Hi! I'm trying to post these two chapters of my new Ranma Fic to the
mailing list. I'm new to this so please let me know if I did something
wrong.
***************Alternate Universe: Ranko and Kaneda*************
by: Adrian Wong
Intro:
In the Ranma 1/2 manga by Rumiko Takahashi, Germa Saotome
engaged Ranma to one of Soun Tendo's daughter, Akane in order for
him to inherit the Tendo Dojo. The entire series is largely
consisted of the problems and chaos generated by the couple.
Supposed that Germa has a daughter, and Soun has two girls and
one boy, then what's going to happen? Also, how will the
Jusenkyo factor apply itself in this case? Well, read on and
find out!!
*Most characters belong to Rumiko Takahasi (even though some of
them have endured sex changes)*
Part one: The Matching Game
In a peaceful corner of Nerima, Tokyo, there was a typical
looking dojo connected to a typical looking house. Inside that
typical looking house sat a typical looking middle-aged Japanese
man with a typical stern look on his face. In his hand was a
typical looking letter with the following words:
Tendo-kun:
Coming with Ranma for the fulfilment of our promise.
Saotome.
"So Saotome-kun has came back after all..." The man said in
his typical dignified tone... and broke down sobbing. "Oh happy,
happy day!!!!!! My babies, daddy has got surprises for you all!"
He danced his way upstairs, leaving a wet trail of tears behind.
Now that was definitely NOT typical.
* * * * * * *
In a side street with activated automatic lawn sprinklers on
every front yard, a huge rounded figure was being chased by a
smaller, leaner figure. The smaller figure, a fair looking teen
with short hair, a bobbed pigtail, and Chinese clothing has
murder in his eyes.
"I don't care if you're my father, no one, and I mean NO ONE
did that to me and live!!"
The figure running in front of him was a big, fat,
bespectacled... PANDA?! Anyway, it was holding out a sign
saying: "Try and catch me then, loser!!!!"
On the flip side of the sign, where the boy couldn't see, it
said: "That dummy is falling right into my scheme,
bwahahahahah!!!!!"
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, back at that typical looking house which was
shown to have the word TENDO on the front door, sat Mr. Tendo and
his two daughters in the dining room.
The older looking girl wearing an apron spoke in a pleasant
voice: "Daddy, you engaged us your friend's son without telling
us? Oh my!"
The younger looking girl with short hair said with a bored
look. "You do realize how arranged marriage is guaranteed to be
loveless, don't you?"
"Kasumi! Nabiki! I do realize how you two has still got
illusions about this free-love idea that the gaijins has
corrupted our young with. But believe your father, arranged
couples can grow to love each other as time passed by. Couples
by their own will easily burn out their passions through the
challenges of a married life."
"Really? So why did you elope with mom instead of marrying
your fiancee?" Nabiki said with a smug look as Kasumi gave him a
close eyed smile.
"Well... I err... WAHHHHHHH!! My own daughters are going
against my wishes!!" Tears flooded out of Soun's eyes as he
started wailing.
"Could somebody PLEASE put him out of his misery?" Nabiki
cried out loud.
And a giant Chinese panda busted through the wall and
swatted Soun flat. It flipped out a sign: "Finally, the Tendo
Dojo!"
While the sisters are still in shock, the boy we saw earlier
leaped through the hole and jump-kicked the beast. "Now die!
You selfish old glutton!!" The two started fighting.
"Hey, you with the pigtail, who are you and what do you
think you're doing in my house?" Nabiki asked.
The boy got out of his rage and noticed for the first time
that he is in somebody's house. "This is the Tendo Household?
Damn! I've fallen right into pop's engagement scheme... "
Upon hearing that, Soun threw off the panda and gave the boy
a bear hug. "Oh! You must be Ranma! Kasumi! Nabiki! Do you
see how manly he is?!"
Kasumi and Nabiki both came up to inspect Ranma, who looked
both annoyed and embarrassed. "Hmm, immature-looking but cute,
slim but tight muscled, short but well proportioned... he's a
better catch than I have anticipated!" Nabiki smirked.
"He surely is better looking that most boys around his
age..." Kasumi smiled.
Ranma looked frantic. "Look, I know I look like a Grade A
Beef and all that, but I can't marry you girls! I'm really ..."
"Shy." Two broad hands covered up Ranma's mouth from
behind. The girls blinked and saw a fat, bespectacled middle
aged man that had mysteriously appeared behind the boy. "I'm
Germa Saotome, and my boy here is really inexperienced with girls
since he devoted most of his time to martial arts."
"Saotome-kun! It has been so long..." Soun couldn't help
but sob again.
"Yes, Tendo-kun. Now we can finally unite our families and
carry on the dojo." Germa said in an enthusiastic voice.
