Hi,
I'm new to the FFML, and I have been reading some great works here.
Well, this is my contribution...I hope to hear from any of you.
July 31, 1997
Chain Letters
--------------------
by
Florencio B. de la Merced, Jr. (fmerced@pworld.net.ph)
A fanfic series inspired by Ranma 1/2 created by Rumiko Takahashi
Chapter 1. A Night to Remember
------------------------------------------------
[It was a very dark night, probably because half of Nerima just lost
electricity. But somehow something else was making this particular rainy
night unascertained. Inside the Tendo Dojo, it wasn't much that
different.]
Voice: I'll get some candles. [sounds of walking feet can be heard]
Voice: This is a very strange storm, Saotome.
Voice: So true, Tendo. In all the years we've been here, I've never seen
such weather.
Voice: What are you two talking about? It's only water. [a small candle
lights up revealing a young man holding it] It won't hurt you. [laughs]
Voice: [lighting a candle] Look who's talking! [the light reveals a young
woman, about the same age]
Voice: Hush! I think I hear something. [tapping noises can then be heard]
Kasumi, I think there is someone at the door.
Kasumi: [coming out from the kitchen holding another candle] I'll see who
it is. [exits the room]
[The room has become a little more visible, showing several people standing
around looking at either the raging storm outside or each other. We then
can see Kasumi entering with a taller woman following her.]
Kasumi: Oh, Father. Mrs. Saotome is here. [smiles]
[Two figures has suddenly jumped across the room towards the porch,
forgetting that it was closed due to the storm]
Young man: [checking his head] Ouch!
Nodoka: Ranma is that you? [helping the young man up] Why it is you! [hugs
Ranma]
Ranma: [trying not to be embarrassed] Uh, Mom. [fidgeting] It's nice to see
you again.
Nodoka: [smiles] I'm so glad to have finally caught up with you and your
father. [pauses] By the way, where is your father? [looks around and sees
someone lying unconscious on the floor] Genma!
Kasumi: [whispering to the young woman carrying a candle] Aren't family
reunions such fun, Akane? [smiles]
Akane: [giggles] They sure are.
[Several minutes later, with power being restored, a small conversation
eventuate]
Nodoka: [sigh] I know it's been a long time Genma, and, I know you promised
to make our son a man, among men. [pauses]
Ranma: [sweat] [think] Uh, oh.
Nodoka: [smiles] I can see [smile] that Ranma has grown up to be such an
exemplary young man under your guidance all these years.
Akane: [sitting beside Nodoka] [grins] [think] If you only knew half of it.
Genma: [think] I don't like this.
Nodoka: The truth is I want us to live together again. [smiles]
Soun: [blink] Nani?
Akane: [shocked] [think] It can't be.
[Fear ran up the faces and spines of the two]
Genma: [sweat] I don't think we can?
Nodoka: [blink] What do you mean?
Ranma: [think] Chikusho! If it wasn't for this curse!
Genma: [smiles] Well, you see. Ranma's true manhood is not yet complete.
[looks at Ranma]
Ranma: [blink] Nani? What are you talking about?
Nodoka: [giggles] Ranma, your father is talking about your fiancée. [smiles
at Akane]
Akane: [blink] Who me? [blushes a little][think] They can't be thinking
about...
Ranma: [stares at Akane] What about her?
Soun: [shouts in Ranma's face] Ranma! Are you forgetting that you are
Akane's fiancée!
Ranma: [glare] Hey, I didn't want to be her fiancée!
Akane: [glares at Ranma] Neither have I. [turns to look away]
[The built tension forces a momentary pause in the conversation]
Nodoka: Are you telling me Ranma that you don't want Akane as your fiancée?
Ranma: [blink] No, it's not like that. [nervously as he sees Akane glaring
at him] Well...I... [stares at the floor][in a low voice] We don't get
along, mom. We always seem to fight. [looks up at Akane] I guess ...
[think] To hell with it! [speak] I guess I do.
Akane: [shocked] Ranma, what are you saying?
