well surprise surprise...I've come up with a "new" story. I did have the
"pre-readers" look at this but only two got back to me. I am going to put
it on the list and let you guys pick it apart. I really do appricate all
the good comments on style, pacing, and plot. I do think there are parts
that can use some work, I jsut don't want to get into a fight over
character's intellegence and motive so some plot points were "dropped"
because of that.
Anyway, on with the show. I look forward to your responses.
Perotessa D.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The figure slowly traveling along the empty river bank was dark, and
radiated a strange sense of presence. This being, whose soft leather
boots left no footprints, was known to most only as 'Master'."
The Master, dressed in soft leather boots, and covered with a black cloak
walked slowly along the river bank, a whistle in his hand. Occasionally
he would stop and lift the thin silver tube to his lips.
Behind him a twig snapped and a low rumbling growl announced the
creature's presence.
"Ah! There you are," he said turning and peered into the underbrush.
He could see nothing but the gleam of golden eyes.
"I have a mission for you," he said to the creature which huddled in a
deep concealing thicket. "You are to go to the surface world and guard my
newest prize." The brambles rustled, but the creature made no move to
leave its obscuring shelter.
"Come now," cajoled the Master. "How often is it that you get to go to the
surface world? You know how important this is to me, and you know how
much She wants to win."
He bent slightly to look deeper into the shadowy deadwood thicket in an
attempt to make his case. "Unfortunately for my prize, her familiar just
happens to be a cat. That is why I am sending you. I am sure you'll put
him at ease and help safeguard him from Her influence and that damned
familiar." he chuckled softly.
"Think of it as a vacation. Get some sun and enjoy yourself. Your only
limits are that you will have a mortal body and you may not harm a soul.
You are to guard my prize with your life.
I will come and retrieve you when the time is right."
A soft growling whine arose from the deadwood, then the great beast turned
and padded off into the surrounding darkness.
Shadow Moon Productions Presents
A Ranma 1/2 fan fiction.
Ranma: Ookami
By
Perotessa Detwieler
Disclaimer: The characters of Ranma 1/2 belong to Rumiko
Takahashi and are used here without permission.
C&C is very welcome. Flames will be stomped out and the offenders reported
to Smokey the Bear. It is after all fire season. Respond to FFML or
privately to perotessa5@aol.com
Thanks.
'Tessa
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ranma Saotome, probably the best martial artist of his generation,
narrowed his eyes as he sized up his opponent. This opponent was a crafty
devil! Slipping and sliding to unpredictable positions and not following
the rules of battle!
Ranma tightened his hold on the knife and proceeded to chop up the rest of
the vegetables.
He grumbled softly to himself. "I should be out practicin'...but
nnnnnooooooooooo, the old man wants dinner! And who better to make it than
me? I dunno why we couldn't have asked Ucchan to come along. At least
we'd get fed. Anythin's is better than Akane's cooking." He snickered
softly and wiped his hands on his thighs.
Much to his disgust, he found he was a pretty good cook, given the correct
ingredients and time to whip something up. If he had his way, no more of
his old man's "camp rice is nice".
<Ugh! What the hell were they doing up here in the mountains anyways?!> He
stewed. Just cause he got a few days off from school the old man decided
to pack him up and do some training up in the mountains.
<Well, I guess it can't hurt. Its not like hanging around the dojo is
helpin' me any.> And they didn't bring the tomboy along either, so he
wouldn't be getting poisoned or malleted on this trip. Not that he missed
her or nothin'.
They'd arrived up in the mountains yesterday, stopping once to get a few
supplies. Ranma had even splurged and bought some honey cakes for
himself. He'd packed those away in a place he could keep an eye on them
and his pop couldn't.
And now here he was 'round the old camp fire making dinner. Grumbling, he
tore off another piece of honey cake and popped it into his mouth.
He frowned suddenly and looked up, scanning the clearing. Something was
out there. Then he saw it.
It was a dog, but unlike any type of dog he'd ever seen before.
It seemed to be very tall, broad across the shoulders, and a strange grey
color; rather like a wolf. But its eyes were brown not the golden yellow
he thought wolves were suppose to have. A light almost orangeish brown
to be sure, but brown none the less.
It stood wearily at the edge of the clearing. It's ears swiveled back,
listening, unsure if it was alright to enter. The coat was slick, as if it
had shed out for the summer; Ranma could see how lean the animal was. He
felt a pang of sympathy having seen lean times as well. He called out
softly, "Hey, dog...it's alright. Come on, I won't hurt you."
The animal's ears pricked hearing the voice. Its eyes locked onto
Ranma. It stood where it was for a few moments, sniffing the air, then
walked stiffly out into the open.
