[Ranma] "No Need for Ranma!" (2/?)
By Henry J. Cobb
$Id: no_need_for_ranma2.txt,v 1.6 1997/02/02 21:50:52 hcobb Exp $

The Ranma 1/2 characters and situations are the creation of Rumiko
Takahashi.  No infringement of her copyrights is intended.

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So Far:

Five year old Ran-chan jumped from the cart to back for Ucchan.

Ukyou pledged to take Ranma's place, after he was lost at the age of
ten, in a training incident involving a cat.

Ukyou now 16, is a boy (thanks to the Nanniichuan) and has chosen Akane
(from the Tendo daughters) to be his fiancee.  (Without even really
asking her.)

Ukyou uses the "Anything goes" style with some pressure-point based
holding pins, but otherwise looks just like her old cross-dressing self.
(Except that he's got the Chinese outfits, instead of the okonomiyaki
chef's clothes.)  Even to the point of using a ponytail rather than a
pigtail. (Apparently he hasn't tasted the Dragon's whisker.)

The story is told from Akane's point of view and she currently is
unaware that this "Ranma" wasn't born male or that the cursed springs
exist.  (Her uncle ain't a Panda, so she hasn't seem them in operation.)

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Monday morning, Ranma came downstairs to breakfast in the exact school
uniform for boys at Furinkan High, except for his auburn ponytail.

"So, you're going to the same school as me and Nabiki?"  Akane asked.

"Yes, we are going to be staying here for a while",  Ranma sat down at
the spot next to Akane that had been left vacant.

As they started out to school, Ranma again leapt onto the fence.

"Care to join me?"  He held a hand down to Akane.

It looks interesting, Akane thought, but if I take the offer, he'll have
his hands on me, every step of the way.  To steady me, he'll explain.
"Oh, look at the time!"

Akane ran along the sidewalk, but Ranma easily kept pace.

They made good time and got to the school gates before Akane's usual mob
of admirers could form up.  Akane stopped at the gate and closed her
eyes to relax and clear her mind before the brawl.  She heard a noise
overhead and saw Ranma make a somersault to land right in front of her.

"Hi, I'm Ranma Saotome", he addressed the gathered schoolboys, "and
Akane Tendo here is my fiancee.  Does anybody have a problem with that?"

"Never, never, never!"  Tatewaki began to push his way through the
stunned mob.

"Here, hold this please",  Ranma tossed his bookpack back to Akane.

Tatewaki reached the front of the mob and rushed forwards with his
bokutou.  "I will never accept this engagement to Akane Tend-ugh!"

If Akane had blinked, she would have missed the fight.  Tatewaki had
charged with his usual blinding speed.  Ranma had stepped aside and
pulled on the sword.  Tatewaki had been yanked forwards into a kick in
the solar plexus.

"OK, who's next?"  Ranma stepped over the fallen kendoist.

The mob quietly dispersed.

"Akane, an engagement?"  The schoolgirls asked.  "How could you?"  "I
thought you said you hated boys!"

"Let's get inside",  Ranma took back his bookpack from Akane's stunned
fingers, then grabbed her hand,  "It looks like it's going to start
raining."

Their first class of the day was abuzz in whispers.  It wasn't hard to
guess that they concerned Akane and this new boy sitting next to her.

Between classes Tatewaki confronted Ranma in the hallway.  Akane wasn't
able to follow the action, but it ended with the larger boy pinned
beneath Ranma.

"Upperclassman Kuno, school is no place for a fight", Ranma addressed
his captive, "Why don't you come to the Tendo Dojo after school?  Nod if
you agree to behave yourself."

"Is the upperclassman an old friend of yours?"  Akane asked Ranma, after
he'd let the kendoist go.

"No, I've never met him before today."

"Then how did you know his name?  You clobbered him before he could
introduce himself this morning."

"Er, well, I picked it up from all the whispering in class.  Everybody
seems to be a shameless rumor-mongerer around here."

And you were counting on that, weren't you?  Akane thought.  Just like
you knew there'd be a fight before school.  Once you've convinced
everybody else that I'm your fiancee, I won't be any problem, will I?

