Hi all, in response to some prety good C&C I've gone over TOC parts 1
and 2, and done some revision. Here's the revision, and I hope you agree that
they flow a little smoother now.
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Legal: The characters of Ranma 1/2 were created by the great Rumiko
Takahashi.
The characters of Gargoyles are the creations of Disney.
I am using them without permission, hopefully for the purpose of
entertaining someone. If anyone who has a right to sue me has that
desire, I have almost no money.
C&C is appreciated, you can contact me at
brenda02@sprynet.com
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Ranma, the Time of Changes
By Brendan O'Donnell
Chapter one
"Akane Tendo I love..." Kuno shouted a second before Akane
utilized her patented human catapult kick to knock him out of the city,
trailing the petals of his bouquet of roses.
"Jerk," She said as she and Ranma walked out the gates to the
school. They turned and begin to walk down the street together. Then,
Akane turned right and started down to meet her two friends.
Ranma looked after her a few moments, then sighed and
continued on alone. He knew that Akane and her friends were going to
see a new Romantic movie, and it really wasn't the sort of thing he
wanted to watch. However, there were a few images of himself and
Akane siting together in a movie theater going through his mind before
he shook his head to clear it, and started back to the Dojo at his usual
pace.
Ranma had just left the canal behind him when he heard an
incredibly familiar cry, "Ranma Prepare to Die!"
Casually twisting his body to avoid Ryouga's flying kick, Ranma
responded with his own greeting, "Yo Ryouga! What's up?"
"Ranma, today I will finally rid the world of you once and for
all!"
"Aw come on, what have I done lately?" Ranma replied.
Ryouga seldom took the time to talk, but there was always a chance.
"Shut up and fight!" Ryouga responded. A very slim chance.
Ranma continued dodging Ryouga's flurry of attacks. "Come
on, I haven't seen you in almost two weeks, and nothing unusual
happened then." Ranma continued. He knew Ryouga wouldn't stop his
attacks, but the apparent lack of concern Ranma was showing by not
counterattacking always infuriated Ryouga. Ranma knew that the real
reason he was always able to beat Ryouga was because Ryouga had so
little control over his temper. It only took a few words to infuriate
Ryouga to a level where he started fighting like a total idiot. Ranma
knew that Ryouga had almost reached that threshold. He dodged
another kick, and lashed out with one of his own which knocked
Ryouga back about seven feet.
"Why you!" Ryouga started glowing as he focused his
depression at loosing to Ranma so often, augmenting the power with his
memory of how Akane had whispered Ranma's name in her sleep the
last time he had sneaked into her bed as P-chan.
Ranma saw the building power, he was familiar with this and
knew that he could dodge the blast. Then he heard something behind
him. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed a woman with a baby in
her arms walking into the intersection a few feet behind him.
"RYOUGA STOP!!" he screamed, but he realized that it wouldn't
work.
"SHISHI-"
Ranma set his feet and gathered as much confidence as fast as
he could. He knew it wouldn't be enough.
"HOKODAN!!!" Ryouga completed his attack and released
his depression and anguish into the air. The energy surged straight at
Ranma. Rather than avoiding the blast, Ranma set his stance and raised
both hands in front of him, releasing all the energy he had gathered just
as Ryouga's attack hit him and exploded in a burst of light.
As the light dissipated it revealed Ranma standing in the street at
the end of two long furrows gouged in the pavement by his feet as he
had been pushed back by Ryouga's blast. His clothes were torn and
scorched, there were dozens of severe bruises on the parts of his body
that were visible, and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his
mouth.
Glancing over his shoulder, Ranma looked at the woman who
was siting on the ground holding her baby away from the fight. "Get out
of here!" He called back through clenched teeth as he turned his
attention back to the charging form of Ryouga Hibiki. Ryouga was
running straight at him, his umbrella swinging in a wide arc. Once again
all of Ranma's instincs yelled DODGE. Ranma visualised what would
happen to the woman and her child if he did so, and overrode his
instincts. Jumping forward, he lashed out with a strong offensive block
at the arm holding Ryouga's umbrella.
Ryouga was surprised at this tactic from Ranma but he felt only
delight at his opponents decision to take him on in a contest of strength.
He lashed out with a low kick and connected with Ranma's right leg.
He heard a crack.
Ranma felt the pain in his leg and knew that he had broken a
bone. Distancing himself from the pain through long practice, he used
his other leg to hop to the side, simultaneously gaining distance from
Ryouga while moving the woman out of the line of fire. He noticed she
had gone but couldn't focus any more attention. Keeping all his weight
on his least damaged leg, Ranma raised his hands in readiness for
Ryouga's attack.
