of the alley, her short black dress ripped in some interesting places and her shoes being long gone causes some looks from the passers by of the busy district, especially the men.
Scanning the area she quickly discerns the proper way back to the dojo and begins to trudge home ignoring the whistles and other catcalls from some of the young men nearby.
"Stupid Akane, stupid Nabiki, stupid, stupid Happosai! This's gotta be the worst day, EVER! And I swear I have had some doozes in the past. Why does life gotta SUCK so much for me I mean I swear I thought that I finally had life all laid out. I thought that things were all great and now, now things are crap." Ranma complains as she trudges down the busy street kicking a soda can petulantly.
"And this time the old ghoul can't help me. So lets think about this what am I left with to use what with my own ki being used by the moxibustion to block my own strength I can't use any strong offensive physical or ki attacks. That means I can only use the original Hiryu-sho-ten-ha since it's just changing the air around me, my modified version needs my ki to activate it. CRAP" Ranma yells realizing that the Umi-sen-ken's cloaking shield would also be to hard to form as well and of course that will exclude the Moko-takabisha as well.
She thinks of all these things as she cuts thru a park using it as a short cut to get to the dojo. But her dark thoughts are cut short when a mocking voice calls out in the night to her.
"HEY SWEETNESS, whatchu doin in dis kinda place? lookin fo a party?"
The voice causes Ranma to look up and see she had come across a half dozen ruff looking punks. 'The whole lot of them would only take a second to take out' she thinks with a smirk.
"Oh hey check out that body on her, Gen. She is hot!" leers one of the thugs on her right talking to the first one.
"Got dat right," echoes another of the young street punks.
Smirking at the cannon fodder already forgetting about the ultimate weakness moxibustion as she falls into the familiar patterns of fighting. Ranma remains in a very relaxed stance and calls out to them, "I've had a very bad day, and if I were you I would run very far very fast, okay?"
"Oh, you think you've had a bad day so far? Do you?" sneers the first punk the one called Gen. "well sweetness you day just got a whole lot betta" he says closing in on the red head.
With a jaunty smirk the boy turned girl cracks her knuckles and replies, "well your funeral." Before launching forward in a rising uppercut designed to send the punk into the next block only for it to not do anything other than make Gen laugh.
"That it? A little kid coulda hit harder than dat. With all dat 'tude you been throw'n 'bout thought you might coulda fought a bit, looks like you's bluffn, huh? Sweetness?"
He grins at Ranma grabbing her by the shoulders as she realizes she had forgotten about the weakness moxibustion, and she realizes she is in trouble, her thoughts turn to a number of judo moves that take no strength she can use, and her natural speed can get her out of there if need be.
As the concern begins to register on Ranma's face the punks begin to laugh at her facial expressions. "Yo Gen you tink she gonna be a little nicea now?" one of the unnamed punks call out.
But before Ranma can retaliate the punk who had last spoken has his face caved in by a blurring fist that sends him clattering across the concrete pathway and into a tree.
In a blur of motion the man shot across from thug to thug taking them apart in less time than it takes to tell. Finally coming to a stop in front of the leader Gen, "let'er go," the man growls.
It was then when Ranma finally gets a clear view of her unwanted savior and she gasps in recognition "Ryu Kumon?"
Frowning the man in camouflage pants and a black tank top frowns at the disheveled girl in confusion before he realizes who it is, "Saotome?"
This is all the distraction the thug named Gen needs as he throws Ranma to the side while grabbing a small knife from his belt to try and stab the martial artist Ryu Kumon. But it's all for nothing as he almost effortlessly grabs Gen's wrist and spins it causing a loud crack to fill the relatively quiet park.
"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH" wails Gen crying like a little baby while cradling his wrist.
Sneering in contempt Ryu Kumon kicks him in the face almost negligently causing the punk to slide across the ground and into unconsciousness.
Then in confusion he turns to the only opponent ever to defeat him and the one to cause him to lose the right to use the Yama-sen-ken. "So what's the game Saotome? Did I mess up your fun night with the 'guys'" he sneers a little ludely (Ryu doesn't really like Ranma, but then what guy does in his world?)
Shaken by the event Ranma raises to his feet as Ryu's comments register on him and his distress quickly turns to anger, "SHUT UP, JERK!" roars the diminutive red head turning away to head for home.
Smirk growing on Ryu's face he trots after the gender bended Ranma, "hey Saotome, wait up. You don't have to explain to me your little proclivities."
Stopping with a growl she turns around and pokes him in the chest, "listen jerk, I've had a reeaaallly bad day and I just want to get home before it gets any worse."
Then in confusion she asks, "What's a pro-cliv, prtclive, procliveite?"
"Proclivity? Well it's," he begins with a self-serving grin only to be cut off by Ranma's outburst.
"I DON'T REALLY CARE!" She yells throwing her hands in the air, turning around and stomping off for the dojo.
Shaking his head at Ranma's behavior he calls out "wait up," when she doesn't stop he calls out again, "no hold up I'm serious."
Stopping with her back to him she growls out, "what is it?"
Coming up to her he walks around in front of her "I want a rematch, I've been training in a style of my own and I'm going to take you down this time."
Turning about she looks at him in disbelief "you've gotta be kidin me, NOW?"
Looking at her critically, turning his head from left to right, "well you look pretty out of it now and I want to make sure you don't have an excuse when I annihilate you" he sneers.
"I can take you any time, any place you arrogant SOB!" She yells definitely.
"Well then," he grins at her "lets do it then" he says getting into an interesting stance.
Snorting Ranma gets into a stance designed to deal with an unknown skills. Then she remembers the moxibustion and someone of Ryu Kumon's abilities will be pretty much impossible to beat with it on.
