Subject: [FFML] [ranma 1/2][revision] Antithesis, Chapter 1
From: Michael Chen
Date: 3/19/1999, 12:35 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

I'm back.  The revision for this chapter isn't final yet.  I just decided
to get rid of a bunch of annoying sentences and stuff.  I might also be
changing the plot in some ways.

For you readers, I'm using RCS to revision control my fanfics from now on.
(I'm actually writing this in linux... fancy that :)

$Id: chapter1,v 1.2 1999/03/19 04:36:02 mhc8 Exp $
       ^         ^------ Version Number.
       +------ Chapter name.

Chapter 1: Marriage?

    "What!"  Ranma shouted at his mother.  "You're going to remarry!"
He stared incredulously at his mother, who wrung her hands nervously.
Nodoka Saotome, a widow of six years, had always felt her children
lacked a father in their life, and she had spent a good two years
searching for an appropriate man.  It was fortunate that she had
finally found one.

    But something else was more important.  "Now, Ranma, please calm
down so I can explain."  Nodoka tried to soothe her only son, before
anything could happen.  With ever second spent not calm, he was
closer and closer to death.

    Ranko dumped a bucket of cold water on her older brother, which
helped him to stop shouting.  "Hey Ranma, cool off, or your blood
pressure's going to go too high."  The combined efforts of his mother,
sister, and the pail of icy cold water were effective, and he silenced
his anger.

    Nodoka sighed somewhat in relief.  The doctors had told her that
her son's recovery from the accident was a miracle, but for the rest
of his life, he would suffer from a weak constitution.  He had tried
his best to be a martial artist.  He worked hard, he practiced, he
trained.  But after she had found him on the dojo floor barely
breathing, she was adamant in not letting him learn the Art.

    "Well, we are going to the Tendo's for dinner, and that is final.
Mr. Tendo was a good friend of your father when he was alive, and
Mr. Tendo happens to be a good father as well.  I'm sure your father
would be proud to have him raise you."

    He shot his mother a resentful look, and left, unwilling to accept
it.  Exhausted and strained, Nodoka settled down in a chair, worried.
There was no telling what he was capable of doing when angered.

    Ranko forced a smile.  "Don't worry, I'll make him understand."

    And she left.  She didn't have to go far.  He was standing still, slightly
hunched, gasping for breath, just outside the kitchen.

    She gave him an abbreviated lecture.  "If you have a fascination
for death, by all means, exhaust yourself to death.  Mother and I feel
sorry for you, but don't think that we are going to sacrifice 100% of
our lives to your standards.  Mom has always been there to support
you, and I think it's about time that you helped her.  Don't blow it
at dinner time, or ELSE."  She tried her best to look threatening.

    He thought about it and looked the other way.  "Fine.  I won't be
rude at dinner."

    She had to smile a bit.  

    "Hey, will you quit smiling at me?"  He grumbled even more, as he
thought of the Herculean task of keeping his mouth shut during dinner.
"Well, I've got homework to do.  If you need any help with yours, you
know I'll be in my room."

				* * *

    Soun sat uneasily at the head of the table.  He truly didn't know
what to say, or what to expect.  During the past couple years, he felt
guilty for lying to his children about his trips and such.  In truth,
he was really dating Nodoka Saotome, the wife of his late friend who
had died in a tragic accident.

    Nabiki was a little impatient, but nevertheless still listening.
"Ok, what's the important news?"

    He started to talk.  "Well, it's about me in fact."

    "I'm home!"  Before he could continue, Akane entered the room, and
she dropped off yet another "token of affection that is like
a pebble to the mountain within me" from her boyfriend, and she sat down
next to Nabiki, who looked enviously at her.

    He closed his mouth, his important announcement lost.

    "So what happened?  Tatewaki gave you a gift?"

    Akane smiled.  "Yes, it was our one year anniversary."  She opened
the box and showed the beautiful jade ring and jade necklace.

    Soun tried his best to wait for a lull in their conversation to
hijack the topic, but that lull never came and he sat there listening
to Nabiki commenting on some girl named Kodachi and her strange
disappearance and other stuff he didn't know.

    Fortunately his oldest daughter came into the room with some tea.
"Please, let Father speak.  I think he has something very important to
say."

    He found himself wishing that Akane and Nabiki had continued
their conversation, because now, given the green light to tell
his secret, he found himself not so sure.  "Well, um.  I, um."
Soun found himself stumbling over his words, and he looked
helpless as he floundered around.

    Kasumi sighed.  "I believe, Father, that you intend to tell us
about the Saotomes."  His face turned paper-white.  Apparently, his
well-kept secret wasn't so well-kept.

    "Well, we're going to have guests over for dinner, and I want you
all to be dressed nicely and be on your best behaviors."  He breathed
a sigh of relief, and he knew that Nodoka-chan would be able to take
care of everything.

    Kasumi only shook her head.

