I have been wanting to write a Ranma fanfic since July '96. I just never
had any good ideas, or the time, or anything else. Then an idea hit me
after reading a Sailor Moon/Mage fanfic. So I wrote a little something, and
sent it out. It got some pretty decent reviews, but was nothing special.
So I rewrote it, and sent that out. In hubris and arrogance, I thought that
was good enough to send to RAAC. I got back many requests for more, but I
couldn't get the first chapter started. So I did another rewrite. Here it
is. And I still don't know what path this is going to take!!! As I said, I
have completely rewritten it, going over and adding things in to make
writing the first chapter easier. Maybe I'm just nuts. I guess we'll find out.
Anyway, as I said before, I have no idea where I am going with this monster.
Anyone got any ideas? I would like to try and keep it purely Ranma, and
have as few lemon scenes in it as possible. If you want to see something in
paticular, let me know, and I'll see what I can do. Just one rule. Ranma
and Akane are going to be together, and happy. Sorry, Zen. But, then
again, this story is really going to be focusing on a different couple.
At any rate, I need you guys (and girls) to do some _heavy_ C&C. I know I'm
not the best writer in the world, and I know that I don't get a chance to do
more C&C then 'I really like it!', but I'm begging here. I want you to
dissect this word by word, pull it apart, and then give me the polished
pieces. If you think a part could be written better, let me know, or show
me, or write it yourself. Interactive Fanfiction Writing!!! If you want
credit, I'll give you credit. If you want a slave for your next fic, I'll
be glad to oblige. If you want money, I draw the line there. I barely have
enough for myself. Seriously, though, this story is pretty lame right now.
People are OOC all over the place, and I know that I messed up with Japanese
culture. Get your @bap sticks ready, cause I'm ready for the blows. And
thanks in advance to everyone that listens to this plea, and helps me.
(Three paragraph plea for help. I really need help!!! ^_^)
*************************************
Ranma 1/2
Awakenings and Journeys
Prologue: This is The End, Beautiful Friend
It's inevitable. In life, things happen. Good things, bad things,
and all things in between. Sometimes, something happens and it gives a
person such a kick in the ass that they get up and start living life, rather
than watching it. This could be a good thing, like winning the lottery, or
it could be a bad thing. Sometimes, this kick in the ass is so hard, it
flings the person into new levels of awareness. These tend to be rather
traumatic events. As we speak, such an event has taken place. A young
woman on the brink of adulthood is about to be thrust over that ledge. The
girl is Nabiki Tendo.
**************************************
She could hear things going on outside of her. She heard voices
calling to her, but she didn't want to answer. If she answered, she would
have to wake up. And to do that would mean that she would have to remember.
<I'll just lay here. Lay here and not think of anything. Maybe I'm dead.
Maybe he just killed me, and didn't...didn't...> Nabiki started to cry in
her coma, and Akane and Ranma just looked at each other despairingly.
***********************
ONE HOUR AGO...
It was such a beautiful day outside. Nabiki was walking home from
school, and taking her time. She looked around, seeing how blue the sky
was, and how warm the sun felt on her face. <Hmmm...maybe a little
sunbathing this afternoon would be good.> She was so lost in thought that
she didn't notice the man walk up behind her until he grabbed her. And by
that time, it was too late.
***********************
THE PRESENT...
Nabiki's eyes shot open as her mind tormented her with the images of
what had happened. Akane and Ranma took this as a sign of her waking up,
and rushed over to her bedside. Her eyes, however, remained glazed over,
not seeing her sister's agonized look, nor Ranma's worried gaze.
"Nabiki, come back to me. You have to tell us what happened. Were
you in a fight? Are you hurt? What happened, Oneechan? Please, don't
leave me." Akane started sobbing into Ranma's shoulder, her cries racking
throughout her entire body. Ranma said nothing, just held the girl as she
cried.
Nabiki didn't move
***********************
ONE HOUR AGO...
The man had come up from behind her and grabbed her by the waist.
He slapped a hand across her mouth and pulled her into an abandoned
storefront. He let her go and pulled out a gun. Nabiki whirled around to
start yelling at him, but all of her protests died in her throat when she
saw the weapon pointed at her. "What do you want?" Nabiki asked, trying not
to let the fear slip into her voice. She also took an opportunity to study
the man. He looked to be in his early twenties, but his eyes seemed older.
And evil.