Ranma: [stands up] There, I said it! [walks out the porch and stares at the
storm]
Nabiki: [grins] See, Akane. That wasn't so hard to do. You should have
asked him that question, years ago. [giggles]
Nodoka: [smiles] Then I guess it's your turn now, Akane. Do you want my
son as your fiancée?
Akane: [still has stirred from looking at Ranma figuring things out in the
porch] I...[think] He said it, and even in front of everyone. [looks at
Nodoka and smiles] I guess so, too.
[Suddenly the porch door opened simultaneous to a short figure jumping
inside from the ongoing storm]
Happosai: [landing beside the oblivious Ranma] Tadaima! Where is my dear
Ranko! [sees Ranma] There you are.
Ranma: [unnoticing Happosai] [think] There I said it Akane. I just hope...
[gets a splash of cold water instantly turning into Ranko] [blink] Hey!
[turns around and see Happosai.] Why you pervert!
[Happosai just ducks and dodges everything Ranko throws at him out in the
porch. Unfortunately several people sees what just happened]
Nodoka: [blink] Ranko? [looks at Genma] Was that Ranko?
Genma: [sweat] I...I can...[tries to back up] explain, dear.
Akane: [shocked] [think] Oh, no!
Nabiki: [grins] [think] I guess the cat is out of the bag. I better get my
camera while Ranma is still alive.
[The fighting continues outside]
Nodoka: [think] Could it be. My son...turned into Ranko. No! [speak]
Genma! What have you done with our son! [stands up and brings out her
katana blade]
Genma: [kneels and starts to cry at Nodoka's feet] It wasn't our fault!
He's just having this curse! [sobs] Don't kill us, dear! Please!
Akane: [shocked] [think] Kill...Ranma. No!
Nodoka: [blink] Curse? My son has a curse! [faints]
Kasumi: [breaking Nodoka's fall] Oh, my! Mrs. Saotome, are you alright
Nabiki: [shouts at the two figures fighting out in the porch] Hey, Ranma.
Your mother just fainted.
Ranko: [blink] Nani? [pauses then finally kicks Happosai out of the dojo]
[Morning breaks and inside the Tendo dojo]
Kasumi: [coming out of the guestroom] She's fine now. She can already
talk. [smiles]
Soun: What about the two?
Kasumi: [smiles] Oh, I wouldn't worry about them.
[Inside the room]
Ranma: Mom, [holds her hand] are you alright?
Genma: [whispers to Ranma] Son, I think we should leave now. While we
still got the chance.
Ranma: [glares at his father] Will you stop it! She all ready knows, and I
can't just leave her like this.
Nodoka: [sits up] Genma, what happened to our son? [almost teary eyed]
[For several minutes the two try in the vaguest of efforts to tell the tale
of their lives.]
Nodoka: [sigh] I see. Is there a cure? [looks at the two]
Ranma: [smiles] There is, Mom, but [pauses] we just haven't found it yet.
Genma: Don't worry about Ranma and us...[smiles] We've gotten used to this
curse, and it only takes hot water to turn us back.
Nodoka: [stands up] That is unacceptable!
Ranma: [blink][falls back] Nani?
Genma: [blink] Nodoka, what are you saying? [sweat] Not seppuku?
[Standing by the door outside were Akane and Nabiki trying to listen]
Akane: Well, what is happening inside?
Nabiki: [blink] Oh, my! I think Auntie Nodoka is going to kill them.
Akane: [shocked] Nani?
[A very frightened Akane breaks down the door and rushes inside]
Akane: [rushes and hugs her Auntie Nodoka] [in tears] Auntie Nodoka, please
don't kill Ranma!
Nodoka: [smiles then grabs Akane by the shoulders] Now why would I do that?
[giggles]
Akane: [blinks trying to stop her tears breaking the hug] You
mean...[suddenly she feels a hand on her shoulder]
Ranma: [whispers to Akane] Don't cry, Akane.
Akane: [completely stops crying then looks at Ranma][smiles] I guess...I
overreacted. I'm sorry.
Nabiki: [coming through the broken door] Well, that was easy.
Nodoka: [approaches the two] See, my son. Your fiancée does care about
you. [smiles]
Ranma: I guess, I ... never knew. [smiles at Akane]
Genma: [blink] So your not going to make us do seppuku?