				* * *

    The doorbell rang twice, timed precisely in such a way to suggest
polite impatience.  Akane and Nabiki were both seated on the back
porch, talking about various things.  

    "Nabiki, do you think they're here?"  She absentmindedly fingered
her necklace as they heard Kasumi walk over to answer the door.

    "Ah, Ms. Saotome.  Please come in."  Kasumi bowed very deeply and
allowed them to enter.

    Nodoka smiled.  "You're Kasumi, right?  No need to be so formal.
My, I like what you've done to this home."  She walked into the house,
but Ranma stood warily at the door.  Somehow, there was a strong
reluctance, no an aversion that prevented him from entering.  But
before he could even begin to contemplate about leaving, Ranko pushed
him in.

    "Hurry it up, will you!  I'm starving!"

    "Yes, anything for your stomach."  He glared at her.
 
    Soun rushed over and greeted the newcomers too warmly.  "Ah,
Nodoka!  Welcome to our home.  Here are my daughters, Akane, Nabiki,
and Kasumi."  He pointed all of his daughters out, and each was polite
enough to say hi or wave.

    Nodoka smiled.  "What beautiful daughters."  

    Ranma almost suffocated.  He knew his mother had set out to
replace his father.  But it was impossible.  He stared at Soun, who
couldn't even begin to compare to his father.  He clenched his fists,
his nails cutting into his palms.

    Ranko noticed his sudden reaction.  "What's wrong?"

    Nabiki too had reservations about having guests over.  Apparently,
it was one of Father's wild schemes to find a "decent mother."  She
forced a natural smile.

    Nodoka gestured to her children.  "These are my children, Ranma
and Ranko."

    All seemed to work out quite nicely.  Akane and Kasumi were both
rather friendly.  Nabiki, she wasn't even present.  "Oh great!  I
forgot something.  Father, dinner should be ready in thirty minutes."
The eldest Tendo daughter rushed out of the room.

    Akane felt particularly cheerful that day, so she decided to talk
a bit with Ranma and Ranko.  "Hey, so how are you today?  Really nice
weather."

    Ranma immediately looked the other way and muttered something that
caused his sister to viciously elbow him in the ribs.  He fell
backwards winded, surprising Akane.  Ranko, she momentarily panicked
and babbled off a 100 mph apology.  He did his best to assure her that
he was fine, while he gasped for air.

    "So what do you two like to do?" asked Akane.  "Any hobbies?"
There was a good thirty minutes, and she did remember her father once
mentioning that the Saotomes were the other family practicing Anything
Goes Martial Arts.

    Ranko's answer was immediate.  "I like martial arts."  

    Akane smiled as a plan formed in her head.  "Hey, me too.  You can
say that I'm the best student of the Tendo School of Anything Goes Martial
Arts."

    "Our Father was a master in Anything Goes," said Ranma, staring at
Akane in such a way that made her uncomfortable.

    But she still continued.  "Do you two want to spar, and show me
your stuff?"

    His face twisted slightly.  "I can't spar."

    "Awww, shut up!"  Ranko grinned.  "You're on, Akane!"

				* * *

    Akane stood across from Ranko, grinning.  She was impressed with
Ranko.  The shorter girl was fast, faster than anyone she knew.  But,
Ranko's technique was sloppy, and on numerous occasions she landed her
blows on Ranko.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Ranma looking staring
intensely at his sister and her, absorbing everything.  He motioned to
his sister.  "Ranko, come over here."  His voice was so quiet, her ear
acclimated to Ranko's loud taunts, but it carried heavy weight.

    Ranko didn't hesitate to approach her brother, who whispered
something into her ear.  She instantly reacted as if she just realized
something that was blatantly obvious.  She nodded, and returned to the
center of the Dojo.

    "Hey, Ranko.  What did he say?"  Akane was curious, as there was a
small smile on her opponent's face.

    "Oh nothing.  Get ready!"  She charged Akane, who unleashed a
barrage of attacks only to notice that Ranko had preanticipated her
high attacks.  Off balance, Akane was vulnerable to her low sweep.
The entire dojo whirled as Akane landed on her back.

    Ranko was there to help Akane to her feet.  Overconfidence had
made her sloppy.  "You're pretty good, Ranko."

    She giggled.  "Oh it's nothing.  My brother really beat you.  He
told me what to do."  Akane flashed a look at him.  Just standing up
was a chore for him.

    The door to the dojo slid open, and Nabiki leaned in the doorway.
"Hey, Kasumi finished cooking."

				* * *

    During dinner, Ranma barely touched his food.  But no one noticed.
They were all simply watching slender Ranko with surprice and envy as
she cheerfully heaped food into her rice bowl and proceeded to vaccuum
clean the table.

    "May I be excused?" asked Ranma, as he stood up, assuming an
affirmation of his desire to leave.

    Nodoka didn't even try to stop him.  "Ranma, try to be back soon?"

    Soun looked at Nodoka.  "What's wrong?"  

