----------------------
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE
E P I L O G U E
----------------------
The sun rose slowly, filtering through the windows. Within the bright
white room, several people awakened to the new day...
"Doctor! Doc!"
"Painkillers! I need painkillers!"
"Ow! It hurts!"
"Get this cast off! I've got an itch!"
"Where's the PILLS?!"
A nurse quickly entered the room, looking angrily at the people. "Now
listen up, you're disturbing the patients in the other room! Just wait a
minute and the Doctor will be here soon."
She cast an angry glare at the many figures, all trapped in their
hospital beds due to one injury or another. They all were sporting casts
in various body locations, and in some cases were in entire body casts.
They had been in the hospital for two days now, with some not regaining
consciousness until just yesterday night. Now, with all of them awake,
the hospital staff was experiencing a nightmare.
She shook her head in disbelief. The Nerima district always brought
patients in, but the circumstances under which these people ended up were
stupidly amazing.
------
One figure in particular, restricted by a full body cast, groaned and
woke up. He began to talk.
"Ye gods! What pain is this that ails the mighty blue thunder!"
"Oh no, he's awake." someone muttered.
"It feels as if I had fought through the very depths of hell itself!
What fiend has inflicted such pain upon my personage? Tatewaki Kunou
shall have retribution!"
"Shut up!" the person next to him yelled.
"Brother dear, I think it would help alot if you'd just-"
"None interrupts the soliloquies of the great and mighty Kunou!"
"SHUT UP!" everyone in the room yelled.
------
"Are you alright?"
"BWEE!"
"Oh... poor Katsunishiki. Does it still hurt?"
"_bwee_"
"I didn't get a clear view of the fight. Who'd you lose to?"
*SNORT*
"Oh, come on. You lost to somebody. You were knocked out when I ran
to you! Oh, I guess I'll have to talk to somebody that saw the whole
fight."
Akari Unryuu sighed. So close to finding love, yet so far away...
------
"So, doc," asked Ukyou, "how are the guys doing?"
"Well, they've all suffered several degrees of burns, fractured bones
from the force of the explosions, and multiple bruises."
"So when will Ranma be able to leave the hospital?" asked Akane.
"Ranma? Hm..." said the doctor, flipping through his files, "Saotome,
right? He's recovering fast, really. Oughta be out in three weeks or
more."
"And how about Hibiki?" asked Ukyou.
"Hibiki... Hibiki... hm.... ah, here it is. Three weeks also, maybe a
few days less than that. Amazing, since he was in the middle of the whole
mess."
Akane and Ukyou thanked the doctor, left his office, and decided to
make a little visit.
------
= ON 'SOUL' OR 'PSYCHO' POWER AND IT'S VARIOUS SIDE EFFECTS =
Soul Power, or in it's more notorious form, Psycho Power, is a
legendary ability amongst martial artist circles. There is only one known
practicioner of it today, the leader of the controversial Shadoloo
organization.
From ancient tomes of lore, it is said that the technique taps into the
very energy of a person's soul. In times of strong emotion, the power
will surge forth in an aura reflecting the nature of the person. It is
said that this power is inherent in all, and merely requires an opening of
consciousness for the energy to flow.
It is this energy that is channeled into various attacks, including the
now infamous Psycho Crusher technique. Blows inflicted by Soul Power are
said to be surprisingly powerful, accompanied by a 'cold burn' of sorts.
Soul Power also can be used as a healing technique. Just as antibodies
develop resistance to certain bacteria, it is said that legendary
practicioners of Soul Power, in the past, had become immune to extreme
cold, heat, and in some cases, even ki projectiles.
( - from The Martial Artist Almanac, 1987)
. . .
"Kill you, kill you, kill you..." Ryo muttered, staring directly at the
person in the bed across from him.
"Look, I said I was sorry, didn't I?" whined Gosunkugi.
"I'll kill you, I'll-" *CLANG*
"Leave him alone!" Ukyou yelled as she walked past Ryo's bedside.