Nodoka: [smiles] No! I have to do something else first.
Ranma: [blink] Else?
Nodoka: [smiles] We are going to find that cure, Ranma.
Genma: [shocked] Nani?
Akane: [blink] Auntie Nodoka, are you going away?
Nodoka: [smiles] Only for a while dear. Just until we find the cure.
Ranma: You mean I've got to leave?
Genma: Where are we going?
Nodoka: [glares at Genma] Not you, only Ranma and me. [grins] You've
caused our son too much trouble already.
Akane: [think] Ranma is going away? [softly] Where would you two be going?
[looks at Ranma with a teary look]
Nodoka: [smiles] I think we should go to your uncle first, Ranma.
Ranma: [blink] But that's in ... [looks at Akane also with a look of
dejection]
Nodoka: [raised voice] Don't argue with me, Ranma. This is for your own
good. [smiles at Akane] Also that of Akane's.
Akane: [blink] But...[think] I don't want him to go.
Nodoka: [smiles] I'm happy you agree with me Akane. [looks at Ranma] Better
prepare yourself Ranma, it would be a long trip. [leaves the room dragging
Genma out with her]
Ranma: [falls on the futon] Chikusho! This is as worse as seppuku.
Akane: [sits besides Ranma] I know what you mean.
Ranma: [blink] [then sits up] Akane....I guess we don't have much time.
[grabs her hand]
Akane: [surprised at Ranma] Ranma, what are you...[interrupted]
Ranma: [stares at her intently] Akane...I...[pauses]
Akane: [eyes widen] [think] Ranma...are you...saying...
[Suddenly their privacy is disrupted by a flash of light]
Nabiki: [holding a camera] Thanks guys. [quickly closes the door]
Ranma: [blink] Nani? Nabiki! [tries to run after her but a hand holds him
down]
Akane: [smiles] Don't mind her, Ranma.
Ranma: [smiles] Ok,...[sits back again] I was going to say....that no
matter what happens...
Akane: [smiles] I know, Ranma...[hugs Ranma] I love you too. [then cries]
Ranma: Don't cry, Akane...[she breaks off the hug] It's not the end of the
world. I'll come back, I promise.
Akane: [can't stop crying] Ranma...[closes in]
Ranma: I promise...[closes in and kisses Akane]
[About an hour later outside the gates of the dojo]
Nodoka: Let's go Ranma.
Ranma: [sigh] Yes, Mom. [looks back at Akane then mouths the words "I'll be
back, I promise"]
Akane: [waves with tears in her eyes] Ranma! [starts to cry]
[The scene then vanishes, it would seem we just saw a flashback of thing
that had already happened. What we do see now is Akane and another woman
sitting in the living room]
Akane: [sigh] That's what happened. [looks dejected]
Woman: Since then you haven't heard anything?
Akane: [closes her eyes then opens them again] No, I haven't. [then breaks
down to cry] I just don't know what to do, Ucchan!
Ukyou: [comforting Akane] Oh, Akane. I guess you miss him, ne? [sigh] But
it's only been a week. [smiles] I'm sure he's all right.
Akane: [stops crying] Thanks, Ucchan.
Ukyou: [smiles] Hey, it can't be worse than what happened to me.
Akane: [blink] [then cries] No!
Ukyou: [blink] Oops, Sorry about that! I'm sure he won't leave you for
food, or for ten years, Akane.
[But Akane just cries and looks worse than before]
Nabiki: [grins] You're not helping, Ukyou.
Ukyou: [sigh] Yeah, I know. [grabs Akane] Akane! Stop crying...didn't Ranma
tell you not to cry.
Akane: [miffed] I guess I shouldn't, but...[pause] I can't help it.
Nabiki: [grins] Then I guess I shouldn't give you this...[shows off a
sealed envelope] It has specific instruction not to be given to you [looks
at Akane] if your still crying.
Akane: [blink] Is that...[tries to grab it]
Nabiki: [swings it away from Akane] Uh, uh, oneechan. Not so fast. Stop
crying first.
