Hello all!  This is my first attempt at a fanfic ^_^.  I hope you enjoy 
this rough draft.  C&C’s are welcome and will scare the daylights out of 
me. ^_^

I had been playing around with this idea since I started lurking on the 
FFML.  Then I read Mi-chan’s (Michelle Mista) "Sabishisa" ("Loneliness") 
fan-fic.  This gave me the idea of starting the fic at the end V38.  I 
have only read the trans of V38 and am waiting on my order for V37&V38 
books.

Thanks Mi-chan for the jump start!

============================================
Ranma 1/2 characters are created by and copyright Rumiko Takahashi.  
Published by Shogakukan Inc. and VIZ Comm. and are used without 
permission.  Intended for the sole non-profit use of R.T. fans.
============================================

Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction
“The Second”
by Suds-kun (Shaun Schillinger)

Saotome Genma sat at the low table, looking at the warm tea Kasumi had 
just poured.  Sipping the tea, he looked over to the table where Tendou 
Soun and himself had played go for hours on end.   He watched Kasumi 
prepare a small meal of rice and take it into her father’s room.  He 
heard Kasumi implore her father to eat.  “He eats only once a day now,” 
Genma thought, “and only when Kasumi sits there and forces the chop 
sticks into his hand.”

Genma sipped some more tea and thought back to the fight with Saffron.  
Ranma had defeated Saffron, turned Akane from a doll back into her normal 
body.  But he was too late.  “She didn’t wake up,” thought Genma.  “Ranma 
sat there holding her and crying.  It took over an hour to get him to let 
her go.”  Genma heard Kasumi thank her father for eating all of the food 
that she had prepared.  “Akane died two weeks ago,” Genma brooded, “and 
Soun is only now able to eat a complete meal.”  

Setting the empty tea cup on the table, Genma rose and moved towards the 
stairs to his room.  “Ranma left the room for the first time yesterday 
and once this morning.  It seems that he is starting to come around like 
Soun,” mused Genma.  As he opened the door to his room, he saw Ranma 
sitting on the futon with his head in his hands.  “We’ll start our 
morning exercises tomorrow, Ranma.” Genma said firmly.

“Hai.”  Ranma replied in a soft voice.

“You went out today.  Did you visit anyone?”  Genma Asked.

“No.  I just walked along the fence toward school and then ran back.  I 
just couldn’t face the kids at school.”  Ranma still had his head in his 
hands.  “I couldn’t save her.  I couldn’t tell her how I felt.”  He then 
looked up at his father.  “I turn into a girl.  I let my iinazuke die in 
my arms.  What kind of man am I?”

Genma stared at his son.  “There he goes again,” thought Genma.  “You
are a man with a curse, not a girl.  You defeated the most powerful foe 
you have ever faced.  It’s not your fault that Akane died.” Replied 
Genma.

Ranma ignored his father.  “A man without honor.”  Ranma said under his 
breath as he stood and walked out of the room.

“I have something to tell you, my son.” Genma stated.  Ranma stopped and 
looked at his father.  “Soun and I had originally planned on you and 
Akane marrying after you returned from China.  I had arranged for a gift 
for you.  I was going to use it to convince you to marry Akane.”  Ranma 
looked down at the floor, an invisible weight pulling his head almost 
down to his chest.  “I am now giving it to you.  Do as you wish with it.” 
 Genma proceeded to pull out a flask with Chinese writing on the side.

Genma took Ranma’s arm and placed the gift in his hand.  Ranma looked at
the and recognized the word.  “Nannichuan,”  he said softly.  Ranma 
looked at his father and started to speak.  Genma interrupted him, “This 
is a gift from your father, please do not refuse it.”

Ranma’s heart sank.  Here was the cure for his curse.  “This water has no 
value with out Akane,” thought Ranma.  He looked up into the stern face 
of his father.  “Arigatoo,”  replied Ranma quietly and then turned and 
walked out the door.

Ryoga walked down the street.  “I must find Ranma,”  he thought.  “He 
must pay for turning me into a pig!  He must pay for what he did to 
Akane!  I have wandered around Tokyo for two weeks searching!”  Ryoga 
looked around and noticed the Tendou Dojo in front of him.  “Nani?”

Just then Ranma walked out the door of the dojo.  Ryoga instantly charged 
at him yelling.  “Ranma, now you die!”

Without any emotion, Ranma looked at the charging figure and with one 
punch sent Ryoga into the fish pond.  “Bweeee!”  P-chan screamed as he 
ran towards his tormentor.  Ranma pounded the pig on the head with his 
fist.  Ranma looked down at the dazed pig.  “I was just starting to look 
for you.  I was expecting to go on a long search to find you.  I need to 
talk to you.”  P-chan looked up with a confused look on his face.  Ranma
walked to the side yard with P-chan following him.