Ryo narrowed his eyes and glared at Ukyou as she passed by. He was in
an entirely rotten mood, ever since he was suddenly stripped of his
newfound powers by the idiot mage.
She went over to Gosunkugi, who was at the moment cringing away from
his psychotic twin nearby. "Hey, Gosunkugi, how's things?"
"Oh, could be better. I wish they gave us more painkillers."
"Hurts alot, does it?" she asked, brushing his hair back with her hand.
"Yup." Gosunkugi blushed. He wasn't used to women brushing his hair
back, or even touching him at all.
"What'd you do to get Ryo over there so mad?" she asked, pointing at
the person across from Gosunkugi.
"Well, I, um, well, it's an embarrasing kinda thing."
"C'mon, tell me." said Ukyou.
"Well, I thought he was... a spirit that was imitating me and going
nuts attacking people, so I tried some spells like purification, blessing,
exorcisms, and banishment of evil type spells."
"And?"
"Well, I... aheh... with everything happening, I kinda panicked... and
lost track of what spells do what... and... well..."
"Aparently I took away that guy's powers."
Ukyou looked over to Ryo. Gosunkugi was right. Ryo, who several days
ago was almost always surrounded by a dark purple, blue, and blackish aura
and had eyes that always glowed with those colors, now was normal. His
aura was gone. His eyes were non-glowing. Even his hair was not quite as
spiky as it was before.
"Not only that, but Kunou too."
"Kunou?" Ukyou asked. "What about Kunou?"
"Oh. He was glowing like the other guy was."
Ukyou shivered. A super-powered Kunou was not what the world needed.
"And I think I put Happousai into a coma."
"Don't worry, they deserved it."
"Who is that guy anyways?" asked Gosunkugi.
"Him? He's an old rival of Ryouga's."
"Typical for our neighborhood, I guess. Who's those others? I've
never seen them before."
"Ryo's brother and sisters. Compared to him, they seem nicer."
"One of them's been looking at Ryouga like she's in love with him."
Ukyou tensed up.
"Hey, you alright?"
"Absolutely. Nothing wrong at all."
"If you say so."
"Well, I've gotta go see how the others are doing. Hope you get better
soon. See ya!" She patted Gosunkugi on the head and walked off.
-----
Meanwhile...
"Hey, Ranma, are you alright?" asked Akane. She bent down and kissed
Ranma on the forehead.
"This, you know, is your fault."
"Hey, you're the one with a big mouth." Akane angrily replied.
"If I wanted criticism, I'd talk to the rest of the people in this
room. It's bad enough I'm stuck with them."
"You only have yourself to blame."
"Well, I have you."
Akane smiled a bit.
"To blame. OW!"
Akane removed her fist from his face. "Shut up."
"Look, your latent violent tomboy tendancies aren't exactly helping my
situation, y'know. Ya want me to be stuck in here for a month? Hm, maybe
if you bring that dinner in here, I'll be stuck in the hospital for two
months. Geez..."
Akane turned a dark shade of red. "So, that's the way you're gonna be,
eh?"
"Hey, wait a minute..."
"FINE! I'M LEAVING!" Akane yelled, and stomped out of the room.
"Aw geez." said Ranma.
"Saotome," said Ryouga, "you just don't know when to shut up."
"Saotome you fiend! How dare you slander against the noble Akane
Tendou!"
Ranma sulked.
"Hey, Ranchan, Ryouga, how are you two?" Ukyou said, walking up to
them.
"Ucchan! Nice to see ya!"
"I'm doing okay, Ukyou."
"Well, it looks like you won't be lonely around here, at least." Ukyou
said, gesturing to the contingent of Kodachi, Tatewaki, Tsubasa, Ryo,
Ryoko, Kyoko, Megane, and Gosunkugi.
"Ask'em to get us different rooms, will ya?" asked Ranma.
"Sorry, the place is crowded. You're stuck together."
Ranma and Ryouga groaned.
"Hey, Ranchan, how'd you end up with this bunch?"
