This is my first attempt at a fanfic so I could use all the criticizm I
could get. First of all, I'm not a very good speller, but I did go through
with a spellchecker, though it might have missed grammer mistakes other
than the ones I ment to put in. One of my bigest concers is any cultural
errors I might have made. Please inform me of anything that might make my
story more believeable. Wait. This is Ranma. More believeable as a Ranma
story then.
Please visit my fanfic site at http://www.tstonramp.com/~crissik/index.html
where you can get all my latest stories, preview future works, and see some
of the background for my stories.
Ranma OWF
Toma K/9
by Eric "Crissik" Gondolf
crissik@tstonramp.com
Episode 2: Old Problems, New Faces.
[Toma wakes the next morning. He begins to sit up but a throbbing pain on
the top of his head on his head stops him. He clutches it in pain. Slowly
the pain numbs off some and Toma sits up again; slower this time. He looks
up from the blanket he was under and looks around. He is in someone's
room. A bed is next to him, and Toma realizes he is sitting on a futon in
the middle of the floor. The room isn't heavily decorated. A window sits
over the bed and another sits on the wall to the left. Behind Toma is a
closet and the door. A plant in front of the second window, a bookshelf to
the right and a small hanging are the only real items of notice. Toma
stands up and examines some of the books. Most of the are how to do it
books for cooking, cleaning, first-aid, and several other household chores.
Toma thinks of looking in the closet, but decides that would be pushing
it. He decides instead to exit and find everyone else. As he is leaving
he notices something hanging on the door outside. It is a duck shaped sign
with a name on it.]
Toma: (Kasumi's room? What happened last night? I remember Ryunosuke
attacking me, but not much else after that except a couple of blurs.)
[Akane comes out of her room at the end of the hall. She sees Toma looking
at the door.]
Akane: Are you alright? That bump must have really affected you. The
stairs are in the other direction.
Toma: Huh? Oh, I know. I was just thinking.
Akane: What were you thinking about? Planning the date?
Toma: Date?
Akane: Well, hurry up or you'll miss breakfast.
[Akane rushes downstairs.]
Toma: W-wait! What...what date?
[A few minutes later Toma finds his way back to the living room.]
Toma: (Should have asked for a tour yesterday. Gee, I hope Shampoo and
Great-grandmother aren't to worried about me.)
[As he enters the room, everyone cheers him.]
Toma: Huh?
Ranma: Congratulations.
Toma: What?
Akane: We're all happy for you.
Toma: Huh? What?
Chris: And you've only known each other for one day.
Toma: (Oh my God. What did I do last night? OK. OK. I woke up in
Kasumi's room. Akane mentioned a "date." I did something. Oh no. I
didn't... With Kasumi... How can I face her now?)
[Right then, Kasumi walks in with breakfast.]
Kasumi:Good morning, Toma.
Toma: Uh...
Kasumi: Did you sleep alright last night?
Toma: I think so.
Ranma: [To Akane] Hey. He's not speaking funny to her anymore.
Akane: He looks to confused to be confusing.
Chris: What are you two whispering about?
[Toma is still piecing together what happened last night.]
Toma: (I've got to get alone with Chris. He'll tell me.) Yes, well.
I'm...uh...very happy for myself also. I just need a minute to speak with
Chris.
[Toma grabs Chris and flies outside to the bushes.]
Toma: Chris. Be straight with me. What happened last night?
Chris: You don't remember?
Toma: I remember Ryunosuke hitting me and a brief instant when I was in
Kasumi's arms, I think, but not much else.
Chris: Ah. I see. [Wink, wink]
Toma: And just what do you see? Please, tell me what happened last night.
Chris: You really don't know, do you? [Toma shakes his head] Alright. I
think you and Kasumi got engaged.
Toma: En-en-en-en-en--
Chris: Engaged.
Toma: Thank you. Kasumi and I?
Chris: You don't seem as happy as I thought you would be. Last night you
looked like you had completely fallen in love with her.
Toma: [Perks up] Well, she is pretty and has a nice personality-- [Perks
down] --but, I've only known her one night. I can't marry someone I've
only known one night.
Chris: Well, Ranma and Akane were engaged the first day they met each
other. And look how much in love they are.
Toma: I know I haven't known them long, but I already know them better
than that.
Chris: You're right. Bad example. Why don't you try getting to know her?
Toma: Like how?
Chris: Try a first date.
Toma: Oh, yeah.
[They step back inside and Toma begins tot think of a way to ask his new
"fiance" out. All through the meal, Toma is quiet. Chris watches his
friend carefully. After a few minutes Toma turns to Kasumi and...]