    Nodoka shook her head, and he ceased to ask.

    Silently, Ranma opened the door that lead to the yard and he left
the stiffling room.  A cool, refreshing breeze blew into the house,
disrupting Nabiki's napkin and sending it to the floor.  She bent down
to retrieve it, and she couldn't help but notice Soun holding Nodoka's
hand.  She almost dropped her chopsticks.

    She realized what her father had tried so hard to tell them
earlier.  Anger threatened to overtake her, but she, unlike Ranma, was
able to contain it.  She quickly finished the remainder of the rice in
her bowl.

    "Father, I would like to leave."  She waited for his predicatable
nod, and then complemented Kasumi on the dinner.

    She stood up, but she wasn't home free yet.  Her father cleared
his throat.  "Oh yes, why don't you talk to Ranma?  Anything to make
him feel comfortable."

    She wanted to stamp her feet in frustration, but she reminded
herself that only six year olds, with the exception of her sister
Akane, had the right act out their frustration on the floor.  She
smiled as her father was nicely ambiguous, as usual.  She left,
after Ranma.

    Kasumi sat down next to Akane.  "So Ms. Saotome, when is the
ceremony?"

    "What ceremony?" asked Akane, looking at everyone else.  "Is there
some thing that I should know?"

    "You didn't tell your children yet?"  Nodoka stared at Soun for a
moment, before laughing.  "Well, Akane, your Father proposed to me
last week.  We are going to get married."  Akane froze, as the
suddenness of the news almost overwhelmed her.  However, unlike Ranma
and Nabiki, she was genuinely pleased.

    "That's great!"  She smiled at her Father, who was glad that none
of his daughters had complained.

				* * *

    Ranma sighed as he lay on the porch, trying to get some rest.  To
no one in particular, he muttered.  "Just great.  Mom's going to marry
Mr. Tendo.  She's probably forgotten all about Father."  Images of a
Genma Saotome flashed through his mind.  The extra attention his
father gave him.  His training with his father.  His father's attempts
to help him with school work.

    His father was a good man, and for that fact, no one else could ever
fill the gaping hole he felt in his heart.

    But, before he could brood any more, his train of thought was
interrupted when Nabiki tripped over him.

    He curled up, the pain of a foot knocking up against one of his ribs
simply unbearable.  But he was decent enough to steady her.

    "So, what's with you?" she asked.

    He looked up at her and then closed her eyes.  "I'm just tired."

    "My father said that I should entertain you, but the only thing
entertaining that I know is poker.  So, do you want to play a few
rounds?"

    He shrugged his shoulders.  "Ok, I guess I could try."

    Nabiki grinned.  No one was better than her at poker.

				* * *

    The situation was quite amicable.  Nabiki stared happily at the
growing pile of money next to her.  The last six rounds were all in
her favor, as she successfully bluffed Ranma into giving up all of his
pocket money.  What made her especially happy was that he was a
compulsive gambler at heart.  When his money had dried him, he merely
grumbled and wrote down a note, something along the lines of an IOU.

    He had already given her the princely sum of 50,000 yen.  He had
already given her 4 unconditional favors.  Eagerly, Nabiki dealt another
hand.

    And then, she proceeded to lose, and not just lose some money.
She began to lose in a very bad way.

    In three rounds, with a miraculous turn in events and skill, he
managed to regain his losses twice over.

    Nervously, Nabiki stared at her hand.  It was rather pathetic, a
pair of aces.  She stared at him, his emotionless face in an attempt
to divine his hand.  In a bold move, she had placed a scrap of paper
with 10,000 yen written on it into the pool, and he matched her by 
placing all of his and her money into the pool.

    She swallowed hard.  Was he bluffing or not?

				* * *

    "Where is Ranma?"  Ranko peered around, semi-worried about her
brother.

    She raised her voice, and rudely shouted.  "Yo, Ranma!  Where are
you?  We're getting ready to leave!"  She looked around the silent
house, as if trying to find some hiding space.  "Hey, Ranma!"

    There was a creak as someone walked down the stairs.  Ranma
gripped tightly onto the handrail, as if it was all that was keeping
him from loosing his footing and falling down.  Nabiki muttered
quietly.  "It would be nice that you hurried."

    Ranma muttered back.  "As if it were all my fault.  Be quiet or
I'll double your debt."

    Nabiki snickered.  "Oh, you scare me."

    "Well, you better pay off, because I have proof that you
juryrigged the kendo match last week.  I know tons of people won't be
happy."  he maliciously smiled.

    "Me?  Of all people, rig a fight for money?"  She tried her
hardest to look innocent.

    "Yeah right."  Ranma stopped talking, and he carefully walked out
the door, taking extra care not to trip as he walked down the steps.

    She spoke out loud as the door closed.  "Geesh, what a stiff."
However, she smiled somewhat, since it wasn't everyday that she met
someone that had one whit of her ability.

The End of Chapter 1