CONTINUED FROM PART ONE....
PART 2: CALM BEFORE THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM
FURINKAN HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA
12:05 P.M.
Ranma sat in the school cafeteria and stared down at
the lunch that Akane had prepared for him. To call this...."THING"
food was an insult to every cook that ever greased a grill. He had
seen roadkill with maggots crawling all over it that was more appetizing
than the...."LUNCH"....that sat in front of him. Ranma would have
already tossed his socks by now if Ukyou....Wonderful, caring
Ucchan....hadn't also made a lunch for him. Ranma glanced to his right
and stared at the lunch Ukyou had made for him. It was superior to
Akane's lunch in every way. It smelled fantastic, it was Okonomiyaki,
her specialty, and as Ukyou stood over it, blinking her eyes and looking
ultra cute, Ranma made his decision, knowing that it might be his last.
He picked up his chopsticks, hovered over the two dishes for a moment
and then quickly started to chow down on Ukyou's Okonomiyaki. Ukyou
squealed with delight over Ranma choosing her lunch while Akane's face
had turned a very interesting shade of purple as she screamed....
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!!!"
Ranma nearly choked on his food but caught himself and turned to face
her. "Isn't it obvious?" he replied, scarcasm dripping from his voice.
"I'm eating something that can't be used as DIESEL FUEL! I�d call your
lunch TOXIC, but now I know that�s an insult to the rest of the toxic
waste. Even combined they couldn�t collapse a Eco System like THIS
stuff could. Face it Akane, YOUR COOKING JUST PLAIN SUCKS!!!� Ranma
finished with emphasis.
There was a dead silence, briefly disturbed by Ukyou,
who was stuffing her hands into her mouth to keep from laughing at
Ranma's blunt description of Akane's food. Her laughter quickly died
down though as she saw the look on Akane's face.
"....is that so....?" Akane said in the faintest of
whispers.
Akane turned a different shade of color, this time
resembling dark scarlet. Then her eyes glowed bright blue and an
aura of incredible power formed around her. Ranma began to wonder
if he went just a bit too far when his hearing was suddenly knocked
out by an almost inhuman cry of pure rage.
"DIE, RANMA!!!"
Ranma found himself sailing through the air, in more pain
that he had felt in a long time. His last thought before he crashed
into the ground at about 225 miles per hour was....
�Jeez, can't she take some constructive criticism?�
BOOM!!!
The question went unanswered as Ranma dug a long
flaming trench in the ground from the force of his landing until he
came to rest against a tree. A very healthy and strong one since
Ranma's head only caused it to partially collapse when it impacted.
Then everything was silent once more, save the hissing sound of
steam rising from the prone body of Ranma....
* * *
Akane stormed out of the classroom after knocking Ranma
into next week. "That stupid jerk!" Akane fumed. "I go to the
trouble of making a nice lunch for him and what does he do?" He
doesn't even try it and eats her okonomiyaki instead!" "Why do I
bother to cook for him anyway?" Why do I bother to cook period?
"No one ever likes my cooking...."
"No....that isn't true....Ryouga likes my cooking or at least
is polite enough not to say anything bad about it." She looked down
at the Bento she had prepared. "Too bad I have no idea where he is
right now." Akane sighed to herself as she prepared to dump the
Bento into the waste receptacle....
"HOLD!"
Akane jumped, startled by the loud yell and turned around
to see Tatewaki Kunou, known to himself as "Blue Thunder" walk in
her general direction. She sighed again, this time in annoyance.
Although he had made his affection for her all too clear, she had no
interest in him whatsoever and had told him so on many occasions.
Kunou, as usual, failed to catch the hint and soon launched into his
overly dramatic monologue.
"Although the morning sun shines brightly over our heads,
the brightness of your natural beauty outshines it by far. But then
your beauty would illuminate moon, sun and stars combined!" "Ah,
my darling Akane Tendo, I would be honored to eat a meal prepared
so lovingly by...."
"Here. Just take it."
Akane shoved the Bento into Kunou's hands and walked
away. Kunou looked overjoyed as he quickly began to wolf down
Akane's food, only to stop two seconds later and collapse to the
ground, holding his stomach in pain and moaning.
"Uhhhh....Curse my sister and her poisons! Surely she
must have placed one in my breakfast to make Akane's lunch turn
into something most foul...."
Akane ignored him as she continued on her way to her next
class. "Just once I wish I could make something that didn't make
everyone sick." Akane wondered to herself if she should ask Kasumi
to go over their mother's recipe book step by step again. It didn't
help last time but maybe if she....
"Akane?"
Akane looked up to see Hikaru Gosunkugri standing in front
of her. In his outstretched hands, he held a straw doll that bore a
slight resemblance to her.