As they started home after school, Ranma again leapt onto the fence.
"Won't you join me?"

"Isn't that a little conspicuous?"  Akane asked him.

"Well, I wouldn't want to embarrass you", He jumped down and took her
hand, right in front of the school.

Akane considered her options.  If I scream, Nabiki will report it back
to dad, and he'll drown me in his tears.  If I try to slap him, he'll
pin me into an even more compromising position.

Akane waited until they were out of sight of the other students, then
jerked her hand back.

As they waited in the Dojo that afternoon, Akane asked Ranma, "You don't
expect that Tatewaki will give up on me that easily, do you?"

"Well, I can't blame him, now can I?"  Ranma looked up as the door
opened, "Upperclassman Kuno do come in and sit down.  Can Akane get you
anything?"

Ranma already talks like he owns the Dojo and me, Akane thought.

"Saotome, what foul magics have you used to bind the fair Akane to you?"

"How can you talk that way Upperclassman Kuno?  Akane and I are happily
engaged",  Ranma reached out to hold Akane's hand, "Isn't that right
Akane?"

Oh no, if I denounce him, it'll encourage Tatewaki and I'll never hear
the end of it, Akane thought, I'd best just play along for now, "Yes,
that's right."

Ranma kissed the back of Akane's hand, then turned back to Tatewaki,
"What's really frightening is the poor level of swordsmanship that was
displayed by the captain of the school's kendo club this morning."

"What!"

"You hold that stick out in a death-grip.  It's this nice handle that
anybody can grab and shove you around with.  Come and attack me and I'll
show you."

Tatewaki charged Ranma and was thrown to the side.  He got up and the
process was repeated half a dozen times.

"Now, take your usual guard position", Ranma walked around Tatewaki,
"Here, shift your grip like this, and be prepared to pivot the sword on
this hand."

The session continued for several hours and the upperclassman seemed to
be catching on to Ranma's instruction.

"I think that'll be enough for now", Ranma stepped back from the
older boy, "You have a kendo club meeting this Sunday at the gym, right?
Why don't I come along and teach this technique to the rest of the
members?"

"It would be an honor."

After Tatewaki left, Akane asked Ranma, "What are you doing all of this
for?"

"For the honor of Furinkan High.  We can't have a second rate Kendo
team, now can we?"

Wednesday after dinner, Ranma turned to Soun,  "Mr Tendo, as I
understand it, it's my responsibility to look after the Dojo, after I
marry Akane."

"Yes, that is the understanding."

"But, it doesn't look like it'll be around that long.  I've been talking
to Nabiki and you don't have any paying students at the moment."

Soun looked down at the table, "Yes, that's why I've hoped that you
would be married soon."

"Wouldn't that force us to interrupt our educations, and take up
responsibilities before we are prepared for them?  I've been talking to
Genma and he's agreed to teach classes and I'll see what interest I can
stir up at school for martial arts training, but you'll have to help
too."

"Yes, you are quite correct, I have neglected my duties."

That evening, Nabiki stormed into Akane's room, as mad as she'd ever seen
her.  "Why is Ranma doing this?"

"You mean talking to father that way?"

"No, somebody's needed to do that for a very long time.  At least father
respects Ranma enough to listen.  Ranma's so brilliant, you should have
seen the way he went through the accounts, but all he wants is to marry
you and run the Dojo.  What is this power you have over men sis?  It's
not fair!  They're always fighting over you and ignoring me.  It's like I
don't exist!"

Akane hugged Nabiki as she cried.  Akane had never seen Nabiki brought
to tears before.  And as for men, they were to be sucked dry of funds,
then she'd discard them.  Was there another side to her sister, that she
hadn't seen?

Thursday morning at breakfast, Kasumi brought out a book.  "Akane,
could you return this book to Dr Tofu for me after school?"

"Sorry Kasumi, I can't do it today",  Looking up, Akane saw that Ranma
had noticed her blush,  "I mean, I have baseball after class today."

"Oh, that's alright Akane.  I can do it myself."

On the way to school, Ranma asked Akane.  "Your sister, Kasumi, she
doesn't get out much, does she?"