Akane: [wiping her eyes] Ok, now give me that! [grabs the envelope then
starts to read]
Nabiki: [walks away] Geez, Akane. It's only a letter from Ranma's mother.
Ukyou: [walks up to Akane] Well, what does it say?
Akane: [sigh] It's only Auntie, [pauses] They've reached Ranma's uncle's
place, and..[reads more] she says that it might take a while longer to find
the cure.
Ukyou: [blink] That bad, eh?
Akane: [folds up the letter] Chikusho! Not even a word from Ranma! [looks
at Ukyou] You were right, Ucchan...[then breaks to cry again] He's
forgotten me! [sobs]
Ukyou: [hugs and comfort Akane] Oh, Akane. I'm sorry. I know just how you
feel.
Kasumi: [entering from the porch] Oh, Akane. [hands over another envelope]
This came through the mail for you. I think it's from...[interrupted by
the swift grabbing of Akane] Ranma! [smiles] Must be a love letter from
him. [giggles]
Ukyou: [grins] Well, aren't you going to open it.
Akane: [smiles when she recognizes the handwriting on the outside] Uh,
Ucchan. Can I ... [pauses]
Ukyou: [smiles] I understand, go and read it upstairs. [hugs Akane]
Akane: [smiles] Thank you. [runs upstairs to her bedroom and locks herself
in]
[Akane jumped into the futon and excitedly opens the letter]
Akane: [starts to read] Akane, I guess by the time...
[The view suddenly fades and resumes back with a figure sitting under a
tree]
Ranma: [holding a pen] [think] How should I start...[writes down something]
by the time you read this I'm at my uncle's home. [looks at the house just
beyond the horizon] [writes] It's quite pleasant here, Akane. It's very
rural, but I guess it's, Ok. I've been here before but that was such a
long time ago. [looks up again and sees her Mother waving at him] [think]
What now?
[Inside the house of Ranma's uncle]
Nodoka: Ranma, you know Nadochi, your cousin. [smiles]
[A young man, almost the same age as Ranma walks up and bows]
Nadochi: Hello Auntie, [looks at Ranma] Hey, it's been a long time, cousin.
Ranma: [blink] Your Nadochi?
Nadochi: [smiles] In the flesh.
Man: [slaps] And where have you been these past twelve years! We were
worried sick, boy!
Nadochi: [scratches his head] Oww! Now father, I came to visit a year ago,
remember.
Woman: [pinches Nadochi's ear] Look at you, you're all dirty and ...[drags
him to the adjacent room] Go take a bath...[pushes him inside] and clean
your room. It's been wasting there for a year now!
Nadochi: [from inside] Yes, Mom.
Nodoka: [surprised] Twelve years? What happened to your son, Akira-san?
Akira: [sigh] I just don't know anymore. Ever since Happosai took him in
as a student, he was never the same.
Woman: [smiles] Now, Akira-san. We should be thankful for Happosai. He
trained that boy so though, he's practically a perfect obedient son.
Something we could never do twelve years ago.
Akira: Hai. But that boy is strange, Yuriko. [looks at Ranma] Tell me
Ranma, is it natural for a boy, at his age to learn martial arts.
Ranma: [blink] Well, I guess it is. [pauses] That's only because I also am
training in martial arts, uncle. [smiles]
Yuriko: [blink] Nani? You, too?
Akira: [grins] Well that is explainable. Isn't your father once a student
of Happosai?
Ranma: [nods] Hai.
Nodoka: [smiles] Well, I guess it runs in the Saotome blood.
Yuriko: [smiles] But, what about other boys your age, Ranma?
Ranma: [looks like thinking] Well, I guess that would be strange. [blink]
Did you say he trained under Happosai?
Akira: [sigh] Hai. For ten years.
Ranma: [shocked] Nani? [think] Ten years with that pervert! Why that's
impossible!
Nodoka: [smiles] Eh, Yuriko, about my son's special...[pauses] problem.
Yuriko: [walks with Nodoka towards the kitchen] I don't know much about
curses, but since Nadochi is here now. I'm sure he can help you and your
son.
Nodoka: [smiles] I hope so.