Toma: Ka--
Ranma: Come on, Akane. Hurry up or we'll be late for school.
[Toma face-faults.]
Akane: I'm not the one that always makes us late, Ranma.
Chris: Pardon me.
Ranma and Akane: What?
Chris: May I accompany you two to school? I've never been to a Japanese
school before and would like to see what they look like.
Akane: Uh... Sure.
Ranma: Hey, that sounds like an idea. Toma. Do you want to come too?
Toma: Huh?
Ranma: Alright then, we'll all go.
Toma: What?
Akane: OK. I'm done.
[Akane gets up and heads out the door while Chris and Ranma gather Toma and
follow.]
[Later, the three are walking to school. Ranma is walking along the fences
as usual. Toma is looking down.]
Toma: Why do I have to come along.
Chris: Oh come on. It will be fun.
Toma: I guess it has been some time since I've been back to my old school.
Of course I was only there for a year before I moved to China.
Chris: You mean you didn't graduate?
Toma: I went on home study.
Chris: Oh.
[A little while later they arrive at the school.]
Toma: It's smaller than I remember.
Chris: It's larger than most of the ones back home.
Ranma: At least back home you don't have to deal with that.
[Ranma points past the gate to a young man standing in the middle of the
path. The young man is dressed in a kimono and holds a wooden bokken.]
Toma: Who is--
Kuno: Ah. The ascending sun consigns such beauty, only to be paled by the
imagery of Akane Tendo. Only the vision of the Pig-Tailed Girl would
consummate the image.
Toma: What the...?
Akane: Don't worry. This happens every morning.
Toma: This imbecile makes you late for school every morning?
Kuno: And who art thou to call one such as myself an imbecile.
Ranma: Toma, meet--
Kuno: My peers call me the "Blue Thunder of Furinkan High." As the
captain of the Furinkan Kendo Club, I am the strongest warrior here.
Tatewaki Kuno, age 17. I ask again, who art thou?
Toma: Since you ask, I am the son of the Amazons, heir to the Shimaru
Corporation, and the best warrior anywhere. Toma Dachi, age 19.
Kuno: You boast much with your words, but actions speak louder. Shall I
test you skill?
Toma: Why not. It'll bring some excitement to the morning.
Kuno: Then prepare yourself! Aaa, Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da!
[Kuno launches his attack by slashing at Toma wildly. Toma dodges every
attack.]
Toma: Is this all you can do?
Kuno: Do not mock me.
[Toma pauses for a second at Kuno's words. Kuno takes this moment of
weakness to slash Toma's leg. Toma grunts in pain and grabs his leg. He
looks up from his leg and stares Kuno in the eyes. Now it is Kuno's turn
to pause as he sees the fury in Toma's eyes.]
Toma: Patto Ken!
[Toma disappears from in front of Kuno only to appear behind him in the
same instant. Kuno doubles over in pain.]
Toma: Lets go.
[Toma walks toward the school. Everyone else follows, except Kuno, who
remains on the ground.]
[Ranma and Akane go to class while Toma and Chris wander the halls.]
Chris: To bad we couldn't stay and watch the class.
Toma: You've already passed high school. Why would you want to go back?
Chris: I'm just curious as to how the school systems here work.
Toma: It's hard.
Chris: How did you do in school here?
Toma: Aced it. I had a lot of pressure from my parents to do good.
Chris: Hmm. I guess all parents want their children to do well.
Toma: Yeah.
Chris: So, is there anything to do while we wait for lunch?
Toma: We could go out behind the gym and smoke with all the kids playing
hooky.
Chris: Pass.
Toma: Well, we could--
Voice: Aloha, truant students!
Toma and Chris: Huh?
[They turn around to see a strange man standing in the hallway. The man is
wearing shorts and a loud Hawaiian shirt. He also is wearing sunglasses
and a palm tree on his head. Toma feels something familiar about this
man.]
Man: Looks like I get to punish some delinquent students!
[The man pulls out some hair clippers and begins running after Toma and
Chris, who both immediately flee.]
Chris: Who... in... the...
Toma: I don't... [They pass a painting of the man] That's it! He's
Principal Kuno.
Chris: Who?
Toma: Principal Kuno. I've never actually seen him before. As I
remember, when I went here he was in Hawaii.
Chris: Looks... like... he's... still... there...
Toma: Are you alright?
Chris: Sorry... Just... not... used... to... running... for... my...
life...
Toma: You need to get into shape.
Chris: Ah, Shut... shut... shut...