Ranma's eyes quickly took note of the animal's bearing and gait.
It wasn't injured and didn't seem sick. Just hungry and unsure of the
safety in leaving the safety of the woods. Ranma couldn't help but hold
his breath as he stared at the magnificent animal that was slowly walking
towards him.
The animal stopped when it was about three meters from Ranma and the
small camp fire. It made no move to come closer, even though the smell
of food must have been clawing at its hunger.
Slowly, carefully, Ranma used his knife to cut off a large hunk of the
honey cake, then offered it to the dog. "Here boy," he said as he tossed
it to the animal.
The dog caught it on its downward trajectory with a snap of its white
teeth. A couple of quick chomps and the cake was gone; the dog calmly
licked its muzzle and sniffed around the ground for crumbs.
Ranma sweatdropped, then, clearing his throat, went back to his
cooking, keeping an eye on his visitor and occasionally tossing choice
morsels to him. After a while, the dog had calmed down and seemed
more at ease. He would pad around the clearing, nose to the ground,
sniffing here and there. Suddenly, he jerked his head up, gave one soft
"Whuff!" and wraithed out of the clearing in a light floating lope
instantly, disappearing into the surrounding shrubbery.
Ranma, wondering what had frightened off his new friend, turned to see his
Pop walking through the brush, toward camp.
"Hey, ol' man! Where ya been? Looking for new 'Training
Sites'?" Ranma mimed taking a drink from an imaginary bottle.
Genma smacked Ranma lightly on the top of his head. "Foolish boy, show
some respect! I didn't drag you out here for you to insult me or my
intelligence."
<Can't insult what you ain't got.> thought Ranma.
"We're out here on an important training session this time, boy." said
Genma, dropping down to sit cross legged next to the fire. "I know that
the past two years really haven't been easy on you or your fiancee. The
wedding fiasco was just the last straw. I talked to Tendo and we've
agreed to back off for a while on trying to persuade you and Akane into
getting married."
Ranma looked at his father, jaw sagging. "Huh?! Wha.....Why now?!"
Genma crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. "I will admit
that maybe I was a bit hasty and my judgement was not the best in the
matters of your future. But in all that I've done, I've done it for you,
Ranma. You're my son, my heir, and while I don't say it often I am proud
of you, son. But while I have been training you as hard as I could to be
the best martial artist I possible, I must admit that I have been
neglectful in other aspects of your training. Mostly in how you treat
people, especially people of the opposite sex." He opened his eyes and
tilted his head slightly. The fading sunlight glinted off his glasses.
"You know how important it is to both Tendo and I that our schools are
continued and brought forward into the next century. Martial Arts is a
dying Art. People like the Master and Elder Cologne are, for the most
part, creatures of legend."
<Yeah...Scary bedtime stories to frighten little kids.> thought Ranma
sourly. He checked the pot, stirring it slowly so that the meat didn't
stick to the bottom.
"They hold secrets that would be dangerous in normal, undedicated martial
artists' hands. They see in you something special, Ranma, and that's why
they've given you their time, and their training. They both have
carefully doled out their wisdom to you and you, you ungrateful whelp,
have done nothing but be insulting, demeaning, and immature!"
"Oh please...they haven't taught me crap! Well...maybe the Old Ghoul has,
but the Freak ain't taught me nothin!" Ranma railed.
Calmly, Genma pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "He's taught
you perseverance, cunning, and evasivness. Although you could use more
lessons in that. How many times now has he been able to get the drop on
you and splash you with cold water?"
Ranma's jaw dropped. He struggled to find words, then shook himself
slightly. "There is no way you're gonna get me to believe that the ol'
freak is doing this for MY benefit."
"Believe what you will Ranma, but since he's returned and started his
torment training you've only gotten better at your Art. If only Akane
would give up her anger, or at least leash it, she, too,
would find a marked improvement in her Art. But she is so used to her
anger." Genma rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "Hopefully Tendo will be able
to help her harness it while we are away."
Ranma looked at his father dubiously. "You're trying to tell that this was
a two pronged attack? You bring me up here to train me...and Mister Tendo
is down in Nerima, going to teach Akane how to harness her anger? Okay,
who are you, what have you done with my Pop?"
Instead of being offended, Genma cracked a smile. It was a wicked smile
and held promise that Ranma wasn't going to like the motivating factors
behind it...but it was a smile. "We have until next Saturday, and I am
going to get you to control that smart mouth of yours even if I have to
toss you into the river every time you decide to have a foot sandwich.
Now what's for dinner? We'll have a few hours of sunlight afterwards, and
we'll get started."