Ryouga was ecstatic. He was winning. He'd just managed to
rob Ranma of the use of one of his legs, and while Ranma was good
enough to fight on like this his speed would be seriously reduced. Both
fighters knew that Ranma's greatest advantage was his speed. He put
away his umbrella, feeling that Ranma's newly inflicted weakness
eliminated his need for it. He jumped forward, lashing out with a light
kick. He had waited a long time for his victory and he wanted to make
this moment last.
A short distance down the street, the woman stopped Running
and looked back. She could see the two warriors fighting and knew
that the Pigtailed boy was in serious trouble.
"Fox!" Called a brown haired man running up to meet her.
She looked into his strong face, and handed him the baby.
"David, hold onto Alex." She turned back to the battling pair and
narrowed her eyes. "I have something to take care of." She brushed
back her long red hair and started toward the warriors at a run.
David looked after her a moment, then turned to the blond,
bespectacled man beside him and held out the baby with the word
"Owen," the blond man looked at his companion and extended his
arms to take the infant. His left arm was stone from just beyond the
elbow.
Ranma stood on one foot readying himself for Ryouga's next
attack. His right arm lay limp at his side. When Ryouga had charged
him, he had focused as much of his strength as he could into an attack
directing several hundred hits to Ryouga's solar plexus. Ryouga had
staggered back, but he managed to grab Ranma's arm as it withdrew
from its delivery of the last punch. A hard yank had dislocated Ranma's
shoulder and, though he had the knowledge to slip it back into place, he
couldn't spare the time or effort.
Ryouga was circling to the right, trying to keep Ranma's injuries
close. Suddenly he charged in. Ranma jumped back and to the side;
Ryouga instantly compensated. Ranma felt a wave of dizziness sweep
over him; he focused his will to supress it as he was supressing his
exaustion. As Ryouga's knee slammed into his ribcage, Ranma focused
his remaining strength as best he could. Lashing out simultaneously, he
struck Ryouga with a ridgehand to the temple while kneeing him in the
hip. Ryouga was thrown back, and Ranma just managed to land on his
left leg; for a second. Then he collapsed into a heap. Ranma felt the
darkness of unconsciousness sweeping across his mind; he fought it but
his body refused to listen to his mind.
Ryouga smiled as he looked down at his helpless opponent.
*He put up a real fight to the end, but he's lost and I'VE WON!!* He
pulled his umbrella from his backpack and looked at Ranma. *Ranma.
First bread, then Jusenkyo, then Akane. You've destroyed my life and
now it's payback time!* He started toward Ranma *Wait a minute,
Ranma's helpless now, I can't take advantage of that.* *Hey, isn't that
what was I doing by keeping up the attack after I broke his leg?*
*Well, do I really want to kill him?* *Honor demands I do doesn't
it...* Ryouga's train of thought ended as he leaped to one side to dodge
the danger he felt behind him.
Jumping back away from the canal, he looked at his attacker,
then froze as he realized that he was being attacked by a breathtakingly
beautiful woman. The odd tattoo around her left eye, resembling a
geometric animal head, seemed oddly familiar. Ryouga was too
wrapped up in trying to decide what to do about her that he didn't do
anything about her next attack. She jumped forward and grabbed him
by his shirt. Falling backward, she simultaneously kicked up, throwing
him back. Ryouga screamed as he realized that his flight path was
dropping him into the canal.
David ran to the edge of the canal and looked over into the
water. "Where'd he go?"
"He's not there?" Fox responded as she ran to his side.
"He must have either sank or swam off. The only thing I can
see moving is that little pig." David replied, stroking his beard in
contemplation. The pair turned back to Ranma.
Fox walked back to Ranma and knelt down, giving his injuries a
very experienced once over. "He should live, but he really needs a
doctor."
"If I may, there is a doctor's office three blocks in that
direction," Owen said as he walked up; Alex cradled gently in his arms.
"You get him, Fox, and I will keep an eye on this young man,"
David responded, reaching into his pocket for his cellular phone. "And
I'll call for an ambulance right now."
"Of course Mr. Xanatos." Owen responded as he handed Alex
back to Fox and turned to jog down the street to the clinic of Dr. Ono
Tofu.
*Ah, that was a great movie.* Akane thought to herself as she
walked back to the Dojo. *It's been a while since I've been to a movie
like that...* she frowned recalling her last time watching a romantic
movie. *Of course Ranma had to...* She tensed up in anger, then
sighed and relaxed, *but it turned out to be that weird mushroom
Shampoo gave him.*
Akane continued walking and began envisioning herself sitting in
a movie theater watching a romantic movie. Ranma was siting next to
her with one arm across her shoulder. She leaned against him. She
looked in his face and he looked back and said 'Man this is boring!'
