Magical Interludes: A Day In The Life
Fanfic by J.K. Hayashi
*******************************************
For continuity purposes, the last manga that is 'valid' is the
"Happodaikarin" storyline (assume roughly end of Volume 5 of the
Viz translation).
The story so far:
Magic has come into the world based on scientific principles. The
unlocking of major talents seemed to be linked to the appearance of
'Vortices', people who were at the center of energy/magic storms. The
fifth vortex, Ranma Saotome, managed to draw three 'daughters' into
his reality from other universes. The three sixteen year-olds (Ayuki,
Keiko, and Midori) came under the care of Nodoka Saotome. Both
families are living in the Tendo Dojo while the Saotomes prepare to
move to their new house.
It is the January 16th of Ranma and Akane's sophomore year...
*******************************************
Episode II: Ayuki
It feels so good under the blanket that I stretch before opening my
eyes. I can hear the sounds of Daddy and Grandpa practicing. This
house is so luxurious (and big) compared to what I had growing up. I
quickly dress and meet my 'sisters' in the bathroom to wash up. We
sneak up on the two sparring above the carp pond and attack.
He senses us coming and adjusts. The first day I was able to kick
Daddy into the pond. Soon he'll be just as good as I remember. And
I'm learning things, too. How to fight in a group and how to fight
multiple opponents simultaneously.
After the practice is over I spar a little more with Grandpa, who's
stuck in his panda form. I practice my throws on him, hoping to
build up my strength. I'm not as strong as Mother; she can break
through solid stone with a kick or a punch. I can do it using the
"Breaking Point", but its not the same.
***************
Everyone's eating by the time we finish practice. Grandpa looks at
me with a sour expression, but it looks ridiculous on a panda and I
start to giggle. Both of us sit down. I wish he would change back.
He takes up too much space in his cursed form.
I have to search for Akane's dish. Its not easy because everything
looks delicious, but nobody's giving me any hints as to which one it
is. They're all hoping that I'll take the rest of it, since once its on the
plate it would be extremely rude not to finish it.
Luckily I don't eat too much of it.
By the time breakfast is finished and Akane asks if anyone wanted
the last of her "Crispy Tuna Fish" (whatever that is...) I notice that
almost everyone has disappeared. Akane doesn't look too insulted
because I noticed she stepped on Daddy's foot to prevent him from
leaving. I notice Daddy suffering but he doesn't say anything. I'm
just glad it wasn't me.
I don't know why Daddy doesn't just have Akane taste it before she
serves it. Maybe I'll suggest it to him later. But then, maybe she's
built up an immunity.
***************
I walk with Daddy, Akane, and Midori to school. Keiko had already
left, and she seemed preoccupied with something. Midori and I
follow Daddy as he walks on the fence tops. Its just a fun way to
practice balancing, though it would be extremely embarrassing to fall
off.
We pass by Dr. Tofu's clinic, its windows shut and dark since he and
Kasumi left on their honeymoon. They're supposed to come back this
afternoon, though I won't see them until after my first day of work at
the Cat Cafe. That Dr. Tofu is so babelicious!
I think for a moment about Ryoga, my boyfriend. I feel a little guilty,
but it soon passes. Its not like I was going to do anything with Dr.
Tofu. I'm just admiring his body, and its not as if I was in love with
him.
***************
The four of us reach the school. I think that school is really pretty
useless. It doesn't teach us how to fight, or farm, or hunt. Nothing
really important.
As we enter the courtyard a lump in front of the building jumps up
and starts running toward us. It is Kuno. I smile as I start running
toward him; you can never get too much practice. I hear Midori sigh
behind me.
Kuno: "At last you realize my munificence! Come to me, my love!"
I kick him in the head, knocking him backwards. When he hits on
the floor, I land on his stomach. I step off and wait for the others.
I hear Kuno start to make some strange noises. I look down and see
him drooling as he grabs my lower leg. He's looking right up my
dress! The pervert! I stomp on his face, sending it into the concrete.