Face draining of color she realizes that she is in big trouble, then Ryu makes his move dashing forward in a blur of motion that Ranma barely avoids. Jumping back Ranma realizes her only chance is to get out of his range. Dancing back away from the furious blows being thrown her way Ranma glances about for something to distract him with.
But the swift side kick to her midsection that sends her flying back into a retaining wall ends that thought and the follow up blows that rock her body end her consciousness.
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Three hours later, Ranma wakes up
"uh, wha?" She mumbles sitting up rubbing her head.
"I kicked you butt is what happened," laughs the camo-clad boy "the question is how come you sucked so much? You are sick aren't you?"
Trying to stand on wobbly legs she mutters "something like that."
Standing up while giving her a weird look he mutters back to her, "well that sucks, tell you what in a month I'll come to that dojo you stay at for a real rematch then we can see who's the best, okay?"
Her eyes finally clearing of the fog of unconsciousness she looks at him with a measure of respect before nodding "'kay that's cool, in a month then."
Nodding at the pigtailed girl he responds "in a month, you going to be okay? You still look shaken up? Wouldn't do to have you die in a gutter somewhere before I have a chance to do it."
Muttering to him, she says "thanks for the concern but I'm fine" and with that she heads out of the park.
Spending a moment watching her receding form Ryu Kumon then shakes his head and disappears into the city to train for his upcoming rematch.
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Stumbling home while using a quickly procured branch as a make shift staff Ranma grumbles over her recently miserable life. Coming in sight of the dojo she realizes she's still in a dress, and since it's about 2 am her mom and everyone will be back by now.
"Crap," she mutters trying to think of a way out of this.
'Pop will be up in the room and it will be just my luck I'll get caught in somethin weird' the pig tailed martial artist thinks.
Snapping her fingers Ranma grins, "Got it, that change a clothes I left in the gym locker room."
Then her face falls some "gotta walk all the way to school though" she mutters "ah well" shaking her head, she turns about and trudges for Furinken her make shift staff tapping as she walks down the road with it.
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"Five a.m." growls out a bleary eyed Akane Tendo. "He's been out all night!" She mutters while rubbing at the dark circles under her baggy eyes.
"Now, now Akane-chan" begins an unsurprisingly chipper Kasumi "I'm sure Ranma-kun has a good explanation," she says patting her on the arm comfortingly.
With an odd grin Nodoka Saotome, the only other one up exclaims to the other women sitting around the low table in the Tendo living room. "I'm sure it's something manly whatever has delayed him. Though I do wish he would have called and let us know he wasn't coming home."
Growling under her breath Akane mutters "he better not be doing anything too manly!"
With a concerned look on her face the Saotome matriarch voices her unease saying "I have been worried about Ranma lately we were actually getting closer but this last week he has been so subdued, almost avoiding me? He seems so skittish, I'm just worried about him you know girls? I haven't had that much time with my son and I don't want to miss any more time with him."
"I'm sure it's nothing Auntie" Kasumi sooths the older woman while gathering up the tea service sitting on the table.
While Kasumi places the empty teapot on the tray Akane mutters something about inconsiderate perverts.
Then looking outside she sees that the beginnings of dawn lighting the sky and her anger is forgotten for a moment as worries for Ranma fill her mind. 'Oh Ranma where are you, I'm sorry what could have happened I just got so mad seeing you and Kuno. Thinking about it I know that you couldn't have been doing what I thought. I'm sorry' She thinks to herself.
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Still hearing movement downstairs makes Nabiki shake her head as she sits in bed. "Jeez what could be taking him? Akane says she hit him and Kuno away but he should have been back by now."
Getting up she goes over to her desk and takes out a ledger and begins to peruse it but after a minute she growls and throws it back into her desk and locks it. "Crap," she mutters "I made a lot of money on this, but I've never seen him so . . . ?"
"Depressed," shaking her head she climbs back into bed "got to get some sleep tonight," she grumbles as she turns off the light.
But as the minute's pass and Ranma still doesn't come home she begins to look depressed a bit and in a tone she would not let anyone else hear she mutters, "I think I took this to far, maybe? I'm sorry Ranma."
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A miserable male Ranma plods home complaining of how he can't believe he fell asleep in the locker room.
"Must be more tired than I thought," he states "least I got some bandages for all those cuts an stuff I got from that fight with Kumon."
"I wonder what's waitin for me at home?" he questions.
Then in shock he stops, thinking 'maybe Nabiki showed the tape to mom.'
Shaking his head he moves on spying the dojo in the distance of the slowly brightening sky. 'Na' he thinks 'she said she was being paid to do this, she needs to make me more humble she said'
And not for the first time this week he wonders who could be behind this attack using Nabiki as a weapon.
'Still can't believe I did that though. I mean that stuff on that tape and all. Flouncing around talkin and thinkin like a girl, given up martial arts and taken up FLOWER ARRANGING? I mean what's up with that. Where did all that come from?' he thinks to himself in disgust.
'And that whole part where I was chasen RYOGA? How? an how come I don't remember any a this? It was obvious cause a that tape that Akane an Pop both knew about all this, so why didn't they ever say anythin' he continues his internal monologue.
Finally arriving at the Dojo Ranma takes a deep breath with his eyes closed before he opens the front door.
'Maybe I'll be lucky and everyone will be asleep and not even know I haven't come home yet.' He thinks with an optimistic smile, he should realize that his life is never that lucky for as soon as he steps foot inside he is frozen in the gazes of the three waiting women.
"Urk," he gurgles holding his hands up in a defensive position.
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"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN," bellows Akane getting up in Ranma's face.
Stepping back defensively the accused teen retorts eloquently "Wha?"
Walking up to her son Nodoka smiles and gives him a hug "Welcome home my son, but I do wish you would call if you are going to be out being manly."
"WWWWHHHHAAAATTTT?!?!?" roars Akane shaking the whole house and waking the still sleeping inhabitants.