"I made this during lunch period for you. Do you like it?"
Akane forced a smile as she gingerly took the straw doll
from Gosunkugri's shaking hands. Gosunkugri was also interested
in her affections but while he wasn't as bad as Kunou, he was just plain
weird and she was creeped out by his voodoo practices. Plus he had
gotten Ranma into trouble in the past and took a lot of photos of her
without her permission, something she didn't take very kindly to.
"Uh....thanks Gosunkugri....I have to get to class now...."
"Do you really like it?" Gosunkugri looked at her
hopefully.
"It's....cute. Akane lied as best she could.
"Really?" Gosunkugri's face brightened "I've got some
more if you...."
"Maybe later....I have to get to class now." Akane quickly
replied.
"Oh....okay then."
Gosunkugri walked past her, whistling a tune she didn't
recognize. When he was out of sight, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"That wasn't so bad, I guess...." Akane continued down the
hallway towards her classroom and entered it. She noticed she was a
little early as she took her seat. Nearby Hiroshi and Daisuke, two of
her school friends, walked up to her desk.
"Hey Akane, we heard what you did to Ranma." Daisuke
began.
"Yeah! He got what he deserved for treating you like
that!" Hiroshi leaned in closer to Akane "If I were your
fiancee...."
"Kunou would have killed you a long time ago...." Daisuke
finished for him.
Hiroshi glared at his friend who merely smiled in return.
"You believe in me don't you Akane?"
"Mmmm?" Akane looked up at them, not having heard a
single word they said. "I'm sorry, what did you guys say?"
"I said....Mpph!!!" Hiroshi was quickly silenced by Daisuke
who dragged him away from a confused Akane. "Quit while you're
still alive, Hiroshi!" Daisuke snapped as he sat him down at his desk.
Akane stared at them for a moment then shrugged and
returned her attention to her desk. Someone had carved the letters
S AND G 4-EVER in one of the corners and the sentiment only
served to darken Akane's mood even further. "Why doesn't Ranma
give me the benefit of the doubt just once?" she wondered to herself.
Just then, Kunou walked into the class, he held his stomach with one
hand and placed the other on his forehead, searching for someone.
Akane wished she could have turned invisible but no such luck as
Kunou walked towards her desk, intent on asking something of her.
"Forgive this intrusion, Akane Tendo, but I require some
assistance in acquiring some antacid tablets." "Your sister, Nabiki
told me you had some in your schoolbag?"
Akane blinked for a moment and then caught a glimpse of
Nabiki outside the classroom door. Clearly this was intended as a
practical joke on Kunou, since Akane would normally pound Kunou
for inadvertently insulting her cooking like he just did. But Akane
refused to give Nabiki the satisfaction and calmly reached inside her
bag and tossed a roll of Tums to Kunou.
"Oh thank you Akane Tendo, your kindness knows no
boundaries! Your boundaries have no chains to...."
"You're welcome already." "Now go away." Akane replied
with growing unrest.
"Nay, such a act of kindness must be rewarded! I will
allow you to date with me!" Kunou said sincerely.
"Gee, could I?" Akane responded sarcastically "Get lost
Kunou!" she added with more force in her tone.
"Perhaps you're right. I will return when class is finished
and the rest of the day belongs to us." "Farewell, Akane!" Kunou
made a grand sweeping gesture before he turned to leave.
"Don't hold your breath...." Akane muttered as Kunou
departed from the classroom. Akane then looked at the door again
but Nabiki had already vanished. "I'll get you for that Nabiki....I
swear I'll get you...." Akane forced her thoughts of revenge aside
as Ms. Hinako scurried into the room. She was still in child form
and wasted no time in sucking up a random student's energy for
slouching in his seat. Then the adult Ms. Hinako turned her back
and starting to write on the blackboard. Akane noted that she held
the attention of every male student in the classroom, especially
Hiroshi who was practically drooling as Ms. Hinako's body moved
with her writing motions. "Maybe Ranma really isn't any more
perverted than the other boys." Akane thought to herself as she
began copying down Ms. Hinako's notes for the day....
* * *
OUTSIDE FURINKAN HIGH
1:00 P.M.
"AI REN!!!"
The sky began to grow cloudy as Shampoo made her way to
the fallen Ranma. She had intended to come to his school and give
him a bowl of ramen but an accident in the kitchen had forced her to
stay at the Nekohanten until the lunch rush was over, allowing Akane
to hurt her husband to be yet again. Akane would pay for this, dearly,
but for now Shampoo had to see to his injuries and make sure he was
all right.
"Oh Ai Ren," Shampoo spoke softly into Ranma's ear as she
examined his body for injuries. Then she gently unbuttoned his shirt
to check for bruises but found herself staring at Ranma's muscular
chest. She gently ran her fingers along it, admiring how Ranma kept
himself in such good shape. Then she felt an impulse to kiss him. She
knew he would resist if he were awake and that an opportunity like this
didn't come along every day. She gently leaned her head forward and
was about to make contact when....