He lets go of my leg. I start jumping on his torso and he yells at each
impact. He deserves it.
I notice a lot of students starting to look down at us from the
walkways.
***************
Ryoga is standing in the front of the classroom with Shirokuro when
I arrive. Keiko suggesting that he transfer to Furinkan is one of the
best ideas she's had.
The teacher sits him next to Daddy. Now, this is the worst possible
place and everyone knows it (as they start to back away from them).
It just goes to show that education doesn't teach you the things that
really count. Even though they don't hate each other the way they
used to, its not as if they're really friends.
I wish that they were. I want Daddy to approve of him. He said that
he wouldn't interfere, and he hasn't.
***************
I am totally bored by the class discussion. I spend the majority of my
time sneaking peeks at Ryoga. Finally, the recess bell rings.
Shirokuro walks over to me, bringing Ryoga with her. I scratch her
head, then take Ryoga's hand.
Everyone gasps at this. This classroom is so repressed at the thought
of anyone having relationships, I don't know how any of them expect
to get married. Keiko walks over to us as we're strolling the
courtyard. At least she and Midori don't have any problems like that.
Keiko: "So, Ryoga. Are you ready for your first day at work?"
Ayuki: "Don't worry, Keiko. I'll make sure he gets there."
Keiko: "Are you sure you won't join him? The work will go faster
with two there."
Ayuki: [nodding] "I want to help mother."
Keiko nods and leaves us alone. I take his arm and we just stroll
along. Me, with a new life, a new man, and a new job.
***************
Class continues and I'm still bored. These teachers just doesn't know
how to teach math and physics. They're all wrapped up in theoretical
nonsense, stuff like frictionless planes and such. My science teacher
back in Jokusetzuku knew how to interest his students.
He'd always put it in terms of a fight. How hard you have to hit your
opponent to take out another opponent when they land. What angle
to hit her so that you avoid losing energy due to contact with the
ground. And how to correct for "real world" effects by hitting her
harder.
***************
I look for Daddy during the lunch break and find him eating with
Akane (I think its 'Ba-chan's lunch). I leave Ryoga with Akane and
drag Daddy off to one side.
Ayuki: "Daddy..."
Ranma: "What is it, Ayuki?"
Ayuki: "Do you approve of my relationship with Ryoga?"
Ranma: [uncomfortable] "I've kept out of your way, haven't I?"
Ayuki: "That's not the same thing."
Ranma: "I know."
I look back at Akane and Ryoga, who also seem to be talking with
soft voices. Daddy also looks at them, a small trace of jealousy
crossing his face.
Ayuki: "If things ever get to be like... between you and Akane, I
want to know that things are good between you two."
Ranma: "Ayuki, its not that I don't like him... its just that, you know,
he blames me for his curse, and he slept with Akane in his
pig form for the longest time..."
Ayuki: "I know, but I want things to be right between you. You're
my Daddy..."
Ranma: "Ayuki, I'm not the one that you should be talking to. You
should talk to Ryoga about it."
Ayuki: "I have. Do you think maybe you both could start over
again?"
Ranma: [shuffling feet] "I guess I could try."
He reminds me so much of my Daddy that I have to hug him. As we
walk back, Akane hugs Ryoga, but it is obviously a quick, friendship
hug. Ryoga stands up.
Ryoga: "Ranma, do you..."
Ranma: "Yeah, I guess so..."
Ryoga: "Thank you, Ranma."
Ryoga shakes Daddy's hand. I'm happy because things went so well.
I take Ryoga's arm and we walk around the courtyard. I can hear
Daddy asking Akane what she talked about with Ryoga, and she tells
him. I watch Nabiki exiting the building to walk toward them.
***************
After school I walk with Ryoga to the construction company.
