Notes: OK, I admit, this is a bit different from other fanfics. This is sort of
an experiment, and I#m not sure yet whether it will work or not. And yes, I
know the dialog is a bit strange. It#s intentional.
Though I may make references to mythical figures, they will probably be
of Western origin, as I am not that familiar with Japanese mythology (if, at
any point, someone wants to suggest a similar Japanese myth for a
Western reference, be my guest). I point this out at the outset because
this is an adaptation of a Western work (you#ll quickly be able to guess
which one, unless you#ve lived in a cave since birth) (I would imagine this
to be true no matter what country you#re from), and I know some don#t
believe that Western myths translate well to the Ranmaverse. Oh well.
Of course, I don#t know if I would call the source material a #myth#
I also note, that, while a lot of fanfic authors try to work in Japanese
words in phrases, despite the fact that I can read and speak Japanese
(not fluently, but enough that I don#t have too much trouble getting around
in Japan), I will deliberately avoid such uses, unless there is something I
wish to express that works well in Japanese, but I can#t come up with an
adequate English equivalent. I don#t expect this to happen, though. (OK,
one immediate exception: I#ll use #Sempai# instead of #upperclassman#
because its easier to use it metrically. That should be it, though).
Also, this fic is considerably darker than those I#ve written in the past.
This is because, of course, the source story is a tragedy. I have
however, tried to adapt the story to the characters, so while the plot
generally follows the original, there will, of course, be some necessary
differences. This story takes place a little whle after the manga ends
(though I wouldn#t term it a #continuation fic#). I#ve also tried to avoid
using lines or phrases from the original source, but at times that#s hard to
do.
I hope this works. Well, we#ll see.
Kuno#s Narrative: A Ranma 1/2 fanfic
Prologue
The inspector looks up from his notebook to stare at the young man
across the table. #Name?#
#Kuno Tatewaki#
#Age?#
#Eighteen.#
#Residence?#
#3-24 Oizumi Gakuen-Machi, 3-chome, Nerima.#
#All right, Mr. Kuno, let#s begin. You are aware that this conversation is
being recorded?#
#I am.#
#Very well. I will note, for the record, that we are following a somewhat
unorthodox procedure here. Normally, questioning such as this is
attended only by members of the police department. In this instance,
however, we are joined by Mrs. Ono Kasumi, and her husband, Dr. Ono
Tofu. Mr. Kuno, could you explain for the record why you wished these
individuals to be present?#
#Certainly. I am afraid I only have it in me to tell this story once, but,
though this narrative will be painful for her, as Mrs. Ono is the sole
surviving member of the Tendo family, I felt she deserved to know the
truth.#
#Very well. Please begin.#
#OK. Well, it started like this...#
Kuno#s Narrative: Act I, Scene 1: The Furinkan High School Clocktower
Enter Kuno and Hiroshi
KUNO
We have arrived. Now tell me once again
Why I should hold this vigil.
HIROSHI
If you please,
Let me wait upon my friend, and he
Shall unfold all we have seen last night
as well as the two before.
Enter Daisuke
KUNO
Very well.
I see him coming. What#s the word?
DAISUKE
Sempai.
It#s well you#ve come. The two of us have had
Some very strange experiences for
The last three nights.
KUNO
I fail to understand
How that is a concern of mine. What you
Two do at night is your own business.
DAISUKE
It#s not like that! Let me first explain
That Hiroshi and I these last three nights
Have taken in to studying at the school.
Three nights ago, and at this very hour,
We saw a spectacle, such as we
Should not have wished to see again.
We did not know what we should make of it.
As it appeared twice more, we come to you
To make you known of it.
KUNO
Of what, pray tell.
HIROSHI
There can be no way to soften this
But Daisuke and I believe, from what
We#ve seen, that the ghost of one you loved
Now walks these halls.
KUNO
Of one I loved? But who?
DAISUKE
I think you know right well of whom we speak.