[Chris collapses in exhaustion. Toma stops and sees Principal Kuno not far
behind.]
Toma: Come on.
[Toma picks up Chris and runs down the hall. AS they are running, Toma
stops and backs up.]
Chris: Why did you...?
[Toma points to the door they are next to. A sign on the front of the door
says it's the janitor's closet.]
Toma: [Wink] Act natural.
[Principal Kuno rounds the corner and almost runs into Chris, who is
currently mopping the floor.]
Principal: Aloha, Janitor! Have you seen any students run past here?
Chris: [Using a deep voice.] Yes. I believe they went that way.
Principal: Thank you, good buddy.
[Principal Kuno runs down the hall. Chris puts the cleaning equipment back
in the closet. He is about to leave when he remembers something. He opens
the closet door again and Toma falls out.]
Chris: It worked. Thanks.
Toma: No problem. One question though.
Chris: Which is?
Toma: How do you stand the smell of all those cleaning chemicals? Ack.
[Chris smiles and they continue down the hall.]
[Lunch time comes around. Toma and Chris find Ranma and Akane outside.
Toma goes to buy lunch for him and Chris.]
Akane: Anything interesting happen while you were exploring?
Chris: Uh, Toma and I found something to do for a little while.
Akane: That's good. Hi, Nabiki.
[Nabiki walks in from behind Chris.]
Nabiki: Hello. Just thought I'd see how you all were doing. Where did
Toma go to?
Chris: He went to by some lunch.
Nabiki: OK. Well, I need to get back to my friends. Cya.
Akane: Uh, bye.
[Nabiki wanders off.]
Ranma: Well, that sure was short.
Akane: Yeah.
Chris: Hmm... I'm going to go see what is keeping Toma. Be right back.
[Chris follows his gut and leaves Ranma and Akane to find Toma. Sure
enough, when he gets there he finds Nabiki ahead of him. Toma's arms are
packed with food. Nabiki is next to him carrying one carton of milk. Toma
spies Chris through a hole in the food he's holding.]
Toma: Ah, Chris. Can you help me out here.
Chris: What's all this? You planning on gaining a few dozen pounds?
Toma: Not quite. Nabiki here asked me to buy her a few things.
Chris: A few?
Cashier: Hey, wait. You forgot to pay the bill.
Toma: Sorry. How much was it?
Cashier: 14,504 Yen.
Toma: OK. Hold on a sec. Chris, can you take this?
[Toma unloads all the food onto Chris.]
Toma: OK. Now that's out of the way... 14,504 Yen!
[Toma passes out. Nabiki is kind enough to find his wallet and pay the
cashier. She also digs out a little more to hire a couple of people to
carry Toma to her classroom. At the classroom, Chris is given the job of
handing out the food to the classmates that Nabiki had so graciously
offered to buy. Toma is set on two desks until he revives.]
Toma: Wha-? Where am I?
Nabiki: Thanks again for buying lunch for me and my friends.
Toma: Friends? I thought I just agreed to buy something for you.
Nabiki: Don't be such a Scrooge. What good is having money if you can't
spend it on friends.
Toma: But I don't know any of these people.
Nabiki: A mere technicality. Keep buying lunch like you did today, and
soon enough you'll have plenty of friends.
Toma: I'm not sure my dad's corporation could afford that for very long.
Nabiki: Pity. I hear one of my friends calling me, so I'll let you lay
here.
[Nabiki trots off again. Toma just continues to lay on the desk as Nabiki
recommended, and stare at the ceiling. He closes his eyes for a second and
when he opens them, Kuno is standing over him.]
Kuno: Dachi! I challenge you!
Toma: Well, if it isn't the Turquoise Lightning.
Kuno: That is "Blue Thunder."
Toma: Whatever. Haven't you had enough?
Kuno: Never. I never accept defeat, even when it is obvious I am
outmatched.
Toma: Obviously.
Kuno: Enough bantering. Let us fight.
[Toma hops off the desk.]
Toma: And what are the terms?
Kuno: Terms?
Toma: What do each of us get should one of us win?
Kuno: Ah, the prize. Sasuke!
[The ninja pops out of the ceiling, only to be caught in the lighting and
shocks himself. He lands, charred and black, at Kuno's feet.]
Sasuke: Yes, Master Kuno?
Kuno: I offer you my servant, should you somehow best me.
Toma: Nope. Already got one of those.
Kuno: Hmm. Very well then, money.
Toma: Got plenty of that.
Kuno: Hmm. What else is there, except women, and I am not about to give
up my two lovelies.
