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 4: Toma's Curse.  Pochi Revealed.



[Toma once again wakes in Kasumi's room.  She has already gotten up to make
breakfast.  Toma gets up and goes downstairs.  Ranma, Akane, Soun, Genma,
and Tazuki are already there.  For some reason Soun, Genma, and Tazuki
don't look like they got a lot of sleep last night.  Chris is oddly
missing.]

Soun:  Well, how was your date last night, Toma?

Toma:  Oh, it was fine.  Are you alright?

Soun:  Of course.  Why wouldn't I be?

Toma:  You just look a little tired.  In fact, you all do.

Tazuki:   You're just imagining things.

Genma: [Yawn] Oh.  Yeah!

Toma:  Whatever.  Hey, have you seen Chris?

Tazuki:   I thought you might have known.  He wasn't in bed when we got
home earlier this morning.

Soun:  Urk.

[Soun elbows Tazuki in the stomach.]

Tazuki:   Last night.  I meant last night.

[Naturally Toma doesn't believe Tazuki's lousy recover.  Nabiki enters the
room.]

Nabiki:   Hey, I just heard on the radio that school is closed today and
tomorrow.  Something about Principal Kuno going crazy trying to find two
delinquent students.  Apparently he's literally ripping the school to find
them.

Ranma: Hmm.  He usually isn't that fanatical.  Oh well.  Free day!

[Kasumi brings breakfast in an everyone digs in.]

Ranma: Hey, Toma.  Do you want to help me practice today?  Since pop was to
tired this morning we didn't get any practice in.

Toma:  Sure.

Genma: Hey.  It's alright to mis practice once and a while.  Just look at
Tendo.

Soun:  Hey!

Ranma: And you call me undedicated?

Genma: Ur...

[A few moments later.]

Ranma: Done.  Lets go.

Toma:  But I've just star--

[Ranma drags Toma outside.]

Toma:  Man.  You like this training stuff, don't you?

Ranma: Actually, I wanted to talk to you about a few things.

Toma:  OK.  Lets start and you can ask your questions while we work out.

[Toma and Ranma begin practicing.  They begin with mid-air fighting.  Every
time they come together, Ranma asks a question or Toma responds.]

Ranma: What exactly is the deal with you and Kasumi?  I know the Mr. Tendo
engaged you without your knowledge, believe me when I say I know what
that's like.

Toma:  Well, right now we're just doing this to make her father happy.

Ranma: Come on.  I know there's more than just that.

Toma:  Well, maybe I do kind of like Kasumi.

Ranma: Do you think she feels the same way?

Toma:  I'm not sure.  It is kind of hard to know what she's actually
thinking.  She did seem to enjoy herself last night.

Ranma: Have you kissed.

[This question startles Toma for a second.]

Toma:  No.  Not yet.

Ranma: Is that sadness in your voice?  Maybe you really do love Kasumi more
than you say.

Toma:  And what business of yours is that?

[Toma gets angry and hits Ranma square in the face.  Ranma is sent reeling
back until he realizes he's in mid air.  The law of gravity then takes over
and pulls him into the carp pond.  Toma lands on the rocks at the edge of
the pond.]

Toma:  So there.  Stay out of matters that do not concern you.

[Toma thinks back to all the recent events that have happened because he's
interfered where he shouldn't be.  Suddenly a girl jumps out of the water.]

Ranko: Maybe it is my business.  Ever thought of that.

Toma:  The heck?

Ranko: With you dating Akane's sister and living with us, you're
practically becoming family.

Toma:  Wait a minute here.  Who are you?

Ranko: I'm Ranma.  Who do you think I am?

Toma:  Amazing.  A girl that looks kind of like Ranma with his same name.

Ranko: Huh?

[Ranma then notices he is a she.]

Ranko: Oh.  Be right back.

[Ranma runs off to "change."  Toma returns to the living room.  The older
men have finished breakfast and have gone off to get a little sleep. 
Nabiki is semi-engrossed in one of her magazines, but still keeping an ear
out on everything happening around her.  Kasumi is ironing some laundry. 
Akane has turned on the TV.]

Toma:  Can anyone explain what just happened?

Akane: I forgot.  You don't know about Ranma and Mr. Saotome's curses.

Toma:  Curses?

Akane: Yeah.  They trained at a place called Jusenkyo.

Toma:  Urk?

Akane: Now Ranma turns into a girl when splashed with cold water.  His
father turns into a giant panda.  I would have thought you would have found
out your first day here.  They have been keeping awfully dry lately.

Toma:  So, they too have a Jusenkyo curse.  I thought I-- I'm mean, Chris
was the only one.

Akane: Nope.  Shampoo and Mousse also have curses.

Toma:  What?!?  Shampoo has a curse?