“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, Ryoga, about what I have done in my 
life.  And a lot of the things I’ve done are not something to be proud 
of.  First, I want to apologize for turning you into a pig.” A surprised 
P-chan looked at Ranma.  “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be cursed and 
wanting to kill me.”  Ranma turned and poured some of the Nannichuan on 
the little black pig.  Suddenly a very naked Ryoga stood in front of
Ranma.  “Your clothes are over in the pond,” Ranma said, as he pointed at 
Ryoga’s floating shirt.  “Gomen.”  Ryoga said as he quickly retrieved his 
clothing.

“What’s going on?”  Thought Ryoga.  “Ranma’s acting very strange.  He 
never felt this bad about me being a pig.  Where did he get that water?” 
 “Ranma, are YOU still cursed?”  Asked a now clothed and wet Ryoga.

“Yes.”  Replied Ranma.  “Now and forever,” he said inaudibly, as he 
turned towards the dojo.  Ryoga followed him inside.

Genma was the first to meet the two.  “Ryoga-kun!  So good to see you!  
Are you doing well?”

Ryoga happily related what had just happened.  A shocked Genma turned to 
Ranma, “Nani?”  And with that Ranma splashed the rest of the Nannichuan 
on his father.  “Nani sunde!?!” An angry Genma yelled at Ranma.  “ I gave 
you that Nannichuan for YOU to use.  Not to give it to everyone you 
meet!”

“How else is a man without honor supposed to act?”  Ranma asked, his face 
completely devoid of emotion.  “I turned Ryoga into a pig and tortured 
him ever since.  Curing Ryoga and you, chichi-san will not restore my 
honor.  There’s no way I can get back that which I’ve lost.”  Ranma then 
walked out the door.

===

“Kuno Tatewaki should be home now,”  thought Ranma.  Carrying a bucket of 
water with him, Ranma knocked on the front door of the Kuno mansion.  
Sasuke answered the door.  “I need to talk with Kuno Tatewaki, it is 
about a manner of honor.”  Sasuke looked quizzically at Ranma and nodded 
his head, motioning for Ranma to enter.  Ranma followed as Sasuke lead 
him to Kuno’s room.

Kuno was busy praying at a newly built shrine.  In the middle was a large 
picture of Akane.  Ranma set the bucket down and walked over to Kuno.  
Ranma clapped his hands together twice and began to pray.  When he 
finished he noticed that Kuno was looking at him.

“Ranma!  You dare invade my private sanctuary?”  Kuno bellowed.

“Kuno-sempai,” Ranma began, “I have something I need to tell you and then 
I want to ask a favor of you.”

“A f-favor?” A surprised Kuno answered.

“Hai.  These two things I will say to you are a matter of honor.”  Ranma 
had a serious look on his face.  “First, I will tell you who the osage no 
onna is.”

“Ah!  My lovely goddess in pigtails!  I would meet with her again to
tell her...”

“Shut up, Kuno!” Interrupted Ranma.  “Listen very carefully to me.  What 
I have to tell you will be very shocking and will be very painful.  Are 
you ready, Kuno?”

“Begin, Ranma.”  Kuno stated, incredulously.

“Before I came to Nerima, I was cursed in China.  This curse would change 
me and turn me into something else.”  Ranma looked directly into Kuno’s 
eyes.  “This curse has cost me my manhood, my honor and the woman I love. 
 Cold water would change my body from a man, into a girl.  Hot water 
would change me back into a man.”

Kuno blinked, “A curse?  Such is befitting a lout like Ranma.”

Ranma picked up the bucket of water.  “Prepare yourself Kuno.  I will now 
show you the girl that I turn into.”

Ranma dumped the bucket over his head.  Kuno stared in stunned disbelief. 
 There in front of him was his osage no onna!  With joy he shouted, “Oh 
my pigtailed godd...” Kuno stopped.  And slowly the rusty gears in his 
brain started to turn.  “Where is Ranma?  Why is osage no onna holding 
that bucket?  Why is she wet?”

Kuno’s look of surprise and bewilderment slowly changed.  First, to that 
of fear.  A quiet “No.” came from his lips.  Then understanding.  “NO.”  
He said out loud.  Then a look of pain and anger consumed his face.  
“NOOOO!!!!”  He screamed as he drew his bokken and charge at Ranma-chan.

“I request of you to be my kaishaku.”  Ranma-chan said in a strong and 
forceful tone.

Kuno stopped his sword just short of Ranma-chan’s head.  He stepped back, 
sword still drawn.  “Why?”

“To restore my honor.”  Replied Ranma-chan.  “I have acted dishonorably 
towards you and others.  I have caused others to be cursed far worse than 
myself.  And above all else, I did not prevent the death of my iinazuke. 
 This is the only option left to me.  Will you meet me at the athletic 
field at Furinkan High School at 6:00 p.m tomorrow?”

Kuno thought.  “For honor?  Why should I help one such as Ranma regain 
his honor?  He has tortured me as a girl and then asks me for help?  Hmm. 
 For honor. Yes, for honor.

“Hai, Ranma.  I will be your second.”  Kuno stated with a sound of 
superiority in his voice.

“Arigatoo.”  Ranma-chan said as she turned and left.