"She's just shy!  Not that it's any of your business."

After class, Ranma came and sat in the stands during Akane's baseball
practice.

When it was Akane's turn at bat, she looked to see if Ranma was
watching, but he was talking to his friends.  Not that she cared anyway.

As the ball was pitched at her, Akane took a mighty swing at it.  She'd
show Ranma!

The bat hit the ball with a satisfying crack, but the angle felt wrong.
Akane looked up to see where the ball was arching up to and continued to
scan to the left, until she saw it deeply embedded in Ranma's cheek.

Ranma pulled the ball from the wound and tossed it to Akane.  "A foul, I
think."

"Oh Ranma!, I'm so sorry",  Akane rushed to him.

"Don't worry, I don't use this face much."

Akane met Ranma at the school nurse's, after switching back to her
school dress.  "I'm so sorry Ranma!"

"That's OK Akane, it only hurts when I breathe."

"I know how to get that fixed up.  We've got a family doctor, a real
miracle worker."

"This Dr Tofu?"

"Yes, I'll show you the way."

As they walked to the doctor's, Akane turned to Ranma, "What were you
talking to your friends about, that distracted you so much, you didn't
see that one coming?"

"They just wanted to know how I'd gotten engaged to the prettiest girl
in the school",  Ranma grinned, but only for a moment, as he felt the
pain from moving his cheek, "Ow!"

"Serves you right."

"Why Akane, what brings you here today?"  Dr Tofu asked, as she entered
his office.  "Had another fight?"

"No doctor, I'm just bringing a friend here.  Ranma Saotome, here's Dr
Tofu Ono, our family doctor."

"Ranma... aren't you Akane's fiancee?  A bit young for that aren't you
two?"

"Yes sir", I'm still just a child to you, Akane thought.

"And what's your problem today Ranma?"

"A little baseball accident."

"Let me take a look at that...  A bit of abrasion and a nasty bruise.
I've got a balm in the back that'll fix that right up."

As the doctor stepped into the storage room, the phone rang.  "Could you
get that for me Akane?"

"Hello.  Yes, the doctor is in.  No he doesn't seem to be very busy at
the moment."

Akane hung up the phone and turned to Ranma, "I have to go now."

"Is there some emergency?"  Ranma asked.

"No, I just have to go now."

"OK, I'll see you at home."

Akane took a roundabout way home, and avoided Kasumi.

Later, Akane was waiting in the living room, when Kasumi and Ranma
arrived.

Kasumi was in her best dress, and was carrying a plate, she had made a
gift of her cooking to the doctor again, "Thanks for waiting around to
walk me home Ranma."

"It's no problem.  You're my sister now."

After Kasumi went up to her room, probably to change back to her
housedress, Ranma asked Akane.  "They're in love, Kasumi and the doctor,
aren't they?"

"Yes."  Akane hissed.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, everything's perfect",  Akane stormed up to her room.

Two weeks later on a Friday afternoon, Akane and Ranma had just gotten
out of school when somebody shouted, "Ranma!"

"What?"  Ranma looked in that direction.

There was a boy in rough clothing with a bandana around his head running
towards them.  "Ranma!"  He shouted again.

"Oh, no!"  Ranma seemed to show a little fear, for the first time since
Akane had known him.  What power did this strange boy have?

"Ranma!"  The other boy grabbed Ranma and spun him around.  "I'm so happy
to find you again!"  His wide smile revealed fangs.

"Ryouga, it's good to see you too",  Ranma regained his footing.
"This is my old school pal Ryouga Hibiki, and this is Akane Tendo, my
fiancee."

"Pleased to meet you Ryouga."

"Fiancee?"  Shock shifted to outrage as Ryouga stared at Akane, his
pupils closing to slits,  "You pervert!  Don't you know that Ranma's
really a gir---"

Ranma clamped his hand over Ryouga's mouth,  "Ryouga, shouldn't we talk
about this someplace private?"

Ryouga looked around at the other students,  "Sorry Ranma, I forgot."

	Henry J. Cobb	hcobb@slip.net          http://www.io.com/~hcobb