Akane: Would have thought she would have told you.  You two are cousins,
right?

Toma:  It's not something that comes up often.  Hi, Shampoo.  First time
I've seen you in almost a year.  So, have you been cursed lately?

Akane: You don't have to get sarcastic.

Toma:  Sorry.  It's just kind of a shock.  What are their curses?

Akane: Shampoo is a cat and Mousse is a duck.

Toma:  A cat?  (Something about that word I don't like, for some reason.)

[Ranma returns in his male form.]

Ranma: I forgot you don't know about my curse.

Akane: I filled him in.

Ranma: Thanks.

Toma:  Don't worry about it.  I know how you feel.

Ranma: Really?  How?

Toma:  Uh...  It's, uh, kind of like...  A martial arts kind of thing.

Ranma: Huh?

Toma:  So...

Ranma: "So," what?

Toma:  Nothing.  It's just a way to start a conversation.

Ranma: How do you know it works?

Toma:  We're in a conversation right now, aren't we?

Ranma: Yes?

Toma:  There you are.

Ranma: Huh?

[Toma notices Kasumi get up and begin walking out of the room.]

Toma:  Where are you going?

Kasumi:   Well, I've finished the laundry so I was going to do the
shopping.

Toma:  Want some company?

Kasumi:   Sure.  It's always nice to have someone to do the shopping with.

[Toma and Kasumi leave the room.]

Ranma: Asking to go along and do the shopping.  How pathetic.

Akane: And you haven't done worse just?

Ranma: Hey!  I have perfectly good reasons for everything embarrassing I've
done like that.

Akane: Which are?

Ranma: Uh...  Um...  Hey, Toma!  Wait up!

Akane: Oh no you don't.

[Akane takes Kasumi's iron and knock Ranma on the back of the head with
it.]



[Kasumi and Toma are walking down the street.]

Kasumi:   I'm glad you came along, Toma.

Toma:  Really?

Kasumi:   Of course.  Now I can pick up a few extra things.

Toma:  Oh.

Kasumi:   Looks like we had some rain last night.

[Toma looks down and notices all the puddles in the road.  He takes care to
try and dodge each one.  He's not sure if the water soaking through his
shoes will trigger his curse or not, but he doesn't want to find out with
Kasumi next to him.  He's so busy dodging puzzles that he doesn't notice a
guy on a moped traveling their direction.  Naturally, the guy splashes
water all over Toma and Kasumi.]

Kasumi:   Oh!  How rude.  Now I'm soaked.  Lets go back to the house Toma
so I can change.  Toma?

[Kasumi glances around and finds no sign of Toma.  She then looks down and
notices a small puppy standing there.  It's looking back at the direction
the man on the moped went and is growling.]

Kasumi:   Oh.  What a cute puppy.

[Toma looks up at Kasumi and cocks his head.  He then looks at himself and
yelps.  Kasumi kneels down next to him.]

Kasumi:   And who do you belong to?

[Toma can't believe this is happening.  Kasumi's going to hate him now... 
Did she just ask who he belongs to?  Then she doesn't know he's the dog. 
Maybe she can take him somewhere there's hot water.  Toma walks up to
Kasumi.]

Kasumi:   Are you lost?  Do you want to go home with me?

[Toma tries his best to answer yes and Kasumi seems to understand.  She
picks him up and begins to walk back home.]

Kasumi:   I wish I knew where Toma was.



[A while later Kasumi and Toma arrive back home.]

Akane: That was quick.

Ranma: Hey, where are the groceries?

Akane: And where did you get that dog?

Ranma: And what happened to Toma?

Kasumi:   I didn't make it to the market because some man on a bike
splashed me with water.  I found him standing next to me.  I don't know
what happened to Toma; he might have gone on ahead.  Now if you don't mind,
I need to go change.

[Kasumi goes upstairs to her room and shuts the door.  She sets Toma down
on the floor and opens the closet.  It is filled with dresses.  One shoebox
on the top shelf catches Toma's currently color-blind eye.  Then something
else catches his eye: Kasumi beginning to remove her current dress.  Panic
hits Toma full force.  What should he do?  Should he run?  Should he take
advantage of this situation and watch?  Should he find hot water and
explain.  Eventually he just decides to run under his blanket and have a
nervous breakdown.  He finds his blanket and futon neatly folded next to
the wall.  He crawls under and closes his eyes.  After a few minutes he
hears Kasumi calling out.]

Kasumi:   Little puppy?  Where are you?  Hello?

[Toma pulls himself out of the morality shelter he made and goes to
Kasumi.]

Kasumi:   There you are.  I need to go shopping so I'll leave you here with
Ranma and Akane.  OK?