[Back to Akane...reading the rest of the letter]
Akane: [reading] I haven't seen this cousin of mine since I was five. I
only remember that we spent time together learning to play some weird
instrument. And I was shocked when I learned that he trained under
Happosai, get this, for ten years. [think] Ten years with that hentai!
[quivers] [reads on]
[The view turns into the backyard of the house of Akira Saotome]
Ranma: [sitting on the ground and with a pen on one hand] [think] What
should I write? [writes] I sure miss you, Akane. I miss the dojo. Our
sparring, our fights. [think] This is not making me feel good.
Nadochi: [sits besides Ranma] What is that? [looks at the letter] A love
letter?
Ranma: [folds the paper away] It's just a letter to my ... [pauses]
fiancée, cousin.[sigh]
Nadochi: [blink] You mean to tell me, you and Ukyou got together again?
Ranma: [blink] Nani? Ucchan is not my fiancée. My fiancée is Akane, Tendo
Akane.
Nadochi: [confused] Woaah, back up a little. Ok, so your fiancée is this
Tendo Akane?
Ranma: Hai.
Nadochi: Then what happened to Kounji Ukyou? The last time I tried to find
Uncle Genma and you, Ukyou told me she was your fiancée.
Ranma: [blink] Nani? You've met Ucchan?
Nadochi: You bet. She beat the crap out of me. I guess that was just when
you left her for this...[tries to remember] this...food.
Ranma: You mean, okonomiyaki.
Nadochi: [surprised] Right. She even tried to make me marry her when she
learned I was your cousin...could you believe that. I was only six then.
[pauses]
Ranma: [grins] Yeah, Ucchan can be violent at times. Then what?
Nadochi: [sigh] The strangest thing, it's like I even liked the idea.
Ranma: [blink] Nani? You mean in that brief time you …
Nadochi: [sigh] I guess I fell for her…. [looks at Ranma] You know why? It
was her cooking. I liked the idea of someone cooking food for you. [sigh]
Too, bad I was taken away by sensei.
Ranma: [blink] Is it true, you've trained under Happosai for ten years.
Nadochi: [smiles] Hai. Sounds gross, ne? [laughs]
Ranma: [laughs] You can say that again.
[Back to Akane, reading the last part of Ranma's letter]
Akane: [rolling over the futon] [reads] Nadochi said that he might know
were to find the cure and that he might help us. [think] I hope so,
Ranma...the sooner the better. [reads] I've placed a forward address and
Nadochi said you can write to us at that address or at an e-mail address so
that I was sure to get it. [think] I better ask Nabiki how to use an e-mail
[reads] Well, I hope everything is all right over there. I sure miss
Kasumi's cooking. Heck, I even miss your cooking. [think] Yeah right.
[reads] Tell pops I'm all right. Mom has so far not made any attempts to
kill me, and I hope to be back just before summer ends. [think] I hope so
too. [reads] I miss you, my kawaii fiancée. [think] Ranma. [reads the note
at the bottom] PS. I just realized. I could write kawaiikune tomboy too
and it won't even hurt. (Joke) [think] Ooohh! I get you for that Ranma!
[Then a knock is heard at Akane's door]
Akane: [folds up the letter and hides it] Who is it?
Voice: Don't hide it, oneechan! Let us in!
[Akane opens the door and lets her sisters and Ukyou inside]
Nabiki: [grins] Ok, Akane. Spill it!
Akane: [giggles] Spill what?
Ukyou: [grins] You know what!
Akane: [sits on the futon] Ok, he's fine. His uncle's place is on the
countryside. But he said he might find the cure soon. Especially since
his cousin is helping him out.
Ukyou: [blink] Ranma's cousin?
Akane: [smiles] Oh, yeah. His cousin sends his regards, Ukyou. He said
you know him.
Ukyou: [glaring] Did he say who he was?
Akane: [trying to remember] I think his name was Nadochi. Yeah that seems
right.
Ukyou: [eyes wide open] It can't be...[faints]
Kasumi: [breaks Ukyou's fall] My, this happens quite often.
Akane: [slaps her head] Chikusho! I forgot! Sorry, Ucchan.