"Get away from him you wicked girl!!!"
Shampoo looked up in surprise to see Kodachi "The Black
Rose" Kunou standing nearby, her face was a mask of cold malice
and intense hatred, all aimed towards her. Shampoo quickly rose
to her feet, her own intense gaze meeting Kodachi's.
"What you want Psycho Girl?" Shampoo spat.
Kodachi points an accusing finger at Shampoo. "Need
you ask, hussy?" "How DARE you try to defile my darling
Ranma-Sama, you....you....BIMBO!"
Shampoo's eyes narrow. "Last girl who call Shampoo
bimbo now breeding ground for worms." she replied coldly.
"Really?" "I was unaware you were capable of murdering
your own mother." Kodachi replied without missing a beat.
Shampoo said nothing. Kodachi smiled at her victory
only to have the smile fade when Shampoo lashed out with a kick,
catching Kodachi flush in the face and sending her flying backwards
to land shoulders first against the hard ground. Kodachi gasped with
the sudden pain but soon it turned into a laugh, a horrible laugh,
echoing, cruel, high pitched, and evil. Some would mistake it for
the laugh of the insane, but Kodachi wasn't insane.....
....Kodachi was true evil....
....and true evil could never be destroyed completely.
Kodachi leapfrogged to her feet and stalked towards
Shampoo with a smile on her face.
"So very spiteful....Very well then, I accept your challenge!"
"DEFEND YOURSELF!" Kodachi screamed as she leapt towards
Shampoo. Shampoo responded without the slightest intimidation in
her voice. She would not fail Ranma again. She would protect him
to her dying breath. She would prove her worth in battle.
"Shampoo defeat you now!"
* * *
BUSINESS SECTION OF NERMIA
12:50 P.M.
The sun had been out in force all morning, it casted it's
unforgiving rays downwards upon the streets of Nermia District and
illuminated a lone figure. The figure walked at a slow pace, his
clothes and face indicated that he had traveled for a very long
time with neither food nor rest. In his right hand he wielded an
bamboo umbrella which he held over his head to shade him from the
deadly ultraviolet rays. He continued to walk, exhaustion threatening
to overwhelm him completely with every step, keeping his legs
moving now by sheer force of will.
Finally he could take no more and he collapsed onto his
knees, dropped his umbrella and exposed his face to the harsh
sunlight. He fought the impulse to black out on the street, raised his
head and noticed a sign in the distance. The name of a restaurant!
The boy rose to his feet, previous exhaustion forgotten for the
moment, and starts to run towards the sign at top speed. He ignored
the tortured screams of his muscles, ignored the throbbing ache in
his head, ignored all as he finally reached the sign. He took a
moment to catch his breath and then looked up to read the sign.
For a brief moment he said nothing and then his eyes
widened with recognition. He blinked a few times as if not
believing his own eyes and then, deep from his throat, came a hoarse
cry that was almost unregonizable to anyone who knew him....a cry of
pure joy.
"I FOUND IT!!!! I FOUND IT ON THE FIRST TRY!!!
IT ACTUALLY WORKED!!! THANK YOU TAIMAK, WHEREVER YOU ARE!!!"
The boy then started to dance around in a circle, looking like
a complete fool and not giving a damn. Then the boy's muscles
finally gave out from their overuse and he collapsed to the ground in a
heap. As he began to lose consciousness the boy giggled and
repeated to himself over and over.
"I found it....I really found it...."
Then the boy mercifully passed out. As the sun continued to
beat down on his back, the camera view moves us in front of the sign
and we finally get to see what made the boy so happy.
UTCHAN'S
There was a smaller sign on the door which read.
Weekday Business Hours: 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Several people came out of their businesses upon hearing the
hoarse screams and saw the boy passed out on the road. One man
wearing glasses came out of a supermarket, immediately rushed
over, knelt down next to him and checked his pulse. The people
stared at him until he looked up and proclaimed.
"It's okay, I'm a doctor. Can someone please help me carry
him out of the sun. I have a clinic nearby here that can help him."
Then a young woman, who recognized the young man as
Dr. Tofu, rushed inside and brought out a tall man with black hair
and a mustache to assist the doctor. Together, they took him out of
the sun and towards the clinic while the girl lagged on behind. Dr.
Tofu continued to check on the boy's condition along the way.
"Don't worry Ryouga." Dr. Tofu reassured the unconscious
boy. "You're going to be just fine."
(Fade to Black)
Author's comments:
This is all I've got for now. I had Part 3 finished but lost it to due
to my computer crashing! (Insert mass quanities of expletives) So I
have to retype the entire part and it will take a few days at least.