"Akane booted me through the roof, and right in the middle of this
idiot's" he said, gesturing at Ryouga, "massive fight."
"I gotta head back to the restaurant. Anything you guys want next time
I visit?"
"Food!" both of them said.
Ukyou smiled. "Alright, you guys. See ya later." She kissed both of
them on the forehead and left.
------
"This is your fault." Megane flatly stated.
"I'm not in the mood for this. Don't even start." said Ryo.
"You just HAD to chase after Hibiki."
"May I ask what _you_ were doing there?" said Ryo.
"Ah... Ryoko, this is all your fault."
"Hey!"
------
Outside of the crowded room, several nurses were talking.
"So, what happened to these guys?"
"It was kinda muddled. I heard it had something to do with some
martial artists..."
"Isn't it always" someone added in.
"...a mech, a gas main, that pervert Happousai, some bombs, a cargo
truck full of gasoline, and a power line."
"You're kidding."
"That's what I heard. Say, what happened to Happousai anyways? He's
not with this bunch."
------
Somewhere, deep underground, a small platoon of men in white medical
coats marched, surrounding a medical bed on wheels. The bed contained a
small figure, encased in a metal body cast.
They wheeled into an elevator, where it went even further underground.
They exited the elevator and went through a security barrier in a long
hallway.
They walked through a contingent of Shinto priests who were setting up
all sorts of holy symbols and items.
They went through a foot thick metal door and entered a room full of
monitoring equipment, ki-dampeners, and security devices.
A man with glasses and greying hair looked down at the entrapped
figure.
"This time, Happousai, you're not getting away."
------
Despite her vow, Akane had decided to try and make peace with her
fiance, several times, over the span of the next week days.
Unfortunately, it wasn't going well.
"Look, that's not what I meant!" protested Ranma.
"So what exactly do you mean?!" Akane yelled.
"Will you two stop?" asked Ryouga.
"NURSE!!!" yelled Ryo.
"Will you just listen to me just once, you stupid tomboy!" yelled
Ranma.
"Why should I, you insensitive jerk!" countered Akane.
"Dammit, I can't get any sleep." muttered Megane.
"Leave my darling Ranma alone!" yelled Kodachi.
"You macho chick!"
"Pervert!"
"I'm warning you, Saotome, stop insulting her!" yelled Ryouga.
"Hold thy foul tonge, fiend!" cursed Kuno.
"Make the bad people go away," whimpered Ryoko.
"He's MY darling!" yelled Kodachi.
"Smite him, my love!" yelled Kunou.
"Jerk!" yelled Akane.
"Ugly!" Ranma shot back.
*WHAP*
"And it begins." muttered Ryo.
"Please don't do this here, you guys?" whined Gosunkugi.
"Akane Tendou, DIE!" Ukyou would have lashed out with her whip, but
being in a hospital put a strain on her resources. She had to make do
with what was available.
"Put that toilet paper down!" Ryouga yelled.
"You dare threaten a member of the Kunou lineage? I shall smite thee!"
Kunou yelled.
"Oh no." muttered Gosunkugi. He covered his head with the pillows. If
anything, this last experience re-affirmed what he suspected he should do:
quit trying to date anyone in Nerima at all. They were either too violent
or attached to someone too violent.
------
The doctor sat in his office looking thoroughly worn out. He wasn't
sure how much more he'd be able to put up with a certain group of
patients. He would have loved to seperate them, but the hospital was
suffering from overcrowding at the moment. The bickering seemed to have
stopped amongst them, but the damage in terms of sheer irritation they
caused the staff with their constant whining, bickering, and minor
skirmishes was bad already.
It was two weeks. Two long weeks until any of them would be ready to
leave the hospital.
"Doctor," a nurse said, popping her head into his doorway, "it's them
again. They're wrecking the room and making more demands. I think some
of them made their injuries worse."
The walls shook for a moment. He heard an explosion in the distance.
The doctor reached for his own medication. The nurse patted him on the
back.