[The day ends with Akane getting ready to bed]
Akane: [looks out her window and sees a shooting star][think] Come back
home, Ranma. [closes here eyes]
[Somewhere on a countryside]
Ranma: [leaning on a tree] Are you sure we'll find the cure back in
Jusenkyo?
Nadochi: [sitting on top the tree] I've got a good feeling it's there. We
just have to find it. [sees the shooting star] Hey, Ranma you better make a
wish.
Ranma: [sees the shooting star] [think] I'll come back, Akane. I promise
[closes his eyes]
Nadochi: [smiles] [think] If I didn't know any better, I think they made a
wish on the same shooting star. [grins]
[The sky suddenly was dark again]
End of Chapter 1
------------------------
Chapter 2.
--------------
[Morning came to the serene countryside. The usual peace that greeted the
rising sun was soon replaced by the yelps and shouts of a young man
breaking bamboo shoots]
Ranma: [punches a few more bamboos breaking them in half] Ha! No challenge
at all. [grins]
Nadochi: [claps] Impressive. [grins] Come on in, breakfast is ready.
[enters the house]
Ranma: [sigh][think] Breakfast. [approaches the house] I wonder what Kasumi
cooked this morning? [looks at the distant hills then enters]
[At the Tendo dojo, that morning, a similar gathering is occurring]
Kasumi: [stares at Akane] Is there something wrong?
Akane: [looking out the porch sees the rising sun and completely oblivious
to her sister's question] By now he would have finished his morning
training. [turns to look at an empty place on the table] [think] And would
be probably fighting with his father over breakfast. [giggles a little]
[sigh] [think] I miss him. [then gets a hand on her shoulder] Huh?
Nabiki: [turns Akane towards her] Don't worry Akane, I'm sure he would
receive your letter.
Akane: [blink] Oh, it's not that. [looks at the rest of the people around
her that are staring at her] I just...[pauses] miss him, that's all.
Soun: [smiles] I'm sure he's fine...[sips a cup of tea and looks at Genma]
Didn't he say in his letter where he was going, Saotome?
Genma: I believe he wrote that he and his cousin, Nadochi, would be going
to China.
Kasumi: [stands up and walks towards the kitchen] I hope they find what
they are looking for. [disappears inside the kitchen]
Akane: [sigh][looks out again and sees a flock of birds flying by][whispers
to herself] I hope so too.
[Cut to the Nekonhaten, a chinese restaurant operated by a 300+ year old
amazon woman with her grand daughter]
Shampoo: [sigh] Strange Shampoo hasn't seen Ranma for a week now.
[carries a few plates towards the kitchen]
Cologne: That no good son-in-law must have found a good place to hide.
[closes the cash register]
Mousse: [cleaning a table][abpruptly] Actually he left with his Mom.
[think] Uh, oh. I shouldn't have said that.
Shampoo: [stops then turns around] You mean...[smiles] my Ranma has finally
left that stupid Akane. [joyfully] Aiya! Now, Ranma is mine. [entering the
kitchen]
Cologne: [jumps up to Mousse] When did this happened?
Mousse: [sits down] [sigh] Oh, about a week ago. Apparently his Mom found
out that he turns to a girl...[pauses] So I guess his Mom took him away.
[continues to clean more tables]
Shampoo: [returning from the kitchen] Shampoo go out for a while. [removes
her apron] Shampoo go visit Ranma. [smiling]
Mousse: [dejected] He's not there, Shampoo. He left the Tendo dojo about a
week ago.
Shampoo: [stares back at Mousse][grins] Nice try, Mousse. Shampoo almost
believed you. [turns toward the door but she sees a woman standing there]
Ukyou?
Ukyou: Good morning, Shampoo. [approaches] Can we talk?
[Let's go back to the countryside]
Nadochi: [grabs several bags] Is this all? [tosses all of them at the back
of a red truck parked in front of the house]
Nodoka: [hugs Ranma] Are you sure you don't want me to come along?
Ranma: [blink][thinks] And let you near those cursed pools, no way! [smiles
while breaking off the hug] We'll be fine.
Yuriko: But you just arrived! [hugs Nadochi]
Nadochi: [trying to break off] Mom! I'm going to be fine. [being let go]
We'll be all right.