For Tendo Akane have we seen these nights,
And this is why we came to you.
KUNO
Oh, please.
Is this the reason I was brought here for?
How starved for notoriety must you be
To pull such pranks as this?
DAISUKE
This is no joke!
An apparition, pale as yonder moon,
Has affronted us thrice these nights. In visage
So much like Akane that the both of us
Would swear she lived again. What#s that?
HIROSHI
But look!
Look where it comes even now!
Enter Ghost
KUNO
Oh gods.
What sight is this?
DAISUKE
Does not it most appear
As Tendo Akane?
KUNO
Most like, most like.
Oh, gentle Akane, what perturbation
Keeps your spirit from its untimely rest?
But no, I#ll have more than this. Tell me,
My sweet, oh, bruis#d angel, tell me why
You stir from sleep eternal, if not for some
Forboding purpose.
HIROSHI
Do something!
KUNO
What?
What would you have me do?
HIROSHI
Discover what
The meaning of this is.
DAISUKE
It#s going hence.
KUNO
Hold, spectre, hold! We would know your purpose
Upon the mortal plane. Stay and speak! [exit ghost]
DAISUKE
It#s gone, sempai, but it#ll be back again,
If our experience these last three nights
Make any indication.
HIROSHI
What make you of this?
KUNO
No, I know not. You know, of course, of her
Sudden death. Unwarranted, unlooked for, she
Died one night of some mysterious
Malady, and none could guess the cause.
HIROSHI
But why, then, should she walk the night, sempai?
KUNO
I cannot guess, but I do fear some strange,
Some heinous crime, a hideous event that#s come
Or yet to come, or both, is the boding
Of this spectral visitation.
DAISUKE
You also know her fiance was made
To marry her elder sister, Nabiki,
With improprietary haste, a wedding
Enforced by their respective fathers. Ranma,
Consumed by grief, seemed not to care to what
Unlucky destiny befell him. And
Nabiki, that queen of countered paper, offered
No opposition to the match. Many
Thought it strange, but it so fell out that three,
A paltry three brief days provided all
The interval between the funeral
And the wedding day. So thus contracted
Was Saotome Ranma sealed in misery.
KUNO
I thought it strange myself, most strange, indeed.
For what unnatural cause Nabiki gave
Consent, I#ve no idea. I had not thought
That she had any inclination toward
His fancy. Plus I know that he cared not
For her, but there it is in spite of all.
But even I, who though a rival for the hand
Of Tendo Akane, even I must pity him.
It#s said he broods all day, a shadow of
His former self, a glim reflection of
This once unbounded force. But now he sits
And mopes as if awaiting death to come.
DAISUKE
And so have we both understood. And that
Is why we did not bring this news to him.
With he in this melancholic state,
We feared the effects this news would have on him.
KUNO
I had wondered at that. Hold! She comes
Again. [Enter ghost] Tell me, restless spirit, if you
Mean fair or ill. What prison keeps you here,
That binds your spirit to this empty earth?
What task yet unperformed restrains your soul
And prevents its rise to heaven? You would speak,
That I see. Please. Wait! Don#t leave! [Exit ghost]
HIROSHI
Too late.
She#s gone again.
KUNO
And will she come again?
DAISUKE
No, for see there. The crimson threads of dawn
Reach out to capture retreating night, and soon
The light will make unfit, so it is said,
This earth for wandering spirits to tread.
KUNO
Even so. Farewell, dear Akane.
We must advance our knowledge to Saotome.
Though once a rival, and never friend, yet now
We share a common bond in grief, and now
I#ve seen that he is not the villain for which
I#ve taken him. So let us go to him,
For this is much beyond me. Mayhap he
Can grasp the import of this restless spirit.
And though it hurts to say, I must admit
He was her love in life, and hopefully
Can give her spirit rest, that has been trapped
#Tween hell and heaven.
HIROSHI and DAISUKE
If so you say, sempai.
Exeunt
Next: Act I, Scene 2