Subject: [FF][R1/2][repost]Alternate Landings; episode 1, part 2
From: "Shadow Dancer" <danceshadows@geocities.com>
Date: 2/24/1997, 2:43 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com

     Ever think that there are some great ideas out there, and 
that they are never put together?  What if Ranma, instead of 
falling into Nyannichuan "spring of drowned girl" fell into one 
of the Kusenkyo pools.  A small thing though, I combined the two
training grounds into one big ground...with a couple of
exceptions...:)  It wouldn't be as funny if he didn't change into a
girl (of some kind) so I came up with this little thing. (Sorry Scott,
if some of what I write comes too close to what you wrote:)

     Also, I will be writing this one from three perspectives.  
One from Ranma's POV,  one an omniscient POV, and one from 
Akane's POV. You will be able to tell which is which(I hope).

     <this> will indicate when the speaker is talking in 
Chinese, or any variant thereof. (as I can't spell very much (if
any) in Chinese so will use this where I can't use correct 
spelling of what I mean)
     [this] will be when the speaker is talking in English, or 
any variant thereof.
     and *this* will indicate when the current person will be 
thinking.

     Something that I never did before...but I read in other 
stories.  At the end of the chapter (or clip thereof) I will 
list the music tracks that I listened to while writing this 
topsy-turvy story.

     Standard Disclaimers (Takahashi, Viz, etc.)

          Ranma 1/2
          Alternate Landings
          By Shadow Dancer(AKA Colin Hidson)
          Episode 1, part 2

     Akane looked at the girl sitting and crying in front of 
her. While she didn't know if she had any feelings for this 
boy-turned-girl, she knew that this girl was in a lot of pain 
right now.
     Ranma seemed to try to collect herself, and managed to do 
so, after about five minutes.  She spoke clearly, but with a 
small tremor in her voice.  "I asked the guide later about cures for
our curses, and what he told me was this:  Your father can be cured,
if we can just find the Nannichuan.  But you, I'm afraid, are stuck to
be like that forever.  The hot-springs can cure some of the cold-
spring's curses, the cold-springs can cure cold-springs, but only
hot-springs can cure hot-spring curses.  Before you ask, no,  There is
not a hot-spring of drowned boy.  I'm sorry."  Ranma seemed to be
holding more tears in, but she couldn't hold them for long.
     Akane stood and walked over to Ranma, and then sat beside 
her. When Ranma didn't notice, Akane put her arm over Ranma's 
shoulder. Ranma seemed to unconsciously grab onto any support 
she could find, as she turned and hugged Akane fiercely.  Akane 
was surprised, but she didn't hit Ranma.  *After all, She's only a
little girl now, right?* Akane just ignored her instinct to punch
Ranma and just held onto her. Akane then had a mean idea.
     "Ranma, you need a bath, right?  Would you like to take a 
bath, with me?"  Kasumi looked very startled, but then smiled. 
*I hope that she understands.* Thought Akane as she waited for 
a response from the crying Ranma.
     Ranma stopped crying long enough to whisper a tentative 
"Yes." Akane just smiled at the little girl and then scooped her up
into her arms.
     "Kasumi?  could you bring up some clothes and a couple of 
towels for us, please?"  Akane had a mischievous grin on her 
face, and Nabiki looked like she understood what was going on.  
*I hope that he doesn't take advantage of me while we're in the 
bath... unless I use warm water to rinse her off, in which case, she
won't be able to...That's what I'll do.*
     Kasumi just smiled and nodded.  

*****

     I took Ranma into the bathroom, and she seemed to calm 
down a little, then she started panicking for some reason.  
"Ranma calm down!  Stop acting like a spoiled brat!" 
     Ranma calmed down a little and then asked, "What about me 
being a boy?"  She seemed to be very concerned about that.
     "Well, Ranma, you will turn back into a boy with cold 
water, right?"  Ranma nodded, "Well then.  If I don't let you 
touch cold water for the duration of the bath, it's no problem 
right?"
     Ranma nodded, and then looked at me peculiarly.  
"Bu....You're pretty..."  I was shocked, that Ranma should say 
that, even in girl form.  Unless...
     "Ranma, would you say that as a boy?"  Ranma looked 
startled for a bit, and then sat down and thought.
     While she thought, I undressed her and started washing her.  She
was really cute as a girl, now that I noticed.  I started thinking
about how life would be with her, and then I blushed.  Ranma didn't
notice as she was still thinking.  When I brought the bucket up to
her, Ranma started looking panicked.  I shushed her, saying that it
was warm water, not cold.  That seemed to calm her, as I poured the
water over her.  Then something weird happened.  Ranma seemed to start
wavering in front of me, like she was going to change or something.
For a second, it seemed as if Ranma was both a girl and a boy at the
same time, then the wavering settled down and Ranma remained, still as
a girl.
     Ranma then looked up.  "Yes." She stated clearly.
     I was startled, "Yes what?"
     Ranma flushed a bit, "Yes I would say that, even if I were 
a boy."  Ranma fidgeted a bit, and then asked, "Do you like me?"  She
seemed very self-conscious.
     I thought about it, *Do I like him, her, whatever?  I don't
know...She's nice as a girl, but that just might be because anyone can
hurt her that way.  As a boy, he seems pretty nice, and he stopped
anyone from getting engaged by his actions.  Would I _want_ to spend
the rest of my life with him?  I don't know...Waitaminuite!  That's
not what she asked!  She wants to know if I like her.  Actually, she's
very nice, so I would say yes.*  I looked Ranma straight in the eye,
and said, "Yes, I think I like you.  Why do you ask?"
     Ranma flushed a bit, "I don't have very many friends.  
When I started finding friends, Father always dragged me away, 
saying it was time to continue with my training."  Ranma looked 
sad, "But those days are gone, now.  And it's been a long time 
since I saw any of my friends."  Ranma took a deep breath, as 
if she was going to ask something really big, 
"Wouldyoubemyfriend?"  She let the remainder of her breath out 
explosively.
     I was shocked.  *A long time without friends, and being 
dragged away from ones he was just making...Can I be a good 
friend to him, her?  I can't do any less than try.*  I looked 
Ranma straight in the eyes.  She was scared for some reason.  
I plodded on, "Ranma, I would be honored to be your friend.  
But I think it would be time to get into the tub, don't you?  
Aren't you cold?"
     Ranma looked like she just noticed the cold, herself.  She 
nodded, and we both slid into the tub.  Ranma seemed to be 
happier now, and also seemed to enjoy playing games in the tub.
It was as if, when she changed into a girl, that she was a girl,
in more ways than just the body.  Something to think about 
later.