Akira: [inspecting the truck] Hey, where did you get this truck? I didn't
know you can drive, son. [looks at Nadochi intensely]
Nadochi: [smiles while scratching his head] Eh, I bought that yesterday.
[pauses] For our journey, I mean. [sweat]
Yuriko: [blink] Don't look at me, I didn't give him any money.
Nadochi: [hugs his father] Relax, I have saved a bit these past years.
[looks at Ranma] Well, shall we?
Ranma: [looks down the road] Can we wait a bit? [think] Where is that guy?
Nadochi: [grins] Hop in. [enters the truck] We can drive by the post office
to get the mail. [smiles]
Ranma: [blink] Really? [looks back at his mother] Ja ne! [jumps in the
truck then it drove away]
[Cut to the Nekonhaten.]
Shampoo: [glares] You want Shampoo to do what! [stands up in anger]
Ukyou: [glares] It's over for the two of us, Shampoo. [hands over a folded
piece of paper] Read this, so you'll understand.
Shampoo: [sits back and starts to read] Why is this all fuzzy? [reads on]
Ukyou: [grins] Sorry about that. I just photocopied it. Akane wouldn't
let me borrow the original. [pauses] She was afraid that you
might...[interrupted]
Shampoo: [eyes wide open][then tear and rips the paper apart] No! [crosses
her arms]
Ukyou: [sigh] ... destroy it. [pauses] Oh, well. [looks at the despondent
Shampoo] Now, do you understand, Shampoo?
Shampoo: [glares at Ukyou] Letter doesn't mean anything. [turns to look
away]
Ukyou: [grins] Then let me read it ... [brings out another copy] AGAIN, for
you.
[Flashback to the countryside where we see Ranma is laying on the bed, with
a pen on his hand]
Ranma: [looks at what he written so far][think] Sounds Ok. [writes] By the
way, my next letter might come a little late. Nadochi and I would be
leaving for China either tomorrow or the next day. He said he had to buy
something in town first. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I don't
think I would let my Mom come with us. I would never forgive myself if she
gets cursed too. [pauses] [looks at Nadochi] Hey, cousin. Are you still
awake?
Nadochi: [turns in his bed] Yeah why?
Ranma: [sits up] Well, how do you tell a girl...[pauses] that your
.......[Nadochi sits up] not interested.
Nadochi: [grins] Your talking about your three other...fiancée's, ne?
Ranma: [blink] I guess so.... [pauses] Well?
Nadochi: [smiles][returns to sleep] Just tell them that... Akane is the
only one your heart desires. [then turns to Ranma] But tell them...they
will always be part of you, even as friends.
Ranma: [sigh] Yeah, like as if I haven't been trying to tell them that for
years.
Nadochi: [mutters through the pillow covering his face] I know. But this
time you really mean it.
Ranma: [blink] I guess it won't hurt to ...[turns to the letter] write it.
Thanks, Nadochi. [returns to a prone position on his futon]
Nadochi: [removing the pillow over his head] Are you also writing to Ukyou?
Ranma: I guess so, why? [grins] Want to add anything?
Nadochi: [returns to sleep] Oh, nothing...she probably doesn't remember me.
[Ranma continues writing throughout the night]
[Cut to the Tendo dojo, Akane is practicing inside the training hall]
Akane: [laying a few bricks in front of her][think] I've got to get him off
of my mind. [punches and breaks the bricks] But how? [looks up the door and
sees two figures] Nani?
Ukyou: [smiles] Konnichiwa, Akane. Sorry to disturb you but...[drags
Shampoo inside] I've got a ...[grins] friend that needs convincing.
Shampoo: [pouts] Akane! What have you done with Ranma?!
Akane: [sigh][then walks away] Can we do this another time? I don't want
to talk about him, now.
Shampoo: [surprised] ...
Ukyou: [holds to Akane's arm] Akane, what is it?
Akane: [looks back] I...just can't Ok. Try to understand...[a bit crying]
I miss him! I just can't think of anything but him! [now cries on Ukyou
shoulder]
Shampoo: [approaches then