Gurgling as Akane shakes him about demanding to know what he did Ranma slowly gets angry and when he sees a nervous Nabiki stumble downstairs he gets furious.
Shouting at Akane Ranma tells her that she should know since she's the one who sent him on a trip to the other side of the district.
With a shove she sends him stumbling to the ground, growling he stands to his feet roaring "I JUST WANTED TO CONTROL MY LIFE, JUST A LITTLE BIT!"
"Is that so bad," he continues in a more subdued tone of voice. "Jeez did you have to destroy me?" he says no longer looking at Akane but at Nabiki.
Swinging his arms wide in a gesture of disgust he didn't notice Kasumi standing behind him holding the used tea service, the dregs of the teapot long since cold. So when he throws his arms wide he didn't know that he would nock Kasumi to the ground and spill the remains of the tea on him turning him back to a girl.
"CRAP," she roars then looking back he sees that it's Kasumi that has been knocked to the ground. Suddenly concerned she kneels down and begins to ask her if she is all right. Only to be cut off as an enraged Akane seeing only that Ranma had knocked down Kasumi some one who has done no harm for anyone. She growls with rage and she grabs him and slugs him so hard he flies up thru the roof of the house and soars far across the city.
Standing there panting with rage and glowing a vibrant red she then growl out "I'm going to get ready for school," before turning about and stomping up stairs.
Standing where she is Nabiki frowns realizing that her 'mission' is a success, but the cloud of doubt that formed earlier is worsened as Ranma's words to her echo in her mind and she thinks 'I took it to far. I'll have to do something to make it up to him.'
"Crap I hate being the good guy," she mutters as she shakes her head and heads up stairs to get ready herself.
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Stunned by the blow Ranma is rendered insensible for almost a full minute as she soars thru the sky. When she finally comes too she realizes she has been hit farther than ever all the way to another district. Seeing the approaching ground and the couple at ground zero Ranma calls out, "CRAAAPPPPP" before slamming hard into the concrete between the pair.
After a moment Ranma rises to her feet some of the bandages falling off of her. Then noticing something odd she feels in her pocket and realizes that her wallet is gone.
"Ah crap made me lose my wallet, stupid tomboy," he mutters.
Wincing in pain from shaking her head in disgust she exclaims, "she didn't have ta hit me all the way out here, 's gonna take forever ta get back."
"An 's been the worst day a my life and when I do get back that ol'freak is gonna pay this time for sure," she yells at no one in particular.
Noticing something odd at her feet the busty red head glances down to see some kind of staff cracked in the middle and sparking energy.
'Oh this is not gonna be good I can tell you that' she thinks. Looking up she sees the man that she had crashed by and she mutters "Ah, crap"
Then a blinding flash fills the area and Ranma feels everything warp and twist and the only thought in her head is that 'this day just stinks.'
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To Be Continued in:
Interlude One: Full Circle
And Then in Chapter One
A Scene from Chapter One:
"Hey, Hey, you okay" asks a young boy in a purple gi?
I ...I...don't know? . . . I can't remember . . . I can't remember anything!" Exclaims Ranma in confusion eyes wide as she looks at the boy.
End Notes:
(1) - Total amount in US Dollars is about 787.00
(2) - From the episode pretty womanhood, and the koi rod incident in the manga. In this story Ranma can't remember those incidents.
Well what do you think? I needed to get some points covered before I got Ranma home over in Only Human. Also any other possible destinations for the return home would be appreciated. Thanks and please Review.
But he is not without faults of his own, he can't stand to loose, an almost pathological need to win is ingrained in him by his father. He has been taught that he must be the best at all costs, and that need shows itself in a totally cockiness that, well lets be honest makes most people near him sick.
His background has shown that most social and mental skills that people take for granted he has not learned. He is stunted emotionally and socially, all he can do is fight to that end he pushes away all he cares for because that is how you show affection in his mind with insults and put downs. Cause that is how Genma showed affection to him with insults and put-downs.
He has developed an affection for Akane Tendo one of his would be fiancés. But he really does not know how to deal with that, he knows that he cares for her but he really doesn't know what love is. But the events with Saffron changed all of that for he had to kill to save Akane, and he knew he couldn't live without her, so he won like usual.
Later after the failed wedding attempt, and a brief time of respite where things were calm. Once the usual bizarre challenges started up again and things returned to usual. But someone lurking in the background has a plan that will change things for all their lives forever
And that is where we pick up, so welcome to the prequel to Only Human,
Welcome to Big Sister.
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Big Sister
By Verse12
[email protected]
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Disclaimer:
I do not own these characters nor do I claim too, this is a simple fan based homage. Their creators and the companies they work for and with own the characters and all that pertains to them. (I.E. Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, Shougakukan, Pioneer LDC, Hiroki Hayashi, Ryoe Tsukimura, Akira Toriyama) This is just fans of the shows expressing their love for it for fun, no profit is involved or expected thank you.
Note: this Chapter starts the week before the Only Human Prologue and ends at the end of it.
Also when people who know better refer to Ranma they will use the male gender for him regardless of his actual gender. But when I use narration I will use the actual gender be it male or female.
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Prologue
Beginnings Part One
Or
Ranma's Bad Day
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Nabiki Tendo has had a horrible day, heck a horrible week. Profits are down; that exchange student is trying to horn in on her business, and no one will tell her just what happened to Ranma and the others in China!
"What else can go wrong?" she mutters as she walks home from school her book satchel swinging in her grip.
Then in an alley a shadowy figure call out to her in a disguised voice, "Nabiki Tendo?"
Stopping in her tracks she turns a cold glare over to the hidden form, "who wants to know?"
"Uhm? . . . that's, um not important," the figure says trying to hide from her view. "What is important is that I represent some very important people and they want Ranma Saotome to learn some humility. So we want to make a deal, okay?"