Actually, what they've got him doing sounds like fun; he'll be using
the Breaking Point to demolish some old stone and concrete walls. I
kiss him good-bye (he's so cute when he blushes!) and leave him and
Shirokuro, explaining to the foreman that they have to stay together,
and that he should tell them when to finish work, and I make my way
to the Cat Cafe.
***************
Waitressing at the Cat Cafe is not that much different from Uc-
chan's. Mainly just menu and prices. I'm only there for the dinner
rush, since they want me to do well in school. Grandfather does the
cooking, and Mother handles the register and half of the tables.
Dinner is pretty hectic, but manageable. Two men come in and talk
to Mother about some kind of martial arts race.
Grandfather almost seems to fade into the background; for some
reason almost all the men of the village seemed to do that, except for
Daddy and Ryoga. I can't understand why Daddy picked Akane over
Mother. I mean, she's nice and all, but Mother is better looking and
nicer.
Maybe he just fell in love with her first. I can understand that, kind
of. I've seen some boys who were definitely better looking than
Ryoga since I've got here, but I haven't left him.
***************
Just before I leave, the phone rings.
Shampoo: "Hello, Cat Cafe. Uh-huh. Yes. I have to talk to you
when you get back. Good-bye."
Mother looks at the phone after she hangs up. Since the restaurant is
practically empty, I walk to her.
Ayuki: <Mother, was that Mousse?>
Mother nods.
Ayuki: <Mother, what is it?>
Shampoo: <I don't love him.>
There's nothing I can say.
***************
Mother's admission depresses me. I want her to be happy, but there
really is no one else around for her that she could respect. Kuno?
Hah! Everyone else is taken... Daddy, Dr. Tofu, and Ryoga. I don't
know anyone else (I guess there's Mr. Tendo, but he doesn't count).
The sky is just starting to darken as I pass by Dr. Tofu's clinic and
notice that the lights are on. Kasumi comes out the front door and
sweeps the patio. She smiles when she sees me.
Ayuki: "Kasumi! When did you get back?"
Kasumi: "About three hours ago. Tofu and I spent most of that at
the dojo. There's a present there for you."
Ayuki: "Yay! Thank you, Kasumi."
Kasumi: "You're welcome, Ayuki. Everyone's is packed in the same
box."
Dr. Tofu walks out of the clinic as he hears us talking. Wow! He
sure got a great tan! I didn't notice it before, but as Kasumi walks to
put her arm around him, I see that she has an incredible tan as well.
I have to admit that right now I wish that I was Kasumi. But she's so
sweet that when she's happy she makes everyone around her happy. I
hug her because she reminds me somewhat of Mother before I came
here.
***************
There's a medium-sized box waiting in the living room when I arrive.
I look at it. I don't understand how everyone's present are supposed
to fit in there.
We tear into the box. Inside is a little bundle for each of us.
Swimsuits! One-pieces and bikinis! There's even bundles for Mother
and Ukyou!
Mr. Tendo and Grandfather promise (at our prompting) that we'll go
to the beach the next chance we get.
Daddy suddenly starts to blush as Akane throws him his bundle. We
all crowd around to see what makes him blush. He attempts to hide it
by putting it behind his back, but I manage to grab it as he makes his
move. I lift it up.
Ranma: "Ayuki..."
I catch a glimpse of the card attached to one of the suits. As I read it,
I start to blush, letting go of the suit. It falls to the floor as everyone
takes a look.
A minute later everyone is blushing.
Midori: "I didn't know Kasumi had it in her..."
Nodoka: "I think that its a good idea. Come on, Genma."
I watch as 'Ba-chan takes Grandpa's hand and leads him to their
room, laughing. Mr. Tendo has fallen to the floor, scandalized. The
rest of us go to our rooms, prizes in hand as Akane shyly takes
Daddy's hand in her own.
****************************finis Day In The Life, Episode II
[Author's note #1: Mousse is calling from one of the chinese ports.
The reason he was able to make it to Jokusetzuku and back within
two weeks is because of his cursed form (as opposed to the villagers
following him who will take roughly another month to reach the
same port).]