Thanks to everyone who sent in their comments, I really appreciate
feedback and hope to continue to write fanfics to your liking.
So far, Everyone seems to be interested in "Ryouga: The Eternal Lost
Boy" as my next big project and I hope to have the first chapter out
soon!
Sorry if I seemed to be moving away from Ryouga in the second part. He
will be back in the spotlight soon enough. It wouldn't be Ranma 1/2
without the rest of the cast involved in some way. There will be
several subplots in this story along with the main one. They will all
play a part, possibly even Hikaru Gosunkugri, normally a minor
character.
My friend Bengmen mentioned that I said in my first draft that Taimak's
last name was unpronounceable in Japanese and that no word was
unpronounceable in Japanese. I fear my knowledge of the japanese
language is limited to Anime and other fanfiction (Megane no Baka!),
so if I have any trouble in the future I will try to find a source to
help me out.
I have changed my style from Script to Paragraph from the first draft.
Tell me if you like it better.
I'd like to give a special thank you to Bengman for her detailed
insight and Beneres, who's Ranma: Predator Vs. Prey was the first
Ranma 1/2 fanfic I ever read and still consider one of the best. I
wish I could name all of the other great authors out there but they are
too numerous and I don't want to leave anyone out ;)
*BONUS!!!*
And now for all those people who don't skip the author's
notes at the end, Here is a *beta* copy of my prologue to my soon
to be monthly series (I hope) Ryouga: The Eternally Lost Boy.
Enjoy!
It was a cold night, cold and bitter, filled with the
bittersweet memories of a once semi-happy existence. In some way,
I took comfort in that as I plunged on ahead, I had lost the only
person I ever truly cared for, but I had never had her in the first
place. Only as her beloved P-Chan did Akane ever show any true
love for me. Never as a man, just warmth and friendship....
Now I didn't even have that anymore. I had burned my
bridges behind me and instinctively knew I would never be held
in her soft embrace ever again. For she had given her sweet heart
to the man that was responsible for all of my suffering, all of my
hardships, all of my loneliness. "WHY?" I screamed to the heavens.
"Why did she have to choose HIM of all people! "Why do I have to be
alone for the rest of my life?"
I had tried to be a good person, ever since my mother and
father wandered off, leaving me alone in the world, I had tried so
damn hard to make something of myself, to carry on my father's
doujou and make him proud, wherever he was. I trained hard,
learning to fight in my father's style, using mere cloth as blades,
building my endurance from my long endless traveling and even
met a friend of my father's, Master Sukashii, who trained me in the
use of the Uranium Depleted Umbrella and taught me how to
hunt and survive in almost every type of rough environment I might
encounter, from the harshest cold of winter to the ungodly heat of the
desert. I trained, I learned, I suffered.....
But that was before Ranma came along, I had postponed my
training to go to junior high school at Master Sukashii's insistance.
There I met Ranma and soon found myself chasing him all over Japan.
Then, just when I was ready to give up and resume my previous training,
Ranma dropped me into the pool of the drowned pig at Jyusenkuo. The
drowned pig. Why couldn't he have at least dropped me into a pool with
the sprit of a lion or a tiger, both animals that could scare the living
crap out of Ranma and fight very well, instead of a pathetic, weak,
piglet! So what if I was cute as a pig! It didn't matter any more!
Nothing mattered any more! Akane was going to marry Ranma someday and
that was that. On top of that, Akari had found out about me sleeping
with Akane as P-Chan, again thanks to Ranma's big mouth. She hadn't
told Akane, thank god, but she refused to have anything more to do
with me. Which in the end suited me just fine! I'm sure I would
have broken her heart eventually.
My heart had lifted briefly when the wedding of Ranma and
Akane turned out to be a disaster, thanks to Nabiki selling them out.
But even though they weren't married yet, I knew deep down that it
was only a matter of time. I had looked into Akane's eyes and seen
the love, reluctant to show itself, for Ranma. Saw it as P-Chan. As
Akane held me as P-Chan and finally confided to me her feelings for
him. The day my heart shattered into a billion pieces.
Soon after that, I left Akane's room, turned myself back into
a man, walked out the front door....and just kept on walking. I
walked for thirteen days without sleep, food or drink. But I was
okay, I had done it many times before and traveling all over the
world had given me superhuman endurance. When I finally did
stop to take a rest, I had no idea where I was, which suited me just
fine....
I didn't know what I was going to do or where I was going
to do it but what I did know is that whatever it would turn out to
be, it would have to be better than the suffering I've already
endured....
Little did I know, my journey had already begun....
How's that for a start? ;)
E-mail me at fcasper@yesic.com
I love feedback!