"Well, pretty, welcome to the Dark Side. But first..." The man
leered at Nabiki as he reached for her. Nabiki screamed in terror, but no
one seemed to hear.
***********************
THE PRESENT...
Nabiki started to scream as she relived this part of her memory.
Akane stared at her sister with horror as Nabiki started seizing up, bile
and froth coming out of her mouth. Ranma ran out of the room and shouted
for a doctor.
***********************
ONE HOUR AGO...
The man reached out and grabbed Nabiki by the shoulder straps of her
school jumper. Nabiki tried to twist and wrench out of his grasp, but only
succeeded in tearing her jumper. The dress hung limply by the one remaining
strap, and the man had still not reliquished his hold. He grabbed the other
strap and gave a violent yank. The jumper fell away in tatters. Nabiki
froze as jumper hit the ground. <Damn, going to have to buy a new one.> she
thought numbly as the man ripped her blouse off. Standing there in her bra
and panties, she idly thought about nothing. The man saw the vapid look in
her eyes and smiled cruelly. The man aimed the gun at Nabiki's crotch and
tore off her bra. As he stood there, licking and biting her nipples, her
mind froze from the shock. She knew what was going on, but denied all of
it. She didn't move as he tore off her panties, didn't respond when he
started moving the barrel of the gun in and out of her sheath. It wan't
until she felt him penetrate her with his manhood, and thrust past her
virginity that she started crying. The man slapped her across the face,
yelling at her to shut up. Nabiki quieted, but with every inward thrust,
she whimpered. As he orgasmed, he pulled out and let his semen fly all over
Nabiki's body, completely humiliating her.
***********************
THE PRESENT...
The doctor rushed into the room. He was a young man, looking no
older then twenty three. His shoulder length black hair framed his
aristocratic British face perfectly. He was dressed entirely in black, save
for his white lab coat. He took one look at the siezing girl, and muttered
various curses in English. The doctor leaned over, and gently put a hand on
Nabiki's forehead. The seizing stopped, and her head lolled over to gaze
past the doctor. Nabiki's eyes shifted their focus to the doctor, and she
smiled.
Then she went catatonic again.
***********************
ONE HOUR AGO...
The man left Nabiki laying on the ground as he pulled up his pants.
He looked over at the traumatized girl, and yelled "Get up. My masters have
some big plans for you, Nabiki Tendo."
Nabiki lay still.
"My masters may have plans for you, but you are not unique. We can
find someone else. Now GET UP!" the man shouted again.
Nabiki did not move.
"Fine. Have it your way, bitch."
Nabiki heard the man cock the gun. She saw him aim it at her. She
heard the report as he pulled the trigger. She felt pressure on her chest,
and then a great release as the bullet made it's way to her heart. Heard
another report, this time farther away, and felt yet another pressure on her
chest, this time over her lung. As the bullets pierced her body, she felt
her mind explode in a miasma of awareness. The man turned and left.
Nabiki lay there for almost a minute before a different man ran in. He was
dressed in all black, with a black trenchcoat, and black hair that framed an
aristocratic British face elegantly. He took off his coat and wrapped
Nabiki in it. He noted that the bullet wounds weren't serious. Luckily,
the bullets had both bounced off ribs, so they were really nothing more then
flesh wounds. <Luck? More like coincedence, really.> The man smiled wryly
at that thought, picked up Nabiki, and made his way to the nearest hospital.
"Don't worry, Ms. Tendo. I'm a doctor. My name is Timothy. Timothy..."
***********************
THE PRESENT...
"...Black. Doctor Timothy Black. I'm going to be Tendo Nabiki's
doctor for the duration of her stay." Dr. Black said with a slight Scottish
accent. "Right now she needs her rest. I'll be staying here until she
wakes up. But right now, I'm going to need to be alone with her. If you'll
please wait in the waiting room, I'm going to try and pull her out of her coma."
Akane's shoulders slumped as she walked out of the room. Ranma hung
back for a moment, waiting for Akane to leave. As soon as she was out of
earshot, Ranma turned to the doctor and looked him dead in the eyes.
"Doctor, if anything happens to Nabiki, and I found out that you had a hand
in it, I will kill you, I swear on my ancestors." Ranma glared for a little
longer at the doctor, before turning to join Akane in the waiting room.
The doctor sighed. "That went well." Timothy sighed sarcastically.
<Time to get to work.> The doctor pulled out a tarot deck and shuffled it.
He fanned the deck out infront of him and drew a card. He placed the card
on Nabiki's forehead without looking at it, and murmured a few mystic words.