Hesitantly, eyes still locked on his father, Ranma began to fill up two
bowls with the stew he had been cooking and handed one of them to his
sire.
<My God....the old man's snapped.>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
For four days Genma had made good on his threat. He had seemed determined
to beat the concept of "think before you speak" into Ranma in contrast to
the ingrained "Do don't think" scheme that was the foundation of Ranma's
life <training>. Of course the word "beat" was interchangeable with the
word "spar".
And spar is what they did. Around the clearing, in the forest, and over
the river.
The river had become Ranma's bane and most detested place. It seemed
that he was unceremoniously dumped in it at least twice a day. His father
would lament on what a horrible and unworthy student Ranma was. How he
would cast the pearls of wisdom that Genma was gifting him, upon the
ground like slop before swine.
He would then shed a couple of crocodile tears then go back to camp
leaving Ranma to pull himself out of the river.
<Author's Note: I want to keep this scene in. But it doesn't work here
and I dont know how to configure it so that it does work. Any
suggestions?>
Once Genma was gone, the dog would show up whining softly as if in
sympathy.
Genma's training had been the most stringent ever and Ranma was beginning
to bow under the stress. Only once had Ranma truly lost it and start to
cry. His self proclaimed shadow had wiped the tears away with his tongue.
With shaking hands, Ranma had pushed the dog's muzzle away. "Hey, stop
that." he said in a soft voice. "I really shouldn't be crying; it's not
manly."
Ranma-onna glared in the general direction that Genma had gone then
relaxed, drew her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them and
sighed.
Tentatively the dog lay down by her side, offering it's warmth and
companionship. Ranma-onna absently rubbed the animal behind the ears as
she brooded.
<~End Scene~>
Ranma never had a pet before. Genma always said that dependence on such
an emotional crutch was a weakness. That was a load of bull. Ranma
guessed that it was just an excuse to keep him isolated from other people,
and dependant on his father.
Yet that had backfired as Ranma grew more independent from Genma, isolated
from his peers, and more obsessed with the Art using it as an escape.
It was so unfair. For twelve years his father had insisted on "Do don't
Think!" behavior, and now in the pace of four days he was trying to undo
everything he'd taught his son!
He wanted Ranma to think before he acted, and to talk to people, more
specifically his tomboy of a fiancee Akane; to open up to her to confide
in her.
Ranma growled softly. It wasn't fair, but the prize might be worth it.
For the first couple of days the dog had refused to stay in the clearing
whenever Genma was around. Ranma would notice him sulking in the forest
beyond the light of the campfire. At night, the dog come in and would
curl up beside Ranma to sleep, but in the morning he would be gone.
He glanced down at the dog whom he had started to call Ookami.
Ookami was skittish and mistrustful around Genma growling softly whenever
Genma stole food or barking when they sparred. On more than one occasion
Ranma actually worried about Genma's safety during a spar as he would
watch Ookami become more and more agitated. Only once had the dog actually
done anything. Rushing in, biting the leg of Genma's pant leg and pulling
hard enough to upset the older man and send him sprawling.
Ranma had then been witness to one of the strangest showdowns he'd ever
seen. Genma whirled around and stared at the dog. They locked eyes and
stood that way for many moments. A deep rumbling growl started in
Ookami's throat before Genma relaxed, shoulders dropping and bowed to the
dog.
Ookami's growls stopped, his ears lifted pricking forwards then he slowly
walked away. Not out of the clearing, but close enough to jump back into
the fray if Genma tried any of his dirty tricks.
Ranma wasn't sure if he should feel flattered or insulted. Even a dog was
standing up for him trying to protect him!
It was strange to think of the dog acting in such a human way. By it's
actions it was very intelligent. Ookami knew when he was upset and when he
was happy and when things were going just fine.
It was only natural, that after a while, Ranma started to talk to the dog
as if he were a person who could understand him.
Ranma had never really understood why Akane would talk to P-chan, but now
that he had his own confidant, who he knew wasn't going to tell anyone his
fears and secrets, he found himself talking to the dog more and more.
He told Ookami about Akane and the Tendos and why he was up here in the
mountains getting the tar beat out of him every day.
Being able to get the feelings out of his heart was very freeing and
liberating. After talking to Ookami about what he was thinking, Ranma was
ready to go back continue "training" with his father.
There were times that Ranma would catch the dog watching him with those
brown eyes. Whenever Ranma would perform kata alone, Ookami would be close
by either sitting or laying down with head on paws, but always his eyes
would be on Ranma. At first it had been a tad uncomfortable, but now it
was nice to know that there was someone around to watch his back.