Smirking at having the upper hand in this unusual deal she asks, "go ahead."
"Uh? Over on top of this rubbish bin is a case with 45000 yen! If you can give Ranma a lesson in humility then it's all yours plus another 47643 when you finish" the black shape says in a rush. (1)
Practically salivating at the thought of all that cash she smiles with a cold look in her eye. "I think I have just the thing, in fact this will be a pleasure. It's something I have been saving for a rainy day. How do I contact you when this is over?" she says to the alleyway.
Frowning she walks over to find it empty except for the case, smiling she pops the catch seeing the numerous crumpled low denomination bills and even some change.
Smirking she looks up at the buildings on each side and says to herself, "so that's how you want to play it huh? Fine we can do that, in fact this will be fun."
So with a smile and a jaunty whistle about her already improving week she strolls off for home with her bookcase and the money case in her hands.
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Leaning over the edge of the four story building the shadowy figure smiles as Nabiki walks off and says to himself, "ya we can play it that way and your right it will be fun."
Standing up he walks over to a female figure in a dark cloak holding a long object rapped in brown paper and tied with twine. "You ready" she asks?
Nodding his cloak-covered head the male figure replies, "yah, lets go to the next place we'll be needed."
And with that the two flicker and fade from view.
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Leaving Furinken High School
Walking back home Ranma laughs at a fuming Akane "I can't believe you said that, you, you, JJJEEERRRKKK," she roars at his retreating form.
Laughing while running on the canal railing he holds down his eyelid while sticking out his tongue "Beeeedddaaa."
"To slow tomboy," he laughs at her, jumping up out of the way as she swings her school bag at his feet missing every time.
"You are so uncute," he says dancing around her wild swings, staying perched on top of the fence. "Catch ya later Akane," he laughs at her before flipping back into a one armed handstand then back onto his feet running for the dojo.
Standing there literally furious Akane fumes to herself, her body covered in a blazing red corona of enraged power.
"that . . . that . . . stupid . . . obnoxious . . . arrogant . . . insensitive . . . JJJJJEEEEERRRRRKKKK!!!!"
Running into the Tendo dojo Ranma smirks at how finally he is in control of his life. 'Now no one can make me do anything I don't want too.' he thinks.
"And that feels so good," he grins to himself as he removes his shoes.
"And what exactly is that Saotome? Hum?" murmurs Nabiki with her usual dry and sardonic wit.
Looking up from taking off his shoes, Ranma frowns at her where she stands on the stairs. "Uh? Hey Nabiki how's it going," he mutters beginning to head for the kitchen, "surprised to see you home so early."
Leaning over the railing looking down on him wearing her usual orange top and tight shorts. "Yeah I had something to take care of here, and I didn't have detention like you and Akane did, and unlike you I learned how to avoid Principal Kuno's more crazy antics."
Grimacing like he could really care less he grumbles "yeah well uh, whatever."
"Just a minute Saotome," she calls out to him making him stop from entering the kitchen.
Looking up he frowns at her in confusion "what is it?"
"Come with me for a minute kay," she says turning around heading up stairs.
Confused the pig tailed youth shrugs and flips over the railing following her. Then he groans to himself and mutters, unfortunately for him, not quietly enough, "why me always bleedn me dry." He stops when he looks up at Nabiki at the top of the stairs her cold withering gaze freezing him in his place.
His face falling into a weak grin he weakly exclaims "A . . . sorry," he finishes in a rush, his hand rubbing the back of his neck while looking sheepish.
Her unblinking gaze boring into his head causes him to step back before he realizes he shouldn't be afraid of her. Then with one hand she points to her room. And as he smiles weakly going inside, she smirks at his back thinking 'this is getting good already, and now to really put the screws on him. I'll see if all those times I used those hidden video cameras I borrowed to from the media club paid off.'
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A Short Time Later,
Smiling widely at Ranma's stunned expression Nabiki pulls a tape from the VCR, 'dragging the family TV and VCR up here for privacy was worth it to see this' she thinks.
After some time with his eyes filling his face from shock he mutters weakly "no way! It's a trick!"
"No, No it isn't," she smiles widely at his discomfort. "I've been saving this for a loooonnnggg time, you see" she says grabbing her desk chair and sitting on it as he sits on her bed, "you see you've pissed off somebody real bad, and while I don't know who it is they have retained me to see you brought down a peg."
"So either you do what I say when I say or Auntie Saotome will see just how manly you are talking about how you want to take up flower arranging or saying you love Ryoga" she smirks? (2)
"And don't think of trying to just take the tape, I have copies stashed in safe places all over," she says with a smirk seeing him look longingly at the tape in her hands and thinking about all that lovely cash.
With a sigh his shoulders slumped in defeat, "what do you want?" he grumbles.
Smiling evilly she replies, "now that's the big question isn't it?" She says this while steepleing her hands over her mouth (think Gendo Ikari) "but theirs no need to rush things, you'll see very soon what will be required of you," then leaning forward she grins evilly "very soon."
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And so it follows for many days Nabiki holds the contents of the tape over Ranma's head forcing him to do all kinds of demeaning things. From the typical, having him pose for pictures as a girl, selling him for dates to the fiancés and using him to carry things for her and different businesses that she had an interest in.
And all these things Ranma put up with to keep the contents of the tape secret, they were nothing new, he had dealt with them before when dealing with Nabiki. But they did have the effect of causing Ranma to get pretty melancholy.
But then Nabiki begins to up the ante, using him in slight acts of, how shall we say enforcement? Nothing to major, no leg breakings or such just intimidation to pay up. But the missions he was being sent on by her were getting more and more unsettling to him, he didn't want to violate his code of honor even as loose as it could be at times.