The tarot card glowed, then turned itself over. Black had to smile when the
card was revealed. The Empress. <Now that the mental link has been
established...Nabiki, can you hear me?>
<*Who's there?*>
<Open your eyes, Nabiki. Come back to us.>
Nabiki couldn't understand what was going on. Her mind was awash in
awarness, yet it wouldn't let her grasp any of it. She was dead, yet her
mind was alive. She had felt the bullets pierce her heart
after...after...but then her mind had decided that the bullets didn't make
it to her heart. She felt...something...move the bullets. Next thing she
knew there was a man speaking to her...in her mind. Reaching to places that
she never knew she had there. Coaxing her back to
reality...unreality...reality...she was Nabiki Tendo, she was Arashi
Wakanatabi, she was Mercedes DeCruz. Mercedes. Arashi. Nabiki. Nabiki.
Arashi. Mercedes.
<NABIKI!>
Nabiki opened her eyes, and gazed at the doctor. She looked at him
for a while, and a name popped into her head. "Your name is Timothy Black.
You are a Euthanatos. I am a Mage. How do I know all that? What happened
to me? Who am I? My name is Nabiki, but it is also Arashi Wakanatabi, and
Mercedes DeCruz." She was about to continue, when she saw the doctor smile.
He looked down at her, and began to speak.
"First, yes, my name is Timothy Black, and yes, I am an Euthanatos,
but right now that has no meaning to you. Let me first address your third
statement. You are a Mage, but you have no idea what that means. What
would be an easy way to explain that?
Imagine it like this. Reality, as you know it, is like a Tapestry.
Most people are happy to just admire it from afar. There are some, however,
that aren't content to just sit there and admire the work. Some have to go
in and change the Tapestry. Sometimes, it's little changes, like winning
the lottery, things that could easily be explained as coincedence. Other
times, it's like tearing a hole and reweaving reality, like causing
lightning to leap from your hand. Still other times, people have been known
to give up on this Tapestry as lost, and make their own. You have been
given the power to reweave the Tapestry.
You asked how you knew all that information when there was no way
you could have known. The answer to that is simple. You, quite literally,
read my mind." Nabiki gasped in shock. "Don't be surprised. Remember what
I told you about the Tapestry? Well, you can now read minds, sometimes. I
wouldn't go around flaunting that you can do that, though, for two reasons.
First off, it isn't very nice to go pulling thoughts from other people's
heads. and second, not everyone veiws the Tapestry the way you do. The
other reason...well, remember when I said reality is like a Tapestry? Think
of it as a sentient Tapestry. It likes to follow the majority. If you do
something that the majority can't accept, the Tapestry will whap you. Are
you following me so far?" Black asked the young woman.
Nabiki shook her head. "You completely lost me," she stated. "right
when you said that I had been given the power."
"Ok, think of it like this. Do you watch tv with your family at
all?" Nabiki nodded. "Well, imagine the tv is reality, you are a mage, and
the rest of your family is the rest of society. If you don't like what's on
tv, you can do two things. You can ask whoever's holding the remote to
change it, or you can grab the remote. If you just grab the remote, there
is a chance that you will be smacked. Do you understand that?" Nabiki
nodded mutely. "Good. Now..."
---Three Hours Later---
"So, if I cast a spell, in front of other people, and reality can't
accept it, I get attacked by reality." Nabiki said to Timothy, to wit
Timothy just nodded. "And this attack is called Paradox?" Again, Black
nodded. "This is great. Just great. Yesterday, I was a normal teenage
girl, and now I'm in the middle of a war for the dominance of the world!"
At this, Timothy broke in, "Not the world. Reality. Big difference."
"Really?" Nabiki said, oozing sarcasm. "Would the great mage care
to elighten me?"
Timothy sighed as he prepared for an even longer speech. "Ok, there
are four factions warring for complete control of reality. I belong to the
faction known as the Council of Nine Mystick Traditions, or just the
Traditions. We believe, as a whole, in an interaction between humanity's
development and personal enlightenment. As mages, we should be paragons of
our philosophy, and if our values are true, then the rest of humanity will
realize it. But we shouldn't force anyone to believe what they don't want
to believe. No mage has that right."