"Have courage, doc."
- the end -
--------------------
EDITOR'S NOTES, MISC
--------------------
First of all, a BIG thank you to Mihoshi@FFML for combing through this
monster and doing alot of error correction for the past few months. I
couldn'ta done it without'er.
Well Here I am again... first fanfic, redone for the Nth+1 time... maybe I
shouldn't have done it, but I couldn't fight the urge. Oh well, if it's
good, it'll stand well. If not, it can easily be erased.
Primary objectives of the fanfic:
-put Ryouga through Hell
-Introduce villian that does NOT overwhelm the Ranma cast with his
fighting ability, but instead gets his ass kicked first. The
overwhelming bit should come later...
And just to let you know what COULD HAVE been...
--------------------------------
Early Ideas That Didn't Make It:
--------------------------------
-Ranma & Akane MARRIED
Somehow, it just didn't seem right. Not yet.
-Gigantic battle Ryouga vs. alliance of Ryo, Kunou, Tsubasa, & Gosunkugi
at The Bridge. Everyone witnesses Ryouga become P-Chan just before
Bridge destroyed.
It seemed like overkill after a while. Just too... too... too much.
-Titanic Angst-ridden scene between Ukyou and Ranma.
It just seemed too damn heavy. It didn't fit right either. Anyways,
John Biles did it _MUCH_ better in Furinkan Summer part 3...
-Ranma injured in bridge destruction by flying debris, in short Coma.
It had good possibilities, maybe a better resolution of Ukyou finally
letting go of him in a nice scene in a hospital room... but it also
seemed too dramatic.
-Ryouga stumbles into the O.J. Simpson courtroom, pisses off Judge Ito.
Thougth about it. Thougth some more. Dropped it like a hot potato.
-Shampoo actually falling for Ryouga.
Too unlikely for this story. Just couldn't find a believable way.
-Ranma-chan DOES give Ryouga the big smooch.
I was thinking along the lines of a horrible accident with
herbs/potions/etc.
-Ryo kills Kirin (from the first Ranma movie)
Had a good scene in mind, angst-generator running along nicely, but
it just didn't fit right.
-Ryo kills Happousai
Thougth about it. Probbably would make the new character more menacing,
but then I needed the comedy relief later on and so I dumped the idea.
--------------------------------------
Character Profiles/Ideas/Translations:
--------------------------------------
Akari:
For all you Akari fanatics, I would think that the "wild pig attacks"
that were spread across nearly all the parts would have been a clue...
I've heard some people complain about fanfics that put Ukyou and Ryouga
together with the main protest being "what about Akari?" Well, since
I've NEVER read anything with Akari in it (and won't, not for a long long
time since I don't read japanese and Viz is up to book five only
(and Akari is in book THIRTY, right?) I had NO idea how to properly
portray the girl. I read the translations from the net, and it
helped a little. And so now ya got a Ryouga fanfic WITH Akari in it.
So she isn't his main love interest. If I did that, I'd probably
write her amazingly off-character anyways. Besides, I needed to stick
Ryouga with as many love interests as possible (Let's see, so that's
Ukyou, Akari, Kodachi, Manami, and for a brief while Shampoo).
Basically, Akari assumes the role that Shampoo has held when she was
after Ranma. Y'know, the "you defeat me (or in Akari's case, my pig) and
you have to marry me" kinda deal.
Ukyou:
The modern woman. Intelligent, independent, runs her own business, and
can kick ass with da spatula. I can easily see her acting very possesive
in a strange way somewhat like Akane usually does with Ranma.
I guess I've made Ukyou take up Akane's role as angry main love interest,
although they start off on friendlier terms. They certainly would,
I think, resist taking that next step.
Ryouga: The ever-lost bandanna-man. Sucker for disguises, short-tempered,
and packing a mean umbrella. That would seem to be typical ryouga-ish
qualities, no?
Ryouga-Chan:
I was trying to think of exactly HOW Ryouga would look like if he had been
dunked in the same spring as Ranma. Nothing would come to mind at all.