*****

     For once in my life, I was happy.  I had a friend, she 
liked me...I was happy.  I played in the tub, reveling in the 
childhood games that my father never let me play before.  But 
then, he wasn't here and I was.  I played in the tub for what 
seemed like hours. 
     Then Akane got out of the tub, and I didn't want to be left
behind, so I climbed out, and started looking for the clothes 
that Kasumi said she'd get out for me.  Then I noticed her.
     Nabiki was watching from the side of the door, and Akane 
was staring at her like she was a viper or something.
     "Did you have fun?"  Nabiki asked.  She had a mean smile 
on and had a camera in her hands.  for some reason this scared 
me.  
     I grabbed onto Akane's waist, hoping for some protection. 
*Protection?  I can take care of myself!* one part of me 
thought, but I knew better.  *I'm helpless in this form, and no,
at this point, I CAN'T take care of myself.*  I mentally 
screamed at myself. I was trembling with fear at what Nabiki 
could do to me, while still only claiming to be doing her duty.
     Akane was surprised at my actions.  Then she looked at 
Nabiki angrily.  "Nabiki," she growled, "Ranma and I were just 
having a bath, so leave us alone!"  Nabiki just smirked.
     "Just having a bath?"  She seemed much worse than a viper 
now...I could barely keep from screaming. "What I heard sounded 
a lot more deep that 'just a bath,' Akane."  
     Akane looked scared, now.  I didn't blame her. "Nabiki, 
what do you mean?"  Akane's voice, even though she was scared 
herself, bore just the faintest trace of steel.  I looked at 
Akane, not understanding what was going on.  Akane looked down 
at me, "It's all right, Ranma.  I'll take care of this."  For 
some reason I believed her.  Nabiki just smirked.
     "Well, Akane," Nabiki drawled out Akane's name like it was 
candy or something, "What do you think daddy-dearest would say 
if he saw this happy picture.  Hmm?  He already knows that you 
fight all the boys at the school.  He just might take _this_ as 
another point of proof that you aren't like most other girls."  
Nabiki just smirked, "In fact, I'd say he would be disappointed 
in you.  And yet, at the same time, he just might arrange both 
of your marriages in spite of what Ranma revealed. " I was 
starting to get what she was saying...and it scared me, more 
than anything that ever happened to me before.
     "But we can't!" I almost screamed, "We can't be married!  
Do you think she'd want to take care of me in this form for the 
rest of her life?"  Akane looked at me carefully, and I started 
to feel doubt, "Would you?" I ask Akane, afraid of her answer.
     Akane looked at me for a minute.  Nabiki got this huge 
grin on her face.  Nabiki laughed then, "Well, Ranma.  It looks 
like you might have a prospective fiancee already!  I just hope 
that daddy-dearest doesn't try forcing you...he might ruin 
something beautiful."  I was still watching Akane, hoping 
beyond hope.
     then Akane reached down and picked me up.  She brushed my 
hair aside, and kissed me on the cheek.

*****

     Musical selection...still Captain Tractor. Oh, well, I hope
you liked it.
     I await the flames!
               Shadow Dancer
                    of
       Black Lightning Design Group
 http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/towers/6418
        danceshadows@geocities.com
*************************************************
      Stress Relief
   All stressed out?  Sometimes it helps to think
of happy scenes.  Maybe a pastoral field, a field
with a babbling brook.  You're there on a lovely
summer's day...holding someone's head under the 
water.  Now you're letting them up for a second.
Then blam!  Back into the freezing water!  Over
and over again!  There.  Feel better?