Toma: That's alright. Apparently I'm engaged.
Kuno: Hmm. This requires deeper though. Very well, I shall return at a
later date with a subsidy. Come, Sasuke.
[Kuno and his servant walk off. Chris is finished with the deliveries by
now and returns to Toma. He holds out a single piece of bread.]
Chris: I'm afraid this is all that's left.
Toma: You take it. I'm not really that hungry anymore. Let's go find
Ranma and Akane again.
[Toma and Chris find Ranma and Akane where they left them. But now there
seems to be a crowd gathering around them.]
Toma: What...
Chris: The...?
[They push their way through the crowd. There they find a glowing Akane
and another woman is hanging off of Ranma.]
Ranma: Come on. Get off me.
Akane: Ranma!
Toma: Look! That woman is attacking Ranma. Lets help.
Chris: Well, I'm not sure if we should-- Hey!
[Toma grabs Chris' arm and rushes to help Ranma. Toma grabs the woman and
drags her off Ranma.]
Woman: Let me go! Let me go!
[While struggling, the woman accidently kicks Chris in the face. He falls
back and lands on the ground.]
Ranma: Thanks, Toma.
Akane: [Calming down a bit] What did she want this time?
Ranma: Who knows.
Toma: Pardon me for asking, but who am I holding?
Ranma: Toma, meet Kodachi Kuno.
Toma: Kuno? Like in Tatewaki and Principal Kuno?
Ranma: Yep. The Principal is her father Kuno is her brother.
Toma: There aren't any more family members running around, are there?
Ranma: None that we know of.
[Chris recovers himself and begins to stand up. He examines Kodachi.]
Chris: Beautiful.
Ranma and Akane: What!?!
Chris: I said beautiful.
Ranma: You think that's beautiful?
Chris: Isn't that what I just said?
Ranma: We need to get you glasses checked.
Toma: Can I let her go now?
Ranma: Go ahead.
[Toma releases Kodachi.]
Kodachi: Hmpf. Well, I thank you for the compliment, stranger. Here is a
memento of our meeting.
[Kodachi flings a black rose at Chris, who catches it. She then takes off,
leaving laughter and rose petals behind her.]
Ranma and Akane: Hmpf.
Toma: Weird.
Chris: [Sigh] Beautiful.
[Later that night, everyone is sitting at the table eating dinner.
Everyone is very quiet as they are all watching Kasumi and Toma. Toma and
Kasumi are the first ones to speak, and they both speak at the same time.]
Toma: Kasumi, I...
Kasumi: Toma, I...
Toma and Kasumi: Oh. Ha-ha-ha-ha.
[Suddenly, Soun is behind both of them.]
Soun: I approve. You two shall be happy together. We can hold the
ceremony tonight if you desire.
Toma: What?!?
Kasumi: Oh, father, father, father.
Toma: Mr. Tendo, that isn't what I--
Soun: Please, call me father.
Toma: Uh...
[Toma looks at everyone else for support. He notices Nabiki hold up five
fingers. Probably payment for bailing him out. With a quick not, Toma
seals the agreement.]
Nabiki: Father, I believe that Toma and Kasumi would like to take things
a little slower. After all, they still haven't gone on a first date.
Soun: What? You two decide to get married without even going on one date?
Now that's impulse. Ranma, Akane. Why can't you two show the courage
these two do and just jump straight into your relationship.
Toma: Um...
Soun: Alright, you two shall have your first date then, before the
ceremony.
Toma: Um...
Soun: Tomorrow night should be a perfect evening. Now, why don't you two
go to bed early so that you'll have plenty of energy tomorrow.
Kasumi: OK, father.
[Kasumi heads upstairs and takes Toma with her.]
Genma: What a father you are, Tendo.
Soun: I do amaze myself sometimes. Two down and only one daughter to go.
Say, Chris. What type of--
Chris: Forget it.
Soun: Oh. To bad.
[Upstairs, Toma and Kasumi are in her room.]
Kasumi: I hope you don't mind sleeping on the floor again.
Toma: Uh... No.
Kasumi: Good.
[Kasumi sets about making Toma's bed.]
Toma: Kasumi. Is your father serious about us?
Kasumi: I believe so.
Toma: Well, uh, um, if you don't want continue with this engagement thing,
I can talk to your father and make him call it off.
Kasumi: I don't think we need to do that just yet. Father seems happy,
and it hasn't been a bother so far.
Toma: (So that's it then. We just keep this up until it's a "bother?"
What have I gotten myself into?)
Eric "Toma/Crissik" Gondolf
crissik@tstonramp.com