And then I saw New Dominion Tank Police. Take a _good_ look at Leona
from that show. I did, and it immediately clicked. _THAT_ was exactly
how Ryouga would probbably look like when dunked into drowned-girl-spring.
Mousse:
C'mon, nobody's got enough patience to be put through what Mousse goes
through every day in his fruitless pursuit of Shampoo. I figured he'd
go nuts after long term exposure. Wouldn't you?
Shampoo:
Her and Mousse knew each other since childhood. There's bound to be _some_
good memories between them. That idea inspired their exit scene. Maybe
it worked, maybe it didn't, but I couldn't figure out a better way to send
these two off.
Gosunkugi:
Wishy-washy wimp, but a nice guy if he's given a chance. Finally turning
his life around, slowly, until Ryouga returns and ruins everything.
(Un?)fortunately, he's also destined for bigger and better things...
Tsubasa:
Let's face it: Tsubasa's always been a wuss. I decided that infusing him
with some serious Mecha know-how would be fun. I thought it was, anyways.
Unorthodox Weaponry School of Martial Arts
Well, it was born as the school of Umbrella Martial arts, but after a day
or two that just sounded stupid. Then I tried out Unusual Weaponry blah
blah blah... sounded not too bad. Then I needed Ryo to have a small
supporting cast, and Unorthodox etc etc etc sounded great. Then I
realized I had to validate the existence of such a stupid school, and
what better way to explain all the utterly stupid martial arts techniques
in Nerima than this school?
Ryo Muhoshin: age 17
Heir to the Unorthodox Weaponry School of Martial Arts (Umbrella Division)
Roughly translates like "Accomplished" + "Pointless". He bears a strong
resembalence to Gosunkugi. If someone looked closer, they might notice
that he actually looks a bit healthier than Gosunkugi usually does.
A bit taller, bigger, older and at the very end of this story, he's got a
short version of that weirdo dragonball-Z spiky hair thing going on.
Unstable personality. Will go through several types of personas.
If he's ticked off a bit and deems his opponent inferior, he'll slip
into Kunou-esque mode. In dealing with normal day to day situations he'll
be quite a gentleman. In combat his arrogance will rise to the surface.
When he deals with his siblings, he looses his cool entirely because
he can't deal with them like he deals with everyone else (negociate or
beat 'em up), and is somewhat overprotective of them as well.
Laziness factor rises and falls depending on what the circumstances are.
Fashion sense is a slight mystery to him, so after his uncomfortably
expensive venture into the good-suit look, he goes plain.
Inspired by Jinnai of "El Hazzard" fame, Gosunkugi, and Ryouga. Yes, as
Ryouga is now in Ranma's seat, Ryo takes Ryouga's role to some extent.
*The following names for these moves were swiped from King of Fighters '95,
A NeoGeo game. Thanks to Galen Komatsu (sp?) for the translations.
Gekihou: "Shock Blow"
Ryugeki-ken: "Dragon Strike/Fist"
Gou Rugeki-ken: "Great Dragon Strike/Fist"
(well, I _think_ it translates this way...)
Hyaku Gekihou: rougly "100 shock blows"
Ryoko Muhoshin: age 16
Student of the U.W.S.o.M.A. (Recreational Items Division)
Roughly translates into "Travel" + "Pointless"
Nabikiesque in persona, only more criminally inclined and considerably
more relaxed and affectionate. Will often find a way to get a free lunch.
Dresses tomboyish with a really short type of haircut.
inspired by Jinnai's sister of "El Hazzard" fame, and by some people
I know of in real life.
Ryoko is supposed to be something like what Ukyou was to Ranma: a familiar
face from the past that suddenly and unexpectedly becomes a love interest.
Megane Muhoshin: age 15
Student of the U.W.S.o.M.A. (Musical Instruments Division)
Rough Translations "Glasses" + "Pointless"
Doesn't express much care about anybody or anything, it seems. Very
cynical in a calm fashion, with a low opinion on everything and everybody.