Akane blinked for a moment, then sighed. *He probably would
say something like that too.* She looked up at the wispy clouds in the
sky and thought. *He can be so nice sometimes, why does he have to
act like a jerk and mess it up!*
Akane thought of the times she had hit him for doing something
he would have considered nice and sighed. *Am I any better than he
is?* She thought to herself.
Opening the door to the Dojo, Akane entered with a call of "I'm
home!" As she took off her shoes and put on a pair of house slippers
she noticed three sets of unfamiliar shoes: two men's and a woman's.
And they were all fairly expensive looking. *Hmm, I guess we have
visitors.*
"We can't impose on you like that." Came a man's voice from
the living room.
"Please, I insist." Kasumi's voice responded.
As Akane entered a woman replied "Ok, but we insist on
treating all of you to a night out once Ranma's back on his feet."
Akane entered the room. Her father was siting at the end of the
table crying like he always did after getting any form of bad news.
Genma was sitting next to him looking worried. Kasumi knelt at the
table, pouring a cup of tea for a dark haired man. A woman with long
red hair holding a small, blond infant was sitting beside him, a cup of tea
steaming before her. Nabiki was sitting at the opposite end of the table
talking with a very serious looking blonde man with wire rim glasses.
The three people are the same ones who had helped Ranma
earlier.
"What's that about Ranma?" Akane asked with a somewhat
worried voice.
Nabiki looked up from her discussion with Owen and said
"Don't worry, it's nothing serious, at least not for Ranma."
"Well I wouldn't exactly say that." Said Fox from where she sat
beside Kasumi. "He's got a broken leg, a dislocated arm, four cracked
ribs, and a whole lot of lesser injuries."
"Oh no! What happened?" Akane responded with a worried
expression on her face.
Fox responded "Well I haven't gotten Ranma's side of it yet,
but I was walking down the street with Alex here," She paused to smile
down at the baby sleeping in her arms. Looking up at Akane she
continued "Down the street I saw Ranma and some other kid fighting.
The other guy was glowing, then this aura formed around Ranma; for
about a second. Then the other kid released this weird energy blast at
Ranma. It was aimed at Ranma, but it would have hit me and Alex if
Ranma hadn't stood there and blocked it with this with that energy thing
of his own." She sighed.
Fox continued "I heard Ranma tell me to get away, and then I
saw him block a wild swing of that guy's umbrella. I ran back to where
David was, and after I gave Alex to him, I ran back to help Ranma.
When I got there Ranma had just collapsed and the other guy was
walking toward him with his umbrella. He dodged my first attack, but
when he saw me, he froze long enough for me to throw him into the
canal. That's when he disappeared. David called for an ambulance
while Owen went to get a local doctor he had spotted. Dr. Tofu
looked after Ranma till the ambulance got there, and he told us who he
was and where he lived. I take it your his fianc�e?"
Akane was too shocked by what had happened to Ranma to
voice any of her usual protests. She simply nodded. Then she
remembered Fox speaking of the attacker using an Umbrella. "Uh,
what did this person who attacked him looked like?"
"He was about Ranma's height. Black hair tied with a yellow
and black bandanna, a yellow shirt and black pants, and he had on a
backpack."
"It can't be." She said quietly.
"You know that nut?"
"It sounds like Ryouga but it can't be. I mean, he and Ranma
fight all the time but it's never like that."
"Yeah, Ranma always wins." Nabiki called from where he was
sitting.
Kasumi came to her feet and walked to the kitchen. Pausing at
the door she said, "Akane, will you set the table for me, The Xanatos's
and Mr. Burnet will be joining us."
"Uh, right." Akane said, standing.
She looked at the three unfamiliar faces, and the woman with
red hair said "Oh, sorry, I'm Fox Xanatos. This is my husband David,"
She indicated the dark haired well tanned man siting next to her, "and
that's Owen." The blonde man looked up from his conversation with
Nabiki, gave Akane a slight smile, and turned back to her sister.
Akane was preparing for bed. She had changed into her
pajamas when she heard a slight scratching at the door. With a smile
she opened the door to let in the small black pig. "P-chan! it's so good
to see you." She sighed when she picked up and hugged the pig. "I
think I need to talk about something and I know you'll listen well and
keep it a secret," she said with a smile.