[Toma nods.  Kasumi takes him downstairs and drops him off before heading
out again.  Toma immediately makes a run for the bath room.  He immediately
stops when he runs into the closed door.  Try as he might, he can't open
the door.  Then another idea hits him: The kitchen.  He runs in there. 
Through careful navigation he manages to get on the counter and to the
sink.  Only then does he realize that he can't turn the knob for the hot
water.  He jumps back to the floor and slumps down in defeat.  A few
minutes later, Ranma comes in looking for a snack.  He sees Toma lying
there.]

Ranma: What's wrong with you?  Are you hungry?

[Toma tries to shake his head no.]

Ranma: I know.  I'll get you something.

[Ranma opens the fridge and roots around for a while.  He manages to find a
plastic bowl and pulls it out.]

Ranma: Here.  This looks like dog food.

[Ranma sets it down next to Toma who instantly notices the label on the
side in Kasumi's handwriting: Warning!  Akane's Jell-O.  Do not eat.  Ranma
then fills a bowl of water and places it next to the Jell-O and then goes
back into the fridge and pulls something out for himself and goes back to
the living room.  Curious, Toma goes over and sniffs the bowl.  Maybe his
dog body can handle the Jell- O, whatever form it's in now.  Toma almost
passes out from the smell.  Maybe not.  Toma once again lays down.  He
tries to think of a way to turn back.  Suddenly he begins to feel real
warm.  Must be all the fur.  Wait, it''s coming from Akane's Jell-O.  Toma
moves closer and notices that it's giving off heat.  He also notices that
the water that Ranma set out is getting warmer.  On a hunch, Toma moves the
water bowl closer to the Jell-O.  Almost instantly the water begins to heat
up to a slow boil.  Toma jumps into the water and returns to his previous
form.  Now his only problem is he's stuck in the bowl.  After bouncing
around a bit he breaks free.  He puts the Jell-O back into the fridge in
case he needs it again.  He then runs out of the kitchen to go after
Kasumi, only to run into her in the doorway.  Groceries go everywhere.]

Toma:  Kasumi!  I'm sorry.  Let me help pick those up.

Kasumi:   Thanks.  Where did you go?

Toma:  I, uh...  Got lost.  I must have gone around the wrong corner and
not have noticed you weren't with me.  Sorry.

Kasumi:   Did you see the puppy I brought home?

Toma:  Um, about that puppy...

Kasumi:   Is he yours?

Toma:  Mine?  I guess you could say that.

Kasumi:   He was cute.  What's his name?

Toma:  Actually, he doesn't really have a name yet.

Kasumi:Really, because I was trying to think of something to call him while
I was out at the market.  How about Pochi?

Toma:  Pochi?

Kasumi:   My mother used to tell me a lot of stories as a child to get me
to sleep.  I remember a dog in one of those stories being named Pochi and
thought that would be a good name.

Toma:  Oh.  Your mother.  She's gone, isn't she.

Kasumi:   Yes.  She left us many years ago.

Toma:  I'm sorry.

Kasumi:   Don't be.  That was a long time ago.

Toma:  Alright.  Pochi it is then.  He actually is...  A gift to my sister,
Aiko, but I'm sure that every once and a while she'll let Pochi come over
and see you.

Kasumi:   Really?  That would be wonderful.

Toma:  No problem.  (Yeah.  No problem at all.)

Kasumi:   Well, lets go make lunch.

Toma:  Sure.



[While it is noon in Japan, it is already starting to get dark where Chris
and Ryoga are.]

Chris: Now where are we?  We were in from of Big Ben just a few minutes
ago, but I don't think this is London anymore, Toto.

Ryoga: Who?

Chris: Sorry.  Old American film.  Speaking of America, there's a
McDonalds.

Ryoga: So?  Those are everywhere.

Chris: They aren't in English everywhere.

Ryoga: Is that what the signs are written in?  I thought my mind was messed
up for a second there.

Chris: (That thought's lasting for more that a second from me.)

[Chris and Ryoga continue on.  Meanwhile, inside the McDonalds, one of the
workers sees the two outside and stops working.  The onlooker looks
surprisingly a lot like Chris, except without the glasses.  The person's
manager notices the pause and interrupts.]

Manager:  Chris.  Chris.  Chris!  Christopher Lee!

Chris: Huh?  What?

Manager:  What are you doing.

Chris: Sorry.  I thought I just saw my twin and...  Ryoga?

Manager:  You have a twin?  And who's Ryoga?

Chris: No.  I don't have a twin, although that did look a lot like a
character I once made up.  Ryoga is one of the people from the world I made
that character for.

Manager:  Huh?

Chris: Nevermind.  I must just be losing my sanity.

Manager:  Well do it some other time.  We've got work to do here.

Chris: Alright. [Looks back out the window] Still...

Eric "Toma/Crissik" Gondolf
crissik@tstonramp.com