And now she was sending him on a date with a guy as a girl, nothing hentai she says just to go out with this guy who didn't know his true nature. At first Ranma was emphatic about his denials but Nabiki is very persuasive so here Ranma is standing out side of a movie theater in slinky black dress.
Nabiki got everyone out of the house with different plans, Ranma just had to be back by 12 she said. What Nabiki didn't tell him was that Akane was at the same movies with her friends. But when Ranma's date shows up and it's Kuno? Ranma goes off. And Happosai then showing up to get in on the act, causes Ranma to realize he has had enough. He didn't care anymore; Nabiki says he has to go on a date with him? Well forget it!
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All these thoughts flood Ranma's mind, as she is standing there in girl form in a nice dress that Nabiki told her to wear as Kuno and Happosai fight among themselves over who will get to date her. The pig tailed girl wonders how Nabiki talked her into this in the first place and looking at the duo causes his mind to reflect on all the crap he has gone thru this week and he finally snaps.
"SCREW IT" roars the red headed boy turned girl when she sees Happy and Kuno turn to face her. And with a leap she attacks the perverts, kicking Kuno into a wall with a roundhouse kick as the kendo artist proclaims his love for his pig-tailed goddess.
Happosai though is still agile enough to avoid most of Ranma's attacks. But the anything goes heir is so good now the old pervert has to actually work at the fight.
Dogging and weaving around the blows thrown at him at an unreal speed Happy taunts him. "So my little pig tailed pretty you wanted to get a little sparing in before our date," he leers at Ranma.
Snarling at the little old man she yells at her, "You stinking old pervert I wouldn't date you for anything in the world!"
"Now, now Ranma-Chan you wouldn't want to ruin your nice dress now would you? What's say you put on this little number I liberated just for you?" He says holding up a see thru bustier with garters and stockings.
Shocked Ranma actually pauses at the sight of the riskay thing enabling Happy to use his pipe to toss her into a nearby wall. Pulling herself from the wall Ranma-chan starts to glow a livid red that even Akane would envy.
Standing there she bellows out in a fury "PPPPEEERRRRVVVVEEEERRRRTTTT!!!!"
Moving so fast she seems to disappear Ranma pops up behind Happosai slamming him into the concrete with a massive overhand dual fisted blow that shakes the ground like a bomb going off.
Standing there in the middle of the street huffing in wrath at his audacity she looks down on the unmoving little man and snorts, "weak old man, real weak I'm stronger than you ever were, heck I'm the strongest ever." Then turning away she slaps the recovered Kuno back into the wall with a snort.
As Ranma walks away heading for the Dojo the ground starts to shake behind her causing her to stop in her tracks. Turning around she sees Happosai standing in the middle of the crater he had been in, his form backlit by the massive power he was putting off.
"RRRRRRAAAAAAANNNNNNNMMMMMMMAAAAAAA!!!!!!!" He roars unleashing a massive blast of power at the boy turned girl causing him to pale at the sight.
'Crap' she thinks before she leaps to the side unleashing a quick moko takabisha at the side of happy's blast to help push it away.
Moving in close Ranma she tries to hit the midget master with a hard right to the jaw but he counters with his pipe, using his patented (yes patent # cb97643) move of flipping her away, but this time she's ready. Grabbing the pipe she flicks the man away causing him to hit the wall, its multiple imbedding making it crumble onto him.
Snorting she tosses the pipe onto the pile of ruble then turns to head home intent on giving Nabiki a piece of her mind. "She can just go ahead an show the world that tape, it ain't worth it anymore, heck thinkin about mom already said I'm man enough anyway. I just didn't want to disappoint her anymore," she says shaking her head.
Ranma should have kept up her guard though as her thoughts cease as a searing pain on her back causes her to stumble. Gasping for breath her thoughts muddled, Ranma turns to face the smug Happosai sitting on a rock behind her smoking his pipe and looking smug.
Turning over she stands up looking down on the little man she growls out, "what . . . did . . . YOU DO!"
Smiling smugly at the red head, the anything goes master takes a long drag of the pipe before answering. "You really shouldn't've pushed me my good lad. You need to be kind to your Sensei. But you had to push things."
Getting into the little man's face she grabs his gi and snarls, "What did you do!"
Smiling he takes another drag before answering, "I should think it would be obvious even to you."
And at her anger-ridden gaze he looks her dead in the eye and answers "the ultimate weakness moxibustion."
Shock covers her face as she steps back away from the gloating little man, "you didn't do that again? why?"
Hoping down he taps out the pipe on his shoe before putting it away and walking over to the red head, he answers with a sneer "I did it just to piss you off."
"YOU &*#!$%" she roars coming in on him with a high right to try and pound him into the ground. Happy simply stands in place smiling at her as the blow lands on his head with absolutely no results.
Shock fills Ranma's being as she realizes the little perv was telling the truth, "I'm weak again?" she mumbles in disbelief stumbling back from Happy.
"Told ya kid," smiles Happy hopping up onto a near by bench. "You know you really should use your head more. You need to learn that as strong as you are yull always come across someone stronger. Or more tricky," he says with a little flourish.
"Undo it!" growls out the petite red head thru grit teeth.
Relighting his pipe Happy looks at the sky in evident contemplation before he looks at Ranma and shakes his head no with a little smirk. "You need to learn to respect your sensei. So no I think a little lesson in humility, a few months maybe, as a weakling will do you a world of good. Oh and I figured out how to alter it a bit so the cure Cologne-chan has won't work anymore that will teach you that you need to respect your betters."
"YOU ARE NOT MY BETTER!" she screams attacking with a flurry of blows, all of which Happosai simply ignores.
"Then why can't you hurt me then my pretty," grins the little perv lecherously.
An inarticulate growl roars from her throat as all of the pressure Ranma's been under come out in a flurry of ineffectual attacks.