Doesn't get excited, just grouchy. Wears round-frame glasses, hair is
shoulder length and always pulled back into a pony-tail.
Partially inspired by Megane of "Urusei Yatsura" fame, and partially
by persons I know of.
Kyoko Muhoshin: age 12
Student of the U.W.S.o.M.A. (Hair Care Products & Equipment Division)
Rough Translations "Noisy Child"? + "Pointless"
Looks for beautiful & fashionable things. Keeps on seeing Ryo as hopelessly
ugly/out of fashion. Will act cute (See Azusa) if in trouble. Wears
whatever is cool these days and has a ton of hair, usually kept in a
ponytail. Slightly reminiscent of Azusa, I guess.
An infusion of Azusa and somebody I know, again.
Nuku-Nuku:
I _wanted_ to find a place where she could put a cameo in, but alas, my
imagination fails me. =(.................
--------------------
GUEST STARS & SWIPES
--------------------
TURBO TEEN
-this show inspired the horrible concept of "Nissanichuan"
Yes, there was an American Saturday morning cartoon show called
"Turbo Teen" and yes he turned into a car. Except it wasn't water
that did it to him, it was just temperatures, and no cursed water,
just a weird accident of science.
URUSEI YATSURA
-Lum
-Ataru (Yup, there's an episode where Ataru gets hit by a sex-change gun.
It's episode 91.)
-Shutaro Mendo
KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD
-Kyouske (In case you didn't get the joke, He was the boy in the park.
And what else? He's an ESPer. Still don't get the joke? Go
back and read part 1!)
-Madoka Ayukawa
STREET FIGHTER
-Ken
-Ryu
-Bison (Vega in Japan) I didn't want to call him by either name, since it's
the OTHER name on the other side of the ocean, so I just stuck him
with the description of big military guy with cape, big jaw and an aura.
-Unnamed Master of Ken and Ryu (see the Street Fighter Anime)
-(Mentioned) Dan Hibiki: hidden character in SFA. Story was that he trained
under the same master as Ken & Ryu but was too filled with anger to train
properly. Carries grudge against Sagat. I saw the last name and couldn't
resist mentioning him. I was gonna put him in a cameo but it just didn't
fit properly.
SUPER CATGIRL NUKU NUKU
-Mishima Heavy Industries Inc.
MISC. CINEMA & ENTERTAINMENT REFERENCES
-Jacky Chan
-"The Protector" man, watching this one HURT. Jacky Chan & Danny Aiello,
what a perfect action movie pair! *blech*
-"Drunken Master II" four stars, baby.
-"Twin Dragons" so that's where Van Damme got his idea for double impact...
-Pulp Fiction "Royale with cheese"
-Reservoir Dogs "Jokers to the right..."
-Wayne's World "Oh yes, it will be mine."
-Terry Pratchet's DISCWORLD (See: Librarian "ook!")
-Douglas Addams HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE (See: Earth "Mostly Harmless")
-DC Comics (The Fat gaijin guy who was good with umbrellas: guess who?)
-Pinky and the Brain: guess what show Ryo was watching on the portable tv?
-Saturday Night Live (Stuart Smalley): "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough...)
-------------------------------------
SLIGHTLY OBSCURE RANMA 1/2 REFERENCES
-------------------------------------
-Tatewaki Kunou did indeed gain the habit of slicing watermelons. It's in
the manga vol. 19 parts 1-3
-Yes, there WAS a fall-in-love medicine that Akane swallowed at the beach.
It's in manga vol. 10, parts 2-3
-Akari Unryuu, Ryouga's new love interest, arrives at manga vol. 30.
-Ryouga's house, I forgot which manga, but it's empty because the rest of
his family is also pathetically lost.
-----------
WHAT'S NEXT
-----------
Well, the sequel to this fic, 'The Pursuit of Happiness' is on the
horizon. Look for a little exploration into the history of the TMTC/TPOH
universe, as well as some old faces and new faces.