Black shifted in his chair in an attempt to become more comfortable
before continuing. "Next is the Technocracy. The Technocracy is
diametrically opposite of the Traditions in that they feel only the
Technocracy knows what is best for humanity. And to hell with all that get
in their way. This group is fully composed of technomancers, and mainly
rule the governments of developed countries. Well, they share the rule with
the Vampires, but that's more because the Technocracy can't fully get rid of
the Kindred, rather then an actual alliance." Nabiki's eyes started bugging
out. Vampires, magick, wars for reality, it was getting to be too much.
And yet, even as her mind tried to deny everything, she found herself
believing every word the man said.
Seeing the look on Nabiki's face, Timothy started to wrap things up.
"There are two other groups, but they aren't important now. What is
important is that we begin your training. In order for you to do that,
you'll have to join me in New York. How you get there is your own business,
but I do have one condition. You can not fly until you reach London. You
need to learn to depend on yourself, and not money, to get yourself out of
sticky situations. Now, I'm going to call your family back in here. I'm
not going to tell them anything that we spoke about. That will be up to
you, although I think that you can trust that boy with the ponytail."
Timothy walked out to get the rest of Nabiki's family, leaving her alone for
a minute.
Nabiki had much to consider. Yesterday, she was a normal high
school girl, with abnormal things going on around her and no power to stop
them. Now...now she had some power. She closed her eyes, and reached out
with her mind. She could feel the presence of everyone in the hospital,
although one stood out more to her. She thought about the mind. As she
did, a mental image formed. *Hmmm...two lumps, one black, and one
white...let's try this* Nabiki concentrated harder on the mind. *Ahh..the
image is getting clearer...* she thought with a smile as the picture began
to gain focus. It was a knight in midnight black armor, atop an ivory white
steed. The knight smiled benevolently, but there was steel in his eyes. *I
guess that's Dr. Black. Now let's try picking out other minds...*
*****************************
The meeting between Timothy and the rest of Nabiki's family went
reasonably well. Soun held back barely controlled tears, while Kasumi sat
quietly, staring at a wall, her hands clenching and unclenching. Genma
bounced between trying to console Soun, and talking with Ranma about
defending the Tendo Family Honor. Ranma, for his part, didn't need to be
told. Ranma was seething. He looked down, to where Akane had buried her
head into his chest his red silk shirt stained with her tears. Tears that
had been caused when someone hurt Nabiki. This was unforgivable.
"I assume that you are Nabiki's family.", Dr. Black said. When Soun
nodded weakly, Black continued. "There is no easy way to say this, so I'll
be blunt. Your daughter was raped, then shot twice in the chest, and left
for dead. Luckily, the bullets bounced off of her ribs, so the wounds were
rather minor. We ran tests on the residual semen and found no traces of
disease or any history of drug use. It's too early to tell if she is
pregnant, but it looks doubtful. I spoke with Nabiki earlier, and she seems
to be taking everything well. I would like to ask that she have no visitors
at the moment. In the morning, after she's had some rest will be fine, but
for now..." Dr. Black trailed off, seeing the weariness in the family's
eyes, even beyond the anger and sadness. "You have an exceptional daughter,
Mr. Tendo. She should be alright in no time." Soun just nodded.
The Tendos and the Saotomes got up to begin the silent walk home.
Even in the late afternoon crowds, people seemed to avoid them. Ranma was
getting stressed. Akane couldn't stop crying, and people were begining to
gawk. Looking towards Mr. Tendo, Ranma nodded towards the rooftops. "Akane
and I will meet you at the house.", he declared before grabbing the sobbing
girl and leaping away. Soun just sighed.
*******************
Bouncing along the rooftops, Ranma prayed that nothing else would
happen today. He thought about Shampoo crashing into him and Kodachi trying
to poison him, and as he shifted Akane in his arms, he prayed to all the
gods and Kami that he knew to let him get home without incedent.
"RANMA PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!!" Appearently, they weren't listening.
<That's it. I end this now.> Ranma thought, and he jumped out of
the way of the Lost Boy's umbrella. Ranma landed in a crouch, and put the
sobbing Akane down. He turned as he rose, not taking a combat stance, just
gazing coldly at Ryoga. Ryoga charged in, raging at the thought that Ranma
had done something to Akane to make her cry. Ranma didn't move. Ryoga
threw a right jab directly at Ranma's cold, expressionless face. At the
last instant, Ranma exploded into motion. He flung out his left arm,
grabbing Ryoga's wrist and pulling him in. Ranma's right leg flew out and
swept Ryoga's feet out from under him. As Ryoga was falling, Ranma' right
hand lashed out and siezed Ryoga's throat in a death grip.