"PIG-TAILED GIRL!" yells a recuperated Kuno clutching a surprised Ranma to his chest, tears coming from his eyes at the joy of the moment.
"NOW MY LOVE WE CAN BE TOGTHER FOREVER!" he yells in a moronically blissful tone.
Struggling ineffectually against Kuno's embrace Ranma pounds weakly on his chest with her tiny fists, "LET ME GO MORON!"
"A my love I see that the fiend Saotome's evil influence is finally weakening on you. He can't keep you from my loving embrace anymore, come let us go together on a joyous DDDDAAATTTTTEEEEEE!!!!!!" His last comment trails off as he disappears into the horizon, courtesy of a suddenly appearing Akane's swift boot to the head.
"Hotcha! Akane! Let me have a good rest on your bosom" Happy cries out joyously only to join Kuno on air Akane.
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As Akane stands there seething with anger looking at a panting and angry Ranma she thinks on how this night has changed. She had gone to a good movie with Yuka and Sayuri and as they were leaving she spied a sight she could not believe. There in a slinky dress, was Ranma HUGING KUNO! In fact she realizes now that he was in her dress! And Ranma wasn't beating him up? Was Ranma so perverted now that he was going out with Kuno?!
So cloaked in Anger she stomped over to Kuno and proceeded to kick him and Happosai over the city. And so as she stands there she glaring at Ranma he has the absolute GALL to yell at her for butting in.
Not noticing how really shaken up the boy turned girl actually is at the recent events she sees only what she wants. Ignoring any other words to her she screams "PPPPPPEEEEERRRRRRVVVVVVVEEEEEERRRRRRRTTTTTTT" and a hard uppercut sends him on his own journey into the air. Luckily in a different direction than the pervert twins.
Fuming she turns to her friends still standing outside the movies where they wait for her, their questions to her ignored by the youngest Tendo as she heads for home.
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Still conscious Ranma soars thru the air feeling glad that her constitution is still good even under the ki blocking influence of the Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion.
"Stupid Tomboy," she mutters spying where she is going to land.
"Great all the way in the night club district," she mutters trying to spread out her body to increase wind resistance as she closes in on the ground.
And with an explosion of concrete she lands in an alley the people who see this quickly find somewhere else to be. A moment later the pigtailed girl rises to her feet bruised and aching muttering about uncute girls. Stumbling out of the alley, her short black dress ripped in some interesting places and her shoes being long gone causes some looks from the passers by of the busy district, especially the men.
Scanning the area she quickly discerns the proper way back to the dojo and begins to trudge home ignoring the whistles and other catcalls from some of the young men nearby.
"Stupid Akane, stupid Nabiki, stupid, stupid Happosai! This's gotta be the worst day, EVER! And I swear I have had some doozes in the past. Why does life gotta SUCK so much for me I mean I swear I thought that I finally had life all laid out. I thought that things were all great and now, now things are crap." Ranma complains as she trudges down the busy street kicking a soda can petulantly.
"And this time the old ghoul can't help me. So lets think about this what am I left with to use what with my own ki being used by the moxibustion to block my own strength I can't use any strong offensive physical or ki attacks. That means I can only use the original Hiryu-sho-ten-ha since it's just changing the air around me, my modified version needs my ki to activate it. CRAP" Ranma yells realizing that the Umi-sen-ken's cloaking shield would also be to hard to form as well and of course that will exclude the Moko-takabisha as well.
She thinks of all these things as she cuts thru a park using it as a short cut to get to the dojo. But her dark thoughts are cut short when a mocking voice calls out in the night to her.
"HEY SWEETNESS, whatchu doin in dis kinda place? lookin fo a party?"
The voice causes Ranma to look up and see she had come across a half dozen ruff looking punks. 'The whole lot of them would only take a second to take out' she thinks with a smirk.
"Oh hey check out that body on her, Gen. She is hot!" leers one of the thugs on her right talking to the first one.
"Got dat right," echoes another of the young street punks.
Smirking at the cannon fodder already forgetting about the ultimate weakness moxibustion as she falls into the familiar patterns of fighting. Ranma remains in a very relaxed stance and calls out to them, "I've had a very bad day, and if I were you I would run very far very fast, okay?"
"Oh, you think you've had a bad day so far? Do you?" sneers the first punk the one called Gen. "well sweetness you day just got a whole lot betta" he says closing in on the red head.
With a jaunty smirk the boy turned girl cracks her knuckles and replies, "well your funeral." Before launching forward in a rising uppercut designed to send the punk into the next block only for it to not do anything other than make Gen laugh.
"That it? A little kid coulda hit harder than dat. With all dat 'tude you been throw'n 'bout thought you might coulda fought a bit, looks like you's bluffn, huh? Sweetness?"
He grins at Ranma grabbing her by the shoulders as she realizes she had forgotten about the weakness moxibustion, and she realizes she is in trouble, her thoughts turn to a number of judo moves that take no strength she can use, and her natural speed can get her out of there if need be.
As the concern begins to register on Ranma's face the punks begin to laugh at her facial expressions. "Yo Gen you tink she gonna be a little nicea now?" one of the unnamed punks call out.
But before Ranma can retaliate the punk who had last spoken has his face caved in by a blurring fist that sends him clattering across the concrete pathway and into a tree.
In a blur of motion the man shot across from thug to thug taking them apart in less time than it takes to tell. Finally coming to a stop in front of the leader Gen, "let'er go," the man growls.
It was then when Ranma finally gets a clear view of her unwanted savior and she gasps in recognition "Ryu Kumon?"
Frowning the man in camouflage pants and a black tank top frowns at the disheveled girl in confusion before he realizes who it is, "Saotome?"