Ryouga was ecstatic. Although the red-haired woman's
intervention had kept him from completing his ultimate victory over
Ranma, the memory of him lying broken at his feet was a very satisfying
memory for him. And now, here he was in the body Ranma had cursed
him to wear, about to share an intimate confidence of the woman he
loved. He knew that he'd keep whatever secret she shared with him.
*Maybe she's realized that I'm more worthy of her love than Ranma!*
Ryouga thought to himself, shifting his already brimming with joy mind to
an even happier state.
"P-chan, Ranma's in the hospital." P-chan looked at her
wondering what her full reaction would be. "And there were some
people who said they saw how Ryouga put him there... How could
Ryouga have done something like that." Ryouga's joy began to drain
from his heart.
"You know I've never thought about Ryouga attacking Ranma.
I mean Ranma's usually does so much better, and I know Ryouga's a
nice guy who wouldn't do anything lasting to him if he did get the upper
hand. I thought I knew."
*No! I am a nice guy! I've been trying to save you from a
loveless engagement to Ranma!* Ryouga thought, wishing he could
speak.
"Well, I don't think it's his fault." Akane said.
*Right! Right! It's Ranma's fault! He's the one who's caused
me all the misery in my life!*
"It's this stupid vendetta of his and Ranma's. I'm going to find
out exactly what these two are always fighting about, and I am going to
see that it gets resolved once and for all!"
*OH NO! I can't lie to her, but how can I tell her about my
feelings, or that I'm really P-chan! Stay calm. Ranma's wouldn't tell her
about my curse. I just have to tell her I love her. But, what if she
doesn't love me back?! My heart will shatter into a million pieces!! But
she's always nice to me and she's always angry at Ranma. But...*
Ryouga's now despair filled thoughts were disrupted by a
knock at the door. "Akane?" Came Kasumi's quiet voice from the
other side.
"Come in, sis." Akane replied, putting P-chan down.
Kasumi entered, pausing only to close the door. She sat on
Akane's bed next to her little sister. "Akane, do you need to talk to
someone? At dinner you looked very upset."
"Well, yeah." Akane said, then lapsed into silence
"Ranma being in the hospital is a real shock, isn't it?" Kasumi
commented.
"You know, there've been times I've really wanted someone to
defeat Ranma so soundly it took him weeks to recover," Akane said.
Then, she added, "but, knowing that it's happened, it feels so wrong.
Of course that's partially because of why he lost."
"And who he lost to?"
"Kasumi how could Ryouga do something so... dishonorable. I
thought he was a good person with a strong sense of honor. But he
beat Ranma by endangering a woman and her child!"
*What!!* Thought Ryouga as he listened to the conversation.
*When did that happen! I just fought Ranma and he made a few
mistakes which I capitalized on. And if that woman hadn't interfered for
no reason... Why did she interfere, and where did she come from...
Those mistakes Ranma made, they could have been to protect someone
behind him...*
"Ryouga's the only one who knows why he did that. Of course
he has always been very focused, he might have simply not noticed
anyone there."
*That's right! I didn't see anyone was there!* Ryouga thought.
"That's just an excuse! If the fight is so bad you can hurt
innocent bystanders, you have to put a stop to it!" Akane retorted.
"I'm going to find out why those two are always fighting and put an end
to it!"
"That sounds very nice." Kasumi responded. "But tell me, how
do you feel about Ryouga."
"Kasumi!"
"Well you did seem so upset talking about him. Don't worry, I'll
keep it a secret."
"Kasumi, there's nothing to keep a secret. Ryouga's a friend.
Do you know how few Martial artists there are in town who don't have
some sort of romantic interest in either me or Ranma? Ryouga and
Mousse are pretty much it, and Mousse is always hanging around
Shampoo. It's nice to be able to talk to a martial artist who's not trying
to snare Ranma or me. And he's really lonely. He needs a friend, and
I'm happy to be that friend."
*She doesn't love me.* Ryouga thought as he let his pig body
slump.
"And he's a really nice guy. Despite their rivalry he's helped
Ranma look for the cure to Jusenkyo all those times even though he
doesn't need it himself."
The pig winced.
Akane walked to school, listening to the silence. Actually, it
wasn't that quiet, but compared to her near daily walks with Ranma is
was like a grave.
*I hope Ranma's OK. What am I thinking, this is Ranma.
Injury never slows him down for long. Of course he never gets
seriously beaten either...* She thought to herself. Then, she heard a
incoming Bicycle and turned to see Shampoo riding along the fence right
toward her. The purple haired amazon made her bike jump off the
fence landing three inches away from her.
"Where Ranma?" Shampoo demanded glaring at Akane.
"He's in the hospital," Said Akane, in an annoyed tone.