Ryoga looked up into Ranma eyes and saw something there that had
never been there in any of their previous fights. Rage. Ranma was barely
in control of himself. It became even more evident when Ranma tried to
speak to him. "Ryoga, I have had enough of this. If you ever attack me
again, I will kill you." A strange fire seemed to take over in Ranma's
eyes, and his grip on Ryoga's throat began to tighten. Ryoga closed his
eyes, and waited for the cold hand of Death to take him.
It never came.
Instead, he felt his back impact with the roof, and heard Akane
speaking softly. He opened his eyes to see Ranma looking in mute horror at
what his hands had done, and Akane with her arms around him, crying into his
shoulder, and whispering in his ear. He got up and walked over towards the
pair. "Akane, what happened? I've never seen Ranma like this before."
Akane looked up at Ryoga, her lip trembling. As she began to relate
her tale, Ryoga's eyes widened in shock and outrage. Finally, Ryoga stood.
"I'm going to the hospital. Nabiki needs someone to watch over her, and
Ranma is in no shape to do anything right now." With that, Ryoga left to
watch over Nabiki.
"Yo, Ryoga! Hold up a second!" Ryoga turned around to face Ranma.
"The hospital is in the other direction. And I'm going with you. If this
creep comes back, I'd like to have a crack at him." Ranma turned to Akane.
"Akane, tell Mr. Tendo that I went back to the hospital to stand watch.
Tell him I won't let anything further happen to Nabiki." With that, Ranma
got up, grabbed Ryoga, and made off for the hospital.
**********************
After a long 'discussion' with Hospital Security, Ranma and Ryoga managed to
get a cot set up in Nabiki's room. Ryoga voluntered for first watch, so
Ranma crawled into the bed, and promtly fell asleep. Nabiki had been asleep
since the two had arrived. Ryoga walked over to her bed, and looked at her,
as if seeing her for the first time. He had never really noticed her
before, always chasing after Ranma or Akane. She was attractive, but in a
more adult sort of way. It seemed to Ryoga that calling her cute would be
an insult. Some of her hair had fallen and was tickling her nose. Ryoga
brushed the hair aside, feeling the silky softness of her cheek. <She's so
soft and delicate...> Ryoga thought. Shaking his head furiously, he tried
to clear his mind of those thoughts. He had to keep himself pure in mind
and body for Akane.
Nabiki's eyes fluttered open, her mind registring the two other
presences. <Ranma and Ryoga, it seems. Guess they were worried about me.>
She looked up to see who was standing over her. Ryoga. <Well, I have to go
to London, I can't take a plane, and I can barely protect myself. Ranma
would come with me, but anyone can see that he's in love with Akane. Ryoga
would be a good choice. He's traveled a lot, and his martial arts are
second only to Ranma. That's settled. Now to just tell them...>
"Ryoga...", Nabiki croaked out, her throat dry from all the anesteshia and
medication. Ryoga popped over to her side, leaning over to hear her.
"Ryoga... wake... up... Ranma. Have... story... to... tell... you..."
Nabiki pushed her bed control button to make the head of the bed rise.
Reaching over for a convienent glass of water, she greedily drank it down.
Ryoga reappeared with a sleepy looking, but alert, Ranma. "I'm going to
tell you two something, something that I can't tell anyone else. This...
experiance has changed me. I have a gift, and I have to learn how to use
it. In order to do that, I need to go to New York. Thing is, I can't fly
until I get to London. So I have to cross Asia and Europe on the ground.
I'm...I'm scared. I don't want to go alone." That last part was hard for
Nabiki, who had always relied only on herself, to admit. But it was true.
"I...I need someone to come with me. Ranma..." Ranma looked at Nabiki.
Nabiki noted how tense he was She reached out with her mind to touch his.
She felt the turmoil going through him. "...would you go out into the hall
and get Dr. Black?" Ranma nodded, and tried not to look as relieved as he
was. He darted out the door to find the doctor. Nabiki turned to Ryoga.
"Ryoga, please.... Come with me..."
*****
End of Prolouge
*****
As I stated before, I really need C&C on this. Public or Private, doesn't
matter to me. If you want to flame me, at least let me know why. Thanks!!
Ja!!
JD
Paladin of The Holy Pair
Verbena Mage
No-Brand Hero
Life is a disease: Sexually transmitted and always fatal.
But that doesn't mean that you can't enjoy it!
-Death, 'Death Talks about Life'