This is all the distraction the thug named Gen needs as he throws Ranma to the side while grabbing a small knife from his belt to try and stab the martial artist Ryu Kumon. But it's all for nothing as he almost effortlessly grabs Gen's wrist and spins it causing a loud crack to fill the relatively quiet park.
"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH" wails Gen crying like a little baby while cradling his wrist.
Sneering in contempt Ryu Kumon kicks him in the face almost negligently causing the punk to slide across the ground and into unconsciousness.
Then in confusion he turns to the only opponent ever to defeat him and the one to cause him to lose the right to use the Yama-sen-ken. "So what's the game Saotome? Did I mess up your fun night with the 'guys'" he sneers a little ludely (Ryu doesn't really like Ranma, but then what guy does in his world?)
Shaken by the event Ranma raises to his feet as Ryu's comments register on him and his distress quickly turns to anger, "SHUT UP, JERK!" roars the diminutive red head turning away to head for home.
Smirk growing on Ryu's face he trots after the gender bended Ranma, "hey Saotome, wait up. You don't have to explain to me your little proclivities."
Stopping with a growl she turns around and pokes him in the chest, "listen jerk, I've had a reeaaallly bad day and I just want to get home before it gets any worse."
Then in confusion she asks, "What's a pro-cliv, prtclive, procliveite?"
"Proclivity? Well it's," he begins with a self-serving grin only to be cut off by Ranma's outburst.
"I DON'T REALLY CARE!" She yells throwing her hands in the air, turning around and stomping off for the dojo.
Shaking his head at Ranma's behavior he calls out "wait up," when she doesn't stop he calls out again, "no hold up I'm serious."
Stopping with her back to him she growls out, "what is it?"
Coming up to her he walks around in front of her "I want a rematch, I've been training in a style of my own and I'm going to take you down this time."
Turning about she looks at him in disbelief "you've gotta be kidin me, NOW?"
Looking at her critically, turning his head from left to right, "well you look pretty out of it now and I want to make sure you don't have an excuse when I annihilate you" he sneers.
"I can take you any time, any place you arrogant SOB!" She yells definitely.
"Well then," he grins at her "lets do it then" he says getting into an interesting stance.
Snorting Ranma gets into a stance designed to deal with an unknown skills. Then she remembers the moxibustion and someone of Ryu Kumon's abilities will be pretty much impossible to beat with it on.
Face draining of color she realizes that she is in big trouble, then Ryu makes his move dashing forward in a blur of motion that Ranma barely avoids. Jumping back Ranma realizes her only chance is to get out of his range. Dancing back away from the furious blows being thrown her way Ranma glances about for something to distract him with.
But the swift side kick to her midsection that sends her flying back into a retaining wall ends that thought and the follow up blows that rock her body end her consciousness.
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Three hours later, Ranma wakes up
"uh, wha?" She mumbles sitting up rubbing her head.
"I kicked you butt is what happened," laughs the camo-clad boy "the question is how come you sucked so much? You are sick aren't you?"
Trying to stand on wobbly legs she mutters "something like that."
Standing up while giving her a weird look he mutters back to her, "well that sucks, tell you what in a month I'll come to that dojo you stay at for a real rematch then we can see who's the best, okay?"
Her eyes finally clearing of the fog of unconsciousness she looks at him with a measure of respect before nodding "'kay that's cool, in a month then."
Nodding at the pigtailed girl he responds "in a month, you going to be okay? You still look shaken up? Wouldn't do to have you die in a gutter somewhere before I have a chance to do it."
Muttering to him, she says "thanks for the concern but I'm fine" and with that she heads out of the park.
Spending a moment watching her receding form Ryu Kumon then shakes his head and disappears into the city to train for his upcoming rematch.
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Stumbling home while using a quickly procured branch as a make shift staff Ranma grumbles over her recently miserable life. Coming in sight of the dojo she realizes she's still in a dress, and since it's about 2 am her mom and everyone will be back by now.
"Crap," she mutters trying to think of a way out of this.
'Pop will be up in the room and it will be just my luck I'll get caught in somethin weird' the pig tailed martial artist thinks.
Snapping her fingers Ranma grins, "Got it, that change a clothes I left in the gym locker room."
Then her face falls some "gotta walk all the way to school though" she mutters "ah well" shaking her head, she turns about and trudges for Furinken her make shift staff tapping as she walks down the road with it.
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"Five a.m." growls out a bleary eyed Akane Tendo. "He's been out all night!" She mutters while rubbing at the dark circles under her baggy eyes.
"Now, now Akane-chan" begins an unsurprisingly chipper Kasumi "I'm sure Ranma-kun has a good explanation," she says patting her on the arm comfortingly.
With an odd grin Nodoka Saotome, the only other one up exclaims to the other women sitting around the low table in the Tendo living room. "I'm sure it's something manly whatever has delayed him. Though I do wish he would have called and let us know he wasn't coming home."
Growling under her breath Akane mutters "he better not be doing anything too manly!"
With a concerned look on her face the Saotome matriarch voices her unease saying "I have been worried about Ranma lately we were actually getting closer but this last week he has been so subdued, almost avoiding me? He seems so skittish, I'm just worried about him you know girls? I haven't had that much time with my son and I don't want to miss any more time with him."
"I'm sure it's nothing Auntie" Kasumi sooths the older woman while gathering up the tea service sitting on the table.
While Kasumi places the empty teapot on the tray Akane mutters something about inconsiderate perverts.
Then looking outside she sees that the beginnings of dawn lighting the sky and her anger is forgotten for a moment as worries for Ranma fill her mind. 'Oh Ranma where are you, I'm sorry what could have happened I just got so mad seeing you and Kuno. Thinking about it I know that you couldn't have been doing what I thought. I'm sorry' She thinks to herself.
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Still hearing movement downstairs makes Nabiki shake her head as she sits in bed. "Jeez what could be taking him? Akane says she hit him and Kuno away but he should have been back by now."