==

The next day Ranma walked into Ukyou’s Okonomiyaki shop.

“Hello Ran-chan!”  Shouted Ukyou as Ranma walked through the door.

“Hi Uc-chan.”  Ranma said.

“He doesn’t even smile.”  Ukyou said to herself.  “How about some 
okonomiyaki for lunch, Ran-chan?”

“Thanks Uc-chan.  It looks like your lunch rush is about over,”  Ranma 
said, as he watched Konatsu cleaning the empty tables.

A fresh okonomiyaki landed in front of Ranma.  Ukyou watched as Ranma ate 
the lunch she prepared.  “He usually is eager about eating my cooking.  
He’s eating it slowly!”

“This okonomiyaki of Uc-chan’s is really good!” thought Ranma as he 
swirled the sauce around in his mouth, trying to make each bite last as 
long as possible.  “I am definitely going to enjoy THIS okonomiyaki.”

Ukyou looked at Ranma.  “I’m glad he’s finally on the road to recovery.  
Akane’s death was shocking to all of us.  I’m sure I can help Ranma and 
take Akane’s place.  I just had to wait for Ranma to come out of his 
stupor.  It would turn him against me if I tried to put the moves on him 
right after Akane died.  Hey!  He came to me first!  Not Shampoo or
anyone else!  But me!  Oh, Ran-chan.  How much I love you!  You must feel 
the same way!”

Ranma had finished eating and was just sitting, looking at Ukyou.  She 
seemed to have a far away look in her eyes.  “How much do I owe you, 
Uc-chan?”

“Nothing, Ran-chan!  It’s free.”

“Arigatoo, Uc-chan.”  Ranma said as he stood up.  Without warning Ranma
leaned over the counter and kissed Ukyou on the cheek.

“R-Ran-chan?”  Ukyou stammered in surprise at Ranma.

“I have something important to do in a couple hours and I need to get 
ready.”  Ranma said as he headed for the door.

In stunned silence she watch Ranma cross the room.  He opened the door, 
turned and looked at Ukyou.  “Good-bye, Uc-chan,” he said and then turned 
and walked out.

“He kissed me!  That means he loves me!”  Ukyou jumped for joy.  Konatsu 
lowered his head and slowly turned toward the last table to be cleaned.

==

Carrying a package under his arm,  Ranma slowly walked towards Kuno.  He
was standing in the middle of the athletic field.

“I was beginning to wonder if you would show up, Saotome.”

Ranma walked up to Kuno.  “Do you understand what you are supposed to do 
and when to do it?” questioned Ranma.

“I am a man of honor, Saotome.  I understand perfectly and will carry out 
my duties with the utmost precision and honor.  I will wait until the 
moment arrives for you to regain your honor.”

Ranma bows to Kuno, turns and kneels with Kuno standing behind his left 
shoulder. Ranma then opens the package that he had been carrying.  He 
removes the tanto from the wrappings and looks at the intricate engraving 
on the handle.  He then takes the knife in his hands and points the blade 
towards his lower left abdomen.  Without a word he pulls the knife into 
his body.  With a quick movement he pulls the knife to the right and
up.  He grunts in pain and then comes back across his stomach to the left 
and up.

Kuno sees that Ranma is starting to weaken.  The blood is starting to 
pool on the ground between them.  Kuno then draws his sword, the metal 
shining in the setting sun.  He looks at Ranma and waits.

Ranma fights back the pain and pulls the knife up and to the right.  The 
knife has left a trail that looks like the letter “Z” on Ranma’s torso.

“It is time.”  Kuno raises his sword and brings it down sideways at 
Ranma.  The blade cleanly and quickly separates Ranma’s head from his 
body.  “I have stopped your agony and you have regained your honor.”  
Kuno paused as he turned his head away.  “I now go to place a picture 
next to dear Akane’s”

==

Tendou Soun questioningly looks at Genma.  “Genma and Nodoka had come 
looking for Ranma and while they were talking they both just stopped 
without warning.”

Nodoka’s face became white and she collapsed to the ground sobbing.

Genma ran out the door screaming.  “Nnooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

==

Ukyou reached to pickup the spatula she had just dropped.  “I’ve never 
done that before.”  She said to herself.  She couldn’t pick up the 
utensil, her hands were shaking uncontrollably.  “What’s wrong with me?” 
 she said as she began to cry.  Looking up at the door of her shop, she 
remembered...

“Good-bye, Uc-chan.”

============================================

Answers - What are those words?

chichi-san 	= father
tanto 		= dagger used in seppuku, usually a simple blade wrapped 
		  in white paper
seppuku		= ritual suicide used to regain one’s lost honor
kaishaku	= the second who brings the samurai’s suffering (seppuku) 
		  to an end

My understanding of praying at a Shinto shrine is very limited (= none). 
Does the person who prays actually clap their hands first?  I’m not quite 
sure of where I got that idea from.

After reviewing the story one last time, I am confronted with a question. 
Who was this story about?  Ranma or Kuno?  Hmmmm.