The coughing "wuff" became the warning that Genma was approaching; pulling
Ranma out of his intense concentration of the kata and on-alert for any of
his pop's sneak attacks.
Now that the four days were up, and he had started to think before
speaking, he began to worry about Ookami. The dog seemed to have attached
itself to Ranma. Ranma knew he couldn't take the dog with him back to
Nerima. He didn't know if Mister Tendo would allow him to keep a pet,
much less a wolf-dog. Besides that, having a pet was a huge
responsibility, and he had enough trouble with trying to live his own
life.
Though he hated to think about it, he was probably going to have to leave
Ookami here in the forest. He wouldn't even consider taking him down the
mountain and turning him into animal control. To him, that seemed like
such a betrayal of trust. He tried to justify abandoning Ookami by
thinking, <He was by himself and fine when we showed up he'll be fine when
we leave.> But even to his ears that sounded flimsy.
It was a vicious cycle that he had been pondering about for days now.
Sighing, Ranma-onna stood up, and headed back for camp. Ookami scrambled
to his feet and followed.
Sitting at the fire was Genma, a bowl of stew in his hands. He glanced up
at Ranma-onna as she came and settled down on the ground. Taking a small
coffee pot which held warm water, off it's warming stone. Ranma-onna
poured some water into a cup and waited for it to cool down to a tolerable
temperature.
Heeding her lessons, Ranma-onna hesitantly began. "So Pop, when are we
going back?"
"I think we'll start back tomorrow in the morning. We can make it back to
Nerima by late afternoon if we catch the train."
<Sound good, I suppose.> though Ranma-onna. Guiltily she glanced over at
Ookami who sat to her left and slightly behind her. <ther's no way I can
take Ookami with me. A train would be best. Quick fast separation. Just
like with Ukyo.> Ranma-onna frowned remembering how that had turned out.
But Ukyo was a girl, Ookami was a dog. There was no way that the dog
would suddenly show up in Nerima. Not unless he was a magical dog.
Ranma-onna sighed. <Well wouldn't that be great? The perfect end to a
perfect trip.>
Ranma-onna checked the water, found it to be just right, and poured it
over her left arm and hand. Instantly she felt the transformation that
heralded the change back into his natural form. He shook the excess
moisture from his limb.
"I hope these last four days have helped a bit, Ranma." said Genma
brusquely. "I'd hate to return to Nerima to find that I'll have to
continue your training down there."
<Oh you'd like that wouldn't you?> thought Ranma sourly. <I'd never let
you get away with it though mind. If you as much as tried, I'd show you
how much I was holding back. Hell's Cradle or no! You know and I know that
I can whip your sorry butt!>
"I seriously doubt that will happen, Pop." replied Ranma softly.
Genma grunted. "Eat your dinner."
Ranma picked up a bowl and did as his father commanded. They ate silently
for a few moments then Genma put his bowl down. "Ranma, you do realize
that you can't take the dog with you."
Ranma didn't look at his father. "I know." <Damn! Damn! Damn! I am sorry
Ookami...>
"Make sure to bank the fire before you go to bed." said Genma as he picked
up his bowls and rose. "I am going down to the river. Leave me some hot
water would you?"
Ranma watched as his pop disappeared into the forest. He turned slightly
as Ookami let out a high pitched whining yawn. The dog scratched behind
its ear then padded over to Ranma, pressing it's cold wet nose to Ranma's
neck. Ranma jumped, startled. "Hey Ookami, what is it boy?"
The dog thrust his nose under Ranma's arm requesting to be petted.
"You're going hunting huh?" asked the young man. "Well good luck, and I
hope to see you tomorrow." Ranma ruffled the dog's prick-ears then watched
with heavy heart as the dog left.
<This really isn't fair, but jeez...Ookami...I am sorry.>
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning when Ranma woke up, he found Genma already awake, his
backpack for the most part packed up, and the fire out. He also noticed
that Ookami was no where to be seen.
"Hey morning, Pop."
"Don't laze about in bed too long, boy. We have a train to catch."
Ranma grumbled and stretched. He had gone to bed half dresses so he
wouldn't have to waste time changing his clothes.
Automatically he got out of his sleeping bag and started to finish
packing. He tied the ankle cuffs of his pants, put on a shirt, drank a
cup of lukewarm tea, strapped the bedroll to his backpack frame, put his
shoes on, and then looked at his father expectantly.
"Finished" he announced.
Genma chuckled. "Let's go."
And with that, Ranma and his father-sensei, left the mountain. Only once
did Ranma look back, his eyes searching for a semi familiar grey shape.
<No Ookami. Where could he be?>
That question haunted the martial artist during the whole trip back to
Nerima.