"Ayah! Tomboy put husband in hospital with poison food!" She
pulled out her bonbori (Don't ask me where from), and dropped into a
fighting stance.
"What's that about Ran-chan?" Came a voice from behind
Akane. Even if she hadn't recognized the voice, she would have
recognized Ukyou's pet name for Ranma.
"Hi Ukyou. Ranma had a little trouble in a fight yesterday and
he's in the hospital."
"Tomboy lie! Husband not loose fight!"
"Look! Apparently Ryouga let himself get so caught up in this
vendetta of his that he didn't notice a woman who managed to walk
onto the battle-field. And Ranma managed to get his leg broken
keeping Ryouga from accidentally hurting her!"
"Ayah! Shampoo go see husband, show him Shampoo love
him best!" Shampoo shouted as she took off on her Bicycle.
"Oh no you don't!" Yelled Ukyou as she leaped after her,
pulling her throwing spatulas from the bandoleer across her chest as she
went.
Akane glared at them, then smiled to herself as she started
toward school. "Visiting hours start at four. I'll see you then."
David Xanatos was standing on the hospital's roof, talking to
Owen who was standing about half a foot behind him. "We've already
sent all the empirical data and medical records by e-mail, make sure
Sevarius gets the tissue samples a.s.a.p."
"Is it wise to trust Sevarius like this?" Owen responded.
"Owen, Ranma was injured yesterday, and this morning the
doctors say that most of his injuries have already healed with no signs of
scaring and his bones are healing about seven times faster than normal.
If Gen-U-Tech could reproduce that kind of thing on a regular basis,
the potential profits would be staggering. Don't worry. Sevarius knows
I wouldn't support investigating anything but that. Besides, the boy's
getting a pretty good fee isn't he?"
"It is indeed generous. But what if Sevarius finds the tissue
samples insufficient?"
David Xanatos thought for a moment. Several plans for
kidnapping Ranma for study went across his mind, and he pushed them
back. *A month or two ago I'd have already snuck him off to
Sevarios's lab. Why does that seem so wrong now?* Instantly he
thought of Alex, then of how he had come so close to loosing him
forever to Oberon. *If I treated Ranma's life so casually...* He turned
to Owen and replied "I wouldn't support any kind of black bag work, if
that's what your asking. Hopefully, Ranma will cooperate. It is going to
be a real struggle for him to keep the Dojo in the black."
"True, plus his future sister in law would probably be very
persuasive for the right fee."
"You mean Nabiki, of course?" Commented Xanatose.
Thinking about the three sisters he smiled slightly remembering how
Kasumi had quietly fawned over Alex during and after dinner last night.
Actually all three sisters had seemed taken with his son, Xanatos
recalled with a sense of pride.
"Of course, sir."
"Well, I that's about what I figured. That reminds me, what do
you think of her?"
"Nabiki Tendo is very interested in money. She's demonstrated
a certain ruthlessness in obtaining it, being willing to use and manipulate
family and friends with little hesitation. However, she has never done
anything that will seriously harm them, and has even taken a loss to
protect them from such an occurrence. I think that we should give her a
full scholarship and a series of internships on the condition of her
working for Xanatos Corp after graduating. She's definitely worth the
investment."
"I'll trust your judgment. Ok, visiting hours are about to begin.
I think I can wait long enough to see if some of the other things Miss
Tendo mentioned are true as well." David added with a grin.
*I hope the doctors don't object to me bringing Ranchan a little
something to eat.* Ukyou thought as she considered the basket of
Okonomiyaki she was holding, as she made her way to the hospital
where Ranma was.
*I hope husband hungry.* Shampoo thought as she considered
the container of Ramen she was carrying, as she rode her bike to the
hospital.
"Oh, my Ranma-Sama!" Kodachi said as she jumped across
the rooftops to the hospital. "Soon I shall be at your side again," she
added as she adjusted her grip on the bag of cookies she had baked.
*Hmm, maybe I should have baked him something.* Akane
thought to herself as she walked to the hospital looking at the tin of
cookies Kasumi had asked her to bring to Ranma. *Of course that jerk
wouldn't have eaten it anyway!* She thought angrily. She thought of
how the food she had prepared in the past tasted when she tried it, and
sighed, her anger turning to sadness. Then it turned to determination,
*OK! Tonight I'm going bake cookies until I've made something that
Ranma will eat and enjoy!* On this note, she picked up the pace of her
stride a little more.
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In part two: Ranma Recuperates, Akane Investigates, and Ryouga Agonizes.
My
apologizes to Gargoyles fans, I'm going to be focusing on Ranma for a while. I
have the
justification for a trip to New York figured out, though.