Getting up she goes over to her desk and takes out a ledger and begins to peruse it but after a minute she growls and throws it back into her desk and locks it. "Crap," she mutters "I made a lot of money on this, but I've never seen him so . . . ?"
"Depressed," shaking her head she climbs back into bed "got to get some sleep tonight," she grumbles as she turns off the light.
But as the minute's pass and Ranma still doesn't come home she begins to look depressed a bit and in a tone she would not let anyone else hear she mutters, "I think I took this to far, maybe? I'm sorry Ranma."
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A miserable male Ranma plods home complaining of how he can't believe he fell asleep in the locker room.
"Must be more tired than I thought," he states "least I got some bandages for all those cuts an stuff I got from that fight with Kumon."
"I wonder what's waitin for me at home?" he questions.
Then in shock he stops, thinking 'maybe Nabiki showed the tape to mom.'
Shaking his head he moves on spying the dojo in the distance of the slowly brightening sky. 'Na' he thinks 'she said she was being paid to do this, she needs to make me more humble she said'
And not for the first time this week he wonders who could be behind this attack using Nabiki as a weapon.
'Still can't believe I did that though. I mean that stuff on that tape and all. Flouncing around talkin and thinkin like a girl, given up martial arts and taken up FLOWER ARRANGING? I mean what's up with that. Where did all that come from?' he thinks to himself in disgust.
'And that whole part where I was chasen RYOGA? How? an how come I don't remember any a this? It was obvious cause a that tape that Akane an Pop both knew about all this, so why didn't they ever say anythin' he continues his internal monologue.
Finally arriving at the Dojo Ranma takes a deep breath with his eyes closed before he opens the front door.
'Maybe I'll be lucky and everyone will be asleep and not even know I haven't come home yet.' He thinks with an optimistic smile, he should realize that his life is never that lucky for as soon as he steps foot inside he is frozen in the gazes of the three waiting women.
"Urk," he gurgles holding his hands up in a defensive position.
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"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN," bellows Akane getting up in Ranma's face.
Stepping back defensively the accused teen retorts eloquently "Wha?"
Walking up to her son Nodoka smiles and gives him a hug "Welcome home my son, but I do wish you would call if you are going to be out being manly."
"WWWWHHHHAAAATTTT?!?!?" roars Akane shaking the whole house and waking the still sleeping inhabitants.
Gurgling as Akane shakes him about demanding to know what he did Ranma slowly gets angry and when he sees a nervous Nabiki stumble downstairs he gets furious.
Shouting at Akane Ranma tells her that she should know since she's the one who sent him on a trip to the other side of the district.
With a shove she sends him stumbling to the ground, growling he stands to his feet roaring "I JUST WANTED TO CONTROL MY LIFE, JUST A LITTLE BIT!"
"Is that so bad," he continues in a more subdued tone of voice. "Jeez did you have to destroy me?" he says no longer looking at Akane but at Nabiki.
Swinging his arms wide in a gesture of disgust he didn't notice Kasumi standing behind him holding the used tea service, the dregs of the teapot long since cold. So when he throws his arms wide he didn't know that he would nock Kasumi to the ground and spill the remains of the tea on him turning him back to a girl.
"CRAP," she roars then looking back he sees that it's Kasumi that has been knocked to the ground. Suddenly concerned she kneels down and begins to ask her if she is all right. Only to be cut off as an enraged Akane seeing only that Ranma had knocked down Kasumi some one who has done no harm for anyone. She growls with rage and she grabs him and slugs him so hard he flies up thru the roof of the house and soars far across the city.
Standing there panting with rage and glowing a vibrant red she then growl out "I'm going to get ready for school," before turning about and stomping up stairs.
Standing where she is Nabiki frowns realizing that her 'mission' is a success, but the cloud of doubt that formed earlier is worsened as Ranma's words to her echo in her mind and she thinks 'I took it to far. I'll have to do something to make it up to him.'
"Crap I hate being the good guy," she mutters as she shakes her head and heads up stairs to get ready herself.
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Stunned by the blow Ranma is rendered insensible for almost a full minute as she soars thru the sky. When she finally comes too she realizes she has been hit farther than ever all the way to another district. Seeing the approaching ground and the couple at ground zero Ranma calls out, "CRAAAPPPPP" before slamming hard into the concrete between the pair.
After a moment Ranma rises to her feet some of the bandages falling off of her. Then noticing something odd she feels in her pocket and realizes that her wallet is gone.
"Ah crap made me lose my wallet, stupid tomboy," he mutters.
Wincing in pain from shaking her head in disgust she exclaims, "she didn't have ta hit me all the way out here, 's gonna take forever ta get back."
"An 's been the worst day a my life and when I do get back that ol'freak is gonna pay this time for sure," she yells at no one in particular.
Noticing something odd at her feet the busty red head glances down to see some kind of staff cracked in the middle and sparking energy.
'Oh this is not gonna be good I can tell you that' she thinks. Looking up she sees the man that she had crashed by and she mutters "Ah, crap"
Then a blinding flash fills the area and Ranma feels everything warp and twist and the only thought in her head is that 'this day just stinks.'
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To Be Continued in:
Interlude One: Full Circle
And Then in Chapter One
A Scene from Chapter One:
"Hey, Hey, you okay" asks a young boy in a purple gi?
I ...I...don't know? . . . I can't remember . . . I can't remember anything!" Exclaims Ranma in confusion eyes wide as she looks at the boy.
End Notes:
(1) - Total amount in US Dollars is about 787.00
(2) - From the episode pretty womanhood, and the koi rod incident in the manga. In this story Ranma can't remember those incidents.
Well what do you think? I needed to get some points covered before I got Ranma home over in Only Human. Also any other possible destinations for the return home would be appreciated. Thanks and please Review.