Subject: [FanFic][Ranma] A Pond of Koi (beta)
From: Martin Bennett
Date: 2/3/1997, 11:40 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com


This is the corrected version. The first had so many mistakes I thought I'd 
better fix it.
                                                             - P-word.
==============================================================================
Clogged Sink Press Presents:

A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction:


                               A Pond of Koi


By Plunger

      All characters copyright of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Inc. and
              Viz Communications, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah...
______________________________________________________________________________

[Story begins...]

I looked up at the morning sun as it shines down on the still waters of the 
pond. It sits in the midst of the garden of the Tendou Doujou. Around it is
a rock garden made of large pieces of well worn granite. The pond has been 
here for many years, but it never caused so much trouble before Ranma arrived.

As it is Sunday, I have no doubt that Ranma and his father will be late in 
getting up to practice. They are both very good martial artists and it is
always interesting...and disruptive, to watch their battles.

A short time later they come out and begin sparring. They leap back and forth 
across the water, attacking each other midair. From time to time, one gets 
the better of the other and almost sends him into the water. 

After a while of this, there is a shout from the house. It is Akane, calling
Ranma and his father to breakfast. They bow and turn to go in. As Ranma turns,
I can tell he has seen Akane, for his face softens just slightly as he walks 
towards the house.

Sunday is everyone's day off. Except for Kasumi. I often think that she works
too hard and I'd like to help her if I could. Anyway, as Ranma and Akane are
home from school, it's a good bet that there will be some activity around the
place today. Life is never quiet around here...

Sure enough, Ryouga arrives to challenge Ranma to a duel. Now, I don't know
much about martial arts, but it's obvious that Ranma is the better of the two.
Ryouga tries hard, and you have to admire him for that, but in the end, he 
never stands a chance.

Ranma dodges easily around a series of blows and then delivers a stiff palm to 
Ryouga stomach. Ryouga grunts in mild pain and stumbles back... Right into the
pond!

The water thrashes for a moment as Ryouga desperately tries to resist the 
inevitable, but in the end, it is fruitless. A moment later, Ranma lifts 
P-chan out of the water. "Now what am I gonna do with you, P-chan?" Ranma 
asks in the most condescending voice he can manage.

I see Ryouga struggling valiantly to break free but he cannot. In this form,
Ryouga is even more helpless in Ranma's hands than usual. No matter. The 
scales, pun intended, are usually balanced pretty quickly around here...

"Ranma!" Akane shouts, "Put P-chan down!"

Ranma turns, still holding the pig by it's bandanna, "Yeah, okay..."

Ranma unceremoniously turns and drops Ryouga back into pond. Within seconds
Akane has hammered Ranma into the water and grabbed her pet pig to soothe it.
Its amazing to see the expressions on two peoples faces swap so rapidly as 
Ranma, now in girl form, glares balefully at the smirking pig. 

Akane turns and walks away from Ranma, as she so often does. I see in Ranma's
eyes a silent pain that he won't let out. If he knew some of the things I
have heard her say over the years, he might not be so unhappy. Ranma gets up
and starts to wring her shirt out, before sighing and heading for the doujou.
I do not see either of them again for the rest of the day, but I hear the 
sounds of training in the doujou, and cooking in the kitchen.

It is evening when I hear voices again. Ranma and Akane have come out onto 
the porch. They are standing looking out at the night. They are both wearing 
expression of annoyance. No doubt, they have had yet another tiff.

After a few moments, Ranma walks over to the edge of the pond and stands on 
one of the old, worn rocks. A moment later Akane moves to join him. They stand
in silence until Ranma speaks, "Um... About dinner..."

Akane frowns at him, "What about it?"

Ranma flinches slightly, but that could be an after effect of Akane's cooking.
He bows his head and says, "Sorry, Akane... I..I didn't mean to say what I 
did..."

Akane stares at him for a moment before nodding silently.

Ranma and Akane stand over the pond for a long time, looking silently into 
the water. I can see by the softness of his expression, that Ranma is looking 
at Akane's reflection. Likewise, she is surrupticiously looking at him. They 
both look terribly nervous, both looking like they want to say something but 
neither knowing what to say. If only one of them would admit how they felt to 
the other... My life would be so much more peaceful...

A koi on the far side of the pond leaps into the air, it's scales reflecting
the moonlight for a fleeting moment, before it drops gracefully back into the 
water.

Akane looks up in surprise as it leaps, "Oh..." she exclaims, "Look!"

Ranma reluctantly raises his head from looking at her reflection and whispers,
almost so softly that I cannot hear it, "Kawaii..."

Akane frowns for a moment, confused by Ranma's reaction, then she turns to 
look at him. He is looking at her with undisguised love on his face, a slight
flush crosses his features as a special moment passes between them. Akane
stares wide eyed for a moment, before slowly stepping near him. 

Instinctively, Ranma puts an arm around her and draws her against him. With 
a slight hesitation, he moves his face towards hers and kisses her. Akane 
closes her eyes as their lips touch, a single tear running down her cheek. It 
reaches her jawline and pauses for a moment, before falling from her face 
into the still water, sending ripples out across it.

They hold the kiss a long time, basking in their love and the moonlight. After
a time, Ranma reluctantly pulls away. His face is bright red, with a slight
nervous smile on it. He looks expectantly at Akane, who smiles softly and 
melts against him. His smile widens as he puts his arm around her and they 
turn to go back into the house.

I can no longer see them but I hear the shouts. 

"DAMMIT, OYAJI! Whaddaya think you're doin' filmin' us like that! Ain't you 
got no scruples?!"

"But, son... I wanted to capture this special occasion-"

"Catch this..."

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

All of a sudden a fat bald man in a gi comes flying towards the pond at high
speed. There is an almighty splash and suddenly the water is filled with 
black and white fur. Some people are so inconsiderate...

Still, Ranma and Akane have crossed the great water that separates them. All
it took to bring them together was the right kind of koi...

Now if only this damned panda would get out of the water, life would be 
perfect! Sometimes, I really hate being a fish...
______________________________________________________________________________
                                  - Fin -
plunger@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au