"But I mjflkdsgf...." Ranma's attempt to protest was cut
off by his father's broad hands. "Quiet, boy!! Now be a man and
take up your responsibility!" Ranma glared helplessly.
Nabiki looked on with amusement while Kasumi said in her
calm smile: "Now, Mr. Saotome. If Ranma doesn't want to..."
"Why of cause he wants to! Isn't that right, my son?"
Germa moved Ranma's head up and down while keeping his hand on
his mouth.
"Well, I think I can use a handsome boyfriend who fights
well..." Nabiki said, already calculating how much money she
could make off the strange boy.
Germa had a wicked smile. "Okay, lets make this a formal
engageme--"
"Give him a break, will you?"
A handsome, almost pretty boy in a yellow gi emerged walked
into the room and cut Germa off in mid-sentence. His hair was
long and loosely braided with a string, leaving two long stands
of hair flowing freely from the temples. Heavy bangs are cut
short and parted in the middle to show off his heart-shaped
forehead. Ranma chose this opportunity
to pry Germa's hands off him.
"Kaneda! Show some respect to our guest!" Soun towered
over the boy, who looked didn't even finch. Kaneda turned to
Soun. "You dare talk about respect when you gang up with Mr.
Saotome to force Ranma there into marrying Nabiki?! He too is a
guest, you know!"
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!! He dared to talk to me
this way!!" Soun broke down crying. Germa simply didn't know
what to do. Nabiki looked disappointed as Kasumi looked
concerned. Kaneda walked up to the still angry-looking Ranma.
"Let's leave them to sort out this craziness by themselves. Want
me to show you around?"
Ranma nodded, and let Kaneda led him to the Dojo.
"Th-thanks." Ranma said in a small voice. Kaneda smiled. He
really enjoyed helping out the others.
* * * * * *
The boys were inside the Dojo chatting. Ranma was
enthusiastically telling Kaneda about his various training trips
with his father."Finally, after going through all the different
training grounds in Japan, Pop decided to take me to China."
"So how do you guys fund your travels, anyway?" Kaneda
asked curiously.
"I take up odd jobs here and there. The money that I earned
covered our travelling fee."
"What about your father?" Kaneda asked.
"What about him?" Ranma snorted. "If you're asking me if
he ever worked to support me, the answer is NO. How he managed
to raise me during my early childhood remains a mystery to me."
Seeing how unpleasant the subject is, Kaneda decided to drop
it. "Well, err... why don't we spar a bit, eh? From what you
told me, you seem to be a pretty competent martial artist."
Kaneda said.
"Sure." Ranma said uncertainly.
"Don't worry, buddy. It's not formal. We're just doing it
for fun." Kaneda took a stance. "Prepare yourself!"
Kaneda punched forward, Ranma bended backwards to dodge.
Kaneda quickly followed with a round-horse kick, which Ranma
leaped over to avoid. The match continued on with no connected
blow. Kaneda was getting increasingly frustrated. <Damn! He is
GOOD! Let's see if he can dodge this...> "Kiyaa!!" Kaneda
leaped forward with all his speed to punch Ranma, but the other
boy leaped over the attack. Kaneda's fist crashed through the
Dojo's wall. Ranma tagged Kaneda on the head while flipping in
mid-air. Kaneda was dumbfounded.
"No hard feelings, eh?" Ranma smiled.
"Ha..eh...haha..." Kaneda laughed nervously. "How...how
did your father managed to restrain you?!"
"Unfortunately, he's better than what most people give him
credit for." Ranma sighed, then lightened up. "Thank's for
cheering me up, I really need it."
"Hey, what are friends for?" Despite being defeated for the
first time, Kaneda felt good. They headed back towards the
house.
* * * * * *
"Ranma-kun, the bath is ready for you now." Kasumi said in
her sweet voice.
"I... err...don't really want a bath right now." Ranma
said.
"But you are all sweaty after sparring with Kaneda. C'mon
Ranma-kun, bathing doesn't take that much effort." Kasumi said.
"It's not the effort... sigh! All right." Ranma walked
into the bathroom and closed the door. As he stripped, he
couldn't help but blush at his body.
Outside the bathtub's screen , a sweaty Kaneda was also
planning for a bath. As he stripped, he noticed the Chinese
clothes on the cupboard. "Oh, so Ranma is in there already."
He slided open the screen door, preparing to join his new friend
in the tub (it is a Japanese custom to join friends in the tub).
"Mind if I join you, Ranma-kun?"
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, in the dining room, Germa had just told Soun
about the secret purpose behind his training trip to China. Soun
was (surprise!) sobbing uncontrollably.
"Oh, Saotome-kun! It is most honorable of you to sacrifice
your own flesh and blood for our promise, even if it is in vain."
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The shill scream broke off the fathers' conversation and
sounds of objects crashing came from upstairs. They both signed
and headed upstairs.
* * * * * *
Nabiki and Kasumi were discussing their futures in the
bedroom on second floor. "Nabiki, are you sure that you want to
be engaged to that boy? I mean, you barely know him..."
Nabiki grinned wickedly. "Sister, have you any idea how
much money I can make off that guy? I mean, the girls will
definitely love to have photos of him, and his martial arts
skills can come in handy as my side-kick..."
"You don't sound like you love him at all." Kasumi frowned.
"I don't have to. After all, I didn't mention anything
about actually marrying him..."
Then came the shill scream that made them jump. "Holy!
What are the boys up to?!" Nabiki and Kasumi rushed out of the
room, and saw the strangest sight ever presented in their
household.
Kaneda was lying naked on the hallway, passed out. In front
of the bathroom was a shapely pigtailed girl clad in a towel.
Judging from her arms, she had just threw quite a punch.
"Oh my!" Kasumi looked startled. Never missing a potential
money making opportunity, Nabiki quickly took pictures of both of
them. They could come in handy later.
Soun came up to revive Kaneda and covered him up with a
towel. Kaneda woke up and stared wide-eyed at the still flushed
looking girl, now fully clothed.
"Who... who the heck are you?!" Kaneda asked.
The girl has an embarrassed look on her face. "I... I'm
Saotome Ranko...otherwise known as Ranma. Sorry about that."
Kaneda fainted again.
* * * * * *
Everybody was in the Tendo dinning room again. The Saotomes
were sitting opposed to the Tendos.
"Let us introduce ourselves again. I'm Germa Saotome, a
friend of you father. This here," He gestured to the girl. "Is
my daughter, Saotome Ranko."
"Hold on a minute here. Wasn't she supposed to be a boy?"
Nabiki asked.
"Guess I will have to explain this through the direct
approach... Kiya!" Germa flung Ranko into the koi pond in the
Tendo backyard. The Tendo children were all shocked to see the
boy that they saw earlier resurfaced in the pond.
"Sob! Every time I see my little girl like this, it breaks
my heart." Germa wiped his eyes even though there is no tears.
Ranko narrowed her eyes and sent a splash towards him. Instant
Panda. They lunged at each other and started fighting.
"Oh, my!" Kasumi said in awe.
After the Tendos finally calmed down the Saotomes, and they
had both taken a hot bath, the explanation continued on.
"About a month ago, we went to this mysterious training site
in China called Jusenkyo (the cursed springs). It was a strange
place with hundreds of pools, each with several bamboo sticks
sticking out of it. Anyway, while me and my daughter were
balancing on the sticks and sparring, we accidentally knocked
each other into two separate pools. It turned out that I've
landed in the spring of drowned panda, and my daughter, the
spring of drowned boy. From then on, we're cursed to change
shape upon touching cold water."
"Don't you dare stand there and lie like this. You threw me
into the spring of drowned boy on purpose to engage me to the
Tendo girls !! You even gave me that ridiculous name RANMA! Who
would name his 'son' wild horse anyway?!" Ranko said hotly, and
was once again sent flying into the pond by Germa.
"Don't you understand anything?! I did this to fulfill my
promise to unite our family with the Tendos. It is about honour,
about duty!!! Besides, you've chased me all the way from China
non-stop! Haven't I suffered enough already?!" Germa bellowed
in a commanding tone.
Nabiki spoke up in a malicious voice. "So... you tried to
deceive us into marrying your DAUGHTER?!"
"Well...it's because of the promise..." Germa stepped back
with fright in his voice, and bumped into a smiling Kasumi.
"Now, Mr. Saotome..." Her voice even sweeter than before.
"It isn't nice to deceive your hosts under ANY circumstances."
Germa was looking for an escape, but saw none. Then Soun
came to his rescue. "Don't worry, girls. When Saotome-kun first
arrived here, he thought that you two are my only children."
Kaneda paled immediately. "Oh no... you're not going to..."
Soun turned to Kaneda with a Japanese fan in his hand. "As
the Heir of the Tendo Clan of Anything Goes Martial Arts, you
shall marry Saotome Ranko and pass on our Art!"
Upon hearing this, Ranko (in Ranma mode) leaped over the
yard and landed right in front of Kaneda. "You are a TENDO?!"
Kaneda nodded.
"POP! YOU SAID MR. TENDO HERE HAS ONLY GOT DAUGHTERS!!!!"
Germa laughed nervously. "Well, when I lost contact with
Tendo-kun 17 years ago, he only have two girls then, so I
thought..."
"But it doesn't matter anymore, Ranko-san." Mr. Tendo said.
"If nobody else, my son will certainly marry you..."
"Hold it! I didn't agree to anything yet! You can't just
expect two complete strangers to be engaged out of the blue.
Besides, a girlfriend is the last thing that I need right now."
Germa shrunk back in shock. "Tendo-kun! Is your son a
homo-ACK!!!" Kaneda crushed him under the table before his could
finish. "I AM NOT, you pathetic excuse of a father!! I just
happen to have had enough of them skirts, that's all!"
Nabiki walked up to the crumbled man and smiled smugly.
"Kaneda had some problems with girls at school lately, it would
be of your best interest to steer clear of this subject." Germa
tried to nod, but couldn't find the strength.
Ranma on the other hand seemed to be annoyed at Kaneda for
the first time. "Hey! What is wrong with us 'skirts'?"
Kaneda looked frustrated. "Why you girls are all...
arrrg!!!! What's the point of explaining it to you anyway? You
wouldn't understand, you're a girl!"
"And here I thought you were a great guy... I can't believe
it! Are all men so sexist?!"
"I am not sexist, you... you... TOMBOY!!!"
"Oh, now I am a tomboy, am I? Ha! You're just feeling
jealous because I'm a better martial artist than you, not to
mention having a hunkier body in my boy mode..." Ranma started
flexing his muscles.
"BAKA!!!" Kaneda lifted the table off Germa's head and
buried Ranma down the floor boards with it.
"Now THAT he... I mean she had it coming." Germa said.
Closing Song of the Chapter: The Gaze of your Eyes
Ranko: Slightly, softly, slowly, and gently,
Was there a spark of passion
In the passing gaze of your eyes?
Kaneda: Intently, emotionally, dreamily or slyly,
How can I ever understand,
The message behind these blue eyes?
Ranko: My look was not intentional. . .
Kaneda: But it makes me emotional. . .
Both: A perfect matching of imperfect declarations.
I wonder, who would be the bolder of us two?
Ranko: Even though it looked unintentional. . .
Kaneda: But the message of love was original . . .
Both: An unlikely union of a likely couple ,
I wonder, who would be the more stubborn of us two?
END PART 1 DEC. 18, 1996
Criticisms and comments are welcome at:
awong@delasalle.toronto.on.ca
note: This address will expire by June, 97. Check The Anime Toshokans by
summer for the new one.
***************Alternate Universe: Ranko and Kaneda*************
by: Adrian Wong
Intro:
In the Ranma manga by Rumiko Takahashi, Germa Saotome
engaged Ranma to one of Soun Tendo's daughter, Akane in order for
him to inherit the Tendo Dojo. The entire series is largely
consisted of the problems and chaos generated by the couple.
Supposed that Germa has a daughter, and Soun has two girls and
one boy, then what's going to happen? Also, how will the
Jusenkyo factor apply itself in this case? And what will happen
if another Kuno attends Furinkan High? Well, read on and find
out!!
*Most characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi (even though some of
them have endured sex changes)*
Part 2: When Roses Are Black by: Adrian Wong
The next morning, Kaneda was jogging around the area. He
was silently berating himself for his actions the previous night.
"What was I thinking, hitting Ranko like that! Even thought she
was in boy mode, still..."
His mind went back to last night, as Kasumi had a little
talk with him over his treatment of his fiancee.
**************************Flashback******************************
"Kaneda, I think you're being too rough with Ranko." Kasumi
said.
"Well, she deserved it, flaunting her . . . his muscles like
that, and calling me weak . . ." Kaneda grumbled.
"Look, Ranko is a nice girl. She just happened to think
your remark was sexist and decided to taunt you a bit. Remember,
Kaneda, one day you will be marrying her."
"Assuming father can beat me unconcious and drag me to the
wedding. . . Kasumi, can't you understand? I can't marry her,
she's a couple all by herself!"
"Which is why she is such a special person." Kasumi said.
"What?!"
"Ranko is as sensitive as a girl, and as carefree as a boy.
You don't find girls like this very often. . . especially not in
your school." Kasumi said.
Kaneda shivered. "Please do not even remind me of those. .
. girls. But Kasumi, she's still a stranger to me, I do not feel
that way about her."
"No matter how you feel about her, at least be a gentleman
and apologize." Kasumi smiled. "Besides, I doubt if you can
resist her once you get to know her better."
*************************End Flashback***************************
"Yeah right, Sis." Kaneda sighed. "Oh well, better go
apologize to her."
He jogged back to the dojo, just in time to hear the sound
of combat. He looked inside the yard and saw the most
spectacular sparring session he had ever seen.
There was Ranko, who was coming down at Germa with a flying
kick. To Kaneda's surprise, Germa actually managed to leap over
the attack despite his weight. Then they both leaped up to
mid-air and sent a furry of punches and kicks towards each other.
The law of gravity seem to have no hold on them, until Kasumi
brought out the breakfast and the Saotomes both stopped and
drooled... and fell down to the pool below.
SPLASH!!
* * * * * * *
After the Saotomes finished bathing, the two families ate
breakfast in the dinning room.
"Ranko, now that we will be staying here for a while. You
need to go to school along with Nabiki and Kaneda." Germa said.
POW!!!!
Ranko kicked her father out into the pond in disgust.
"Great. Not only do I have to live with that weakling, but also
study in the same school as well!" Ranko said indignantly.
All feeling of guilt drained away from Kaneda. "Hmph! As
if I want to be stuck with a tomboy!"
Nabiki, who was already in full uniform, finished off her
breakfast. "Before this argument ended up in another fight, I
should warn you guys that we are getting quite late."
Kaneda and Ranko glared at each other, then packed up their
book bags and left for school. Meanwhile, Germa-panda was
chewing on a fresh bamboo served by Kasumi.
* * * * * * *
On their way to school, Ranko was balancing on a fence
while Kaneda stays on the street. Nabiki was running way ahead
of them, determined not to be delayed by the overactive couple.
Kaneda stole a peek at Ranko, who was pointedly ignoring him. He
sighed and loosen up his pride. "Hey, Ranko."
"What?!"
"Err... about last night..."
"Go on."
"I...I am really sorry about that, I shouldn't have hit
you."
"Apology accepted... for now. What have you got against us
girls anyway?" Ranko looked at him with a cute frown.
As they talked, the front gate Furinkan High was already
within sight. Kaneda narrowed his eyes and picked up his pace.
"You're about to find out soon enough!"
As if on clue, a bunch of girls carrying various sports
equipments charged out from the front gate. "Tendo-sama, prepare
yourself!!"
"What the heck is this?!" Ranko asked in shock. A girl
with fencing sword tried to nail Kaneda, but he leaped over her
and back-kicked her to the ground. Then he used the resulted
momentum to drop-kick a huge girl with a hockey stick. As he did
so, ten girls surrounded him, attempting to knock him out with
baseball bats. Within 3 seconds, the bats were all being kicked
out of the girls' hands and came back down on them. More girls
appeared as the fight intensified.
Meanwhile, Ranko was perched on top of the school's wall,
watching the mayhem in the school yard. "Ranko, come in now!
The bell is gonna ring!" This was from Nabiki, who was looking
at her from the second story window of the school building.
"But Kaneda..."
"Oh, don't worry about him. He does this everyday!" Nabiki
giggled as if she just told a joke.
"Really..." Ranko focused her attention back to the fight,
which was almost finished by then. Despite his anger, Kaneda
seemed to be holding back a lot, trying not to do too much damage
to the girls. After knocking out the last girl with a neck chop,
Kaneda stood and rearranged his loosely braided pony tail.
"Stupid girls..." He muttered.
Then a beautiful but creepy laughter came from behind a
tree, and Kaneda moaned in disgust. "Hohohoho... how nice to see
you fighting so well, Kaneda-sama." Black flower petals
appearing out of nowhere were drifting in the air, giving the
school yard an errie feel.
An extremely beautiful girl stepped out from behind the tree
into plain sight. She was tall and shapely, with long hair
braided to one side. Her dark lashes were incredibily rich,
creating a sharp contrast with her pale skin and crimson lips.
Had it not been for the deviousness presented in her eyes, she
could pass herself off as a goddess. On her delicate, long
fingers rested a black rose, which she tossed to Kaneda. "Since
only the one with enough skill to defeat you is eligible to be
your bride, please forgive me for what I'm about to do."
Kaneda frowned, a sweat drop on the side of his face.
Ranko came up to Kaneda. "My, aren't you popular. Need
some help on this one?"
"Butt out! This doesn't concern you." Kaneda growled.
"Hey you!" The girl said in a deadly tone of voice. "You
seemed to be rather familiar with Kaneda Tendo. What's your
name?"
Ranko replied casually. "Ranko Saotome."
"I am the Black Rose of Furinkan High's Rhythmic Gymnastic
team, Kodachi Kuno of the famous Kuno line. It would be of your
best interest not to disturb me and Kaneda-sama in the future."
Annoyed by her arrogance, Ranko snapped back. "Don't worry,
my fianc here really don't mind me talking with him."
Kodachi looked like someone had bit her over the head and
lost her coolness. "You... YOU DARE TO TRAP MY KANEDA-SAMA INTO
MARRIAGE??!!!!!"
"What are you doing, baka!" Kaneda turned angrily to Ranko,
who looked smug. "Annoying this pushy girl." Out of
the corner of her eye she saw something whipping at her and
instinctively dodged it. To her surprise it turned out to be a
ribbon, which actually left a mark on the ground that it made
contact with. "Oh, a ribbon.<insert cute expression> I'm like,
so scared!"
The ribbon whipped back and forth rapidly, and Ranko danced
around effortlessly to avoid it. Kodachi whipped out another
ribbon with her left hand and attacked with both hands, which
seemed to have absolutely no effect on the agile pigtailed girl.
A large crowd gathered around Nabiki upstairs.
"That new girl, I don't believe it..." Girl 1 said.
"Well, it is unusual for Japanese girls to have such
ungodly curves..." Said the drooling Boy 2.
"Baka! We are taking about her fighting skill! Can you
believe it? Kodachi's ribbons have absolutely no effect on her!"
Girl 30 said in amazement.
Kaneda was amazed, never before had he seen anyone so FAST
before. He knew that Ranko was good, but to dance around
Kodachi's ribbons like this...
Then he felt a drop of water landed on his nose, and looked
up in alarm. The sky was darkening, with faint roars of distant
thunder. Any minute now, the rain was going to pour down.
Kodachi was fighting in a blind rage, and was beginning to
left out openings. Ranko, no longer interested in the fight,
decided to use this to her advantage. Leaping up into the sky,
flanked by the lighting behind her, Ranko came down towards
Kodachi with two outstretched fingers. Kodachi whipped out her
clubs, preparing to counter attack. Raindrops descended on both
of them.
Suddenly, a giant mallet swatted Kodachi flat and Ranko
found herself dragged off into the school building by a speedy
Kaneda. The crowd upstairs moaned disappointedly as the fight
broke off, none of them saw the change but Nabiki.
"Kaneda, what are you doing! This is a girl to girl
fight..."
"Baka, look at yourself!" Kaneda barked at her...eh, him,
who had lost a lot of curves and gained some height and bulk.
Ranma looked at himself in disgust. "Damn!" Then Kaneda
got out a kettle and splashed him with it. "Now lets hurry off
to class!"
It turned out that they didn't need to hurry after all,
since both were already late. Ranko became the first girl in the
school ever to hold buckets in the hall on her first day to
school. Both teens stood tensely in the hall.
"If only you didn't pick that fight with Kodachi..." Kaneda
glared at Ranko.
"Excuse me! YOUR girlfriend attacked me for no good reason
and you blame ME for making you late?!" Ranko asked
incredulously.
"She's not my girlfriend! She's just an obsessive psycho
who attacked me every day!"
"Speaking of which, what was that huge cat fight about
anyway?" Ranko asked.
Kaneda sighed. "During last summer, I've finally passed Dad
in my martial arts skill. In order to make me further my skill,
Dad came up with this crazy idea to have Nabiki publicly
announced that whoever beat me in a fight can be my girlfriend.
I agreed to the deal, thinking of it as a joke. It turned out
that the captain of the Gymnastic Team, who is also the
chairwoman of the Feminist Club, got extremely turned on by the
idea. She, Kodachi, thought that a REAL woman should have the
liberty of winning her man's heart through her power and
strength. She preached this message to all the girls at school,
who just happened to be whacko enough to buy it. From then on,
the nightmare began."
A series of flashbacks showed Kaneda attacked by hordes of
armed girls every morning. Kaneda was shown desperately blocking
and dodging their attacks, not willing to hit girls. As time
passed by, the attacks expanded to the classroom, the boy's
locker room, and even the boy's rest room. Eventually, Kaneda
fought back after the humiliation of getting jumped by the
offending girls while he was showering after gym.
"They can actually stand to see YOU naked?!" Ranko laughed
uncontrollably.
Kaneda glared hard at her. "Anyway, I keep on telling them
that I am not interested in any of them, but they won't listen.
Grrr. . . and through all this suffering, all the others guys
actually thought I was having fun!!" Kaneda fumed. "This is all
because of you crazy chicks!!"
"Oh, well. Most of them are really weak anyway, save for
that gymnast... Boy! How did she came up with the idea of
combining martial arts with gymnastics anyway?"
"No idea. We fight everyday, she never won." Kaneda said
sullenly.
"Well, girls do hold back for the men they love..." Ranko
smiled mischievously, then remembered something. "By the way,
how did you do that mallet trick back there?"
Just as Kaneda was about to reply, a hail of clubs flew by
and they instinctively ducked. Kodachi, wearing a leopard this
time, looked enraged. "Let's finish what we have started, Ranko
Saotome. It's about time for me to take you seriously. " She
took out two clubs and charged Ranko, who leaped over the attack
and landed gracefully. "The hallway is too small. Come with me
if you want a REAL fight!" Ranko ran down the hall, followed by
Kodachi.
"Man! We've got to see this! Whoever wins can date the
school's girl-magnet!" Hordes of students poured out of their
classrooms and ran after the girls. The teachers' protests fell
to deaf ears.
"Girls!" Kaneda spat and followed.
* * * * * * *
Things weren't looking too bright for Ranko.
It was true that she was several times as quick, and strong,
and skilled as Kodachi, but there were quite a few tricks hiding
under the gymnast's sleeves that Ranko wasn't aware of.
KABOOM!!!
Ranko leaped away from the explosion, staring wide eyed at
Kodachi who held a ball in a stance. Kaneda, who stood among the
spectators, sighed.
"What? Haven't seen explosive gymnastic balls before?"
Kodachi taunted and threw another ball. Ranko quickly leaped out
of the way as another explosion marred the basketball field. She
landed on top of a tree blanch. The surrounding students were
all amazed at Ranko's skill and Kodachi's selection of lethal
weapons.
"Hey! Do you know how dangerous that was?" Ranko yelled.
"Hohohoho... so you finally realize what I'm capable of, but
it's too late!! You shall suffer for stealing my prince
charming!"
"Who wants that wimp anyway?" Ranko stuck out her tongue.
"You shall not talk about Kaneda-sama this way, minx!!"
Kodachi flung a razor-edged hoop at her, which cleanly cut off
the branch she was standing on. Ranko flipped in midair as she
fell, preparing to land on. . . the swimming pool?
SPLASH!!!
Everybody leaned forward to the swimming pooling, expecting
Ranko to come out. Kodachi laughed. "Hohohoho...come back out
and take the beating that you deserve, you little-" Suddenly,
something leaped out of the water, used Kodachi's head
as a spring-board and rapidly leaped away into the heavy shrubs.
"Was that Ranko?" Boy 15 asked.
"If it is, she looked a lot taller."Girl 35 said.
"Grrr. . . Ranko. . . you can run but you can't hide!!"
Kodachi was prepared to hunt down her rival when a shout stopped
her.
"Hold it right there!"
Everybody turned towards Kaneda, who was already standing in
a stance. "We haven't fought today yet, Kodachi. Now should be
the best time to do so." <Ranko, I'm attracting everybody's
attention to myself. Go find yourself some hot water now!> Out
of the corner of his eyes he saw Ranma running off towards the
boy's shower room and breathed a sigh of relieve.
Kodachi looked surprised, then she smiled. "Ah, I see. My
fair prince has decided to test the skill of the invincible Black
Rose. If I win, then you shall be mine. But don't worry, I
won't hurt my future groom too badly. . . " She took out a
skipping rope and advanced upon her prey. . . eh, I mean her
love.
"I'd rather die than to marry you!" Her beloved scrowled.
The skipping rope made a snapping sound and shot towards
Kaneda's midsection. It hit empty air as Kaneda had already
flipped over the attack and landed behind the gymnast. Kodachi
immediately turned around swiped at her love with blinding speed.
Kaneda once again leaped over her attack. Then the skipping
rope came down at him from above, and he clapped it between his
hands, feeling its solid strength.
"You cheater! This is not a skipping rope, its a stick
shaped like a skipping rope!" The boy protested angrily.
Kodachi was still holding tight onto the handle of the
'rope'. "Hohohoho. . . all's fair in love and war, Kaneda-sama!"
Kaneda gritted his teeth. "Then take this!!!" With a
powerful fling of the stick he sent his fanatic admirer
flying away. . . towards the boy's shower room.
"Damn!" Kaneda immediately realized his mistake and ran
after the flying gymnast.
* * * * * * *
Ranma rushed inside the now empty shower. "Damn that b____!
Using Bombs and razors and all that. . . I can't believe the
school didn't expel her! Oh well, first thing first. . ." He
reached for the shower. . .
<CRASH!!!!!>
And the ceiling of the room craved in, dumping a psychotic
gymnast in his arms.
"Ohhhhhh. . . " Kodachi moaned, then really looked at the
pigtailed boy holding her with a dumbfounded expression. <What
man is this? Such handsomeness as I have never seen . . . His
beauty could almost rival my Kaneda-sama. . . but first thing
first.>
"Kind sir, do you know the whereabouts of a pigtailed girl
called Ranko Saotome?"
Ranma shook his head sheepishly, then Kodachi continued.
"That wretch! She is no woman, running away from our fight like
that!! Grrr. . . when I get my hands on her. . ."
She didn't get to finish off her sentence, as Ranma angrily
flung her out of the shower through the same hole that she fell
in. Turning on the shower, the girl turned boy reverted to her
true form and leaped after her. Both landed outside facing each
other, Kaneda and the rest of the students were standing some
distance away from them.
"Ranko! You chang-" He immediately clasped his mouth shut
before spitting out the truth. Luckily, everybody's attention
was
on the combatants.
"So you dared to face me again after all, coward." Kodachi
sneered.
"You know what?" Ranko smiled and cacked her knuckles. "At
first, I was only annoyed at you rotten attitude. But after
hearing your insult, I've developed this intense desire to REALLY
cream you."
"Hohohoho. . . such big words from a mere little girl.
Ultimate technique, Black Rose Vortex!" Kodachi's ribbon shot
out again. Only this time, it formed a vortex, carrying black
rose petals that was blowing directly at Ranko.
"What the-" Ranko was confused. What would rose petals do
in an attack anyway? Then she saw all the students rapidly
retreating away, save for Kaneda, who dashed forward into the
storm of rose petals and shouted: "Do not breath!"
Sensing the urgency in Kaneda's voice, Ranko immediately
hold her breath and leaped to a save distance away from the
shower of black petals. Then she saw Kodachi, who was wearing a
gas mask, looming over the now comatose Kaneda. The gymnast took
off her mask as the rose petals were blown away by a breeze.
"Oh, Kaneda-sama! Why did you risk yourself to my paralysis
powder to save that wretch? Can't you see that I'm the only one
for you? But don't worry, my kiss shall cure you from her
bewitchment!" Kodachi picked up her love.
Kaneda, who was already unconscious, didn't object.
Anger flashed in Ranko's eyes. It was bad enough that this
psycho was cheating once again, but to hurt Kaneda. . .
ZOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
Nobody in the returning crowd could tell what has happened
next. All they saw was Ranko jumping past the gymnast, and the
next thing they know Kodachi released Kaneda and fell on the
glass. A set of footprints covering her from her face to the
waist level. Her eyes were rolling independently of each other.
"Wow. . ." The spectators murmured in union.
* * * * * * *
In the nurse's room, Ranko was looking at the comatose
Kaneda with guilt on her face. "You baka! Warning me of the
powder, only to inhale it yourself. . . why don't you just left
and let me fight my own battle? Especially when you are so under
skilled-"
POW!!
"Can. . . at least. . . say. . . thank you. . . tomboy!"
Kaneda said to Ranko, who was twitching under his giant mallet.
Ranko pushed off the mallet. "You're all right?"
Kaneda stood up in a swaying manner. He also seemed to have
difficulty speaking "Heh. . . do you. . . think the heir. . . to
the Tendo clan will be. . . weakened by that. . . pathetic
poison?" He walked a few steps, and moaned as his knees betrayed
his statement by buckling.
Ranko signed. "Macho wimp." Kaneda glared at her. His
expression changed to one of surprise as the tiny girl put him on
her back and carried him out of the room.
"What. . . do you think. . . you're DOING?!" Kaneda
protested in embarrassment.
"Carrying you home, what else?" Ranko said.
"How . . . can I let a. . . girl carry me. . . AND ON HER
BACK?!" Kaneda struggled to yell out his words. Ranko
looked peeved, and picked up the bucket of water that she left in
the hallway before the fight.
SPLASH!
Kaneda felt water wash over him, and realized that the
shoulders supporting his arms have become broader.
"There, a guy being carried by another guy shouldn't be as
embarrassing, ne?" Ranma asked playfully, and carried his/her
fianc effortlessly down to the street.
The truth is, it is still pretty embarrassing, with the
people on the street giving odd looks to the boys. A few girls
from some other school even murmured and point fingers at them.
But somehow, Kaneda didn't mind being carried by the
pigtailed boy, who casually ignored other people's curious
stares. Instead, he was thinking about what Kasumi told
him.
<As sensitive as a girl, and as carefree as a boy.>
"Really. . ." Kaneda silently muttered to himself, then
rested his head against Ranma's back and fell asleep.
Closing Theme of the chapter: Obsession
(The entire song is sung by Kodachi, who was sensually twirling
two ribbons around her leopard clad body as she fantasized about
her prince charming.)
I won't believe anything
Save for one thing:
That you love me deary.
I don't know nothing
But for one thing:
That you want me badly.
Embrace me, shake me, and make me stop being me.
The cold me, the virtuous me, collapses into the uninhibited me,
How can you stay cold while heating up poor little me?
There're
Irresistible temptation,
Indescribable emotion,
That stops me from restraining my passion.
I
I know that you love me,
I know that you want me,
So let's drop the act and take this passionate me!
END PART 2 Jan. 10, 1997
Criticisms and comments are welcome at:
awong@delasalle.toronto.on.ca (The one given in PART 1 was
potentially wrong.)
note: This address will expire by June, 97. Please check the
Anime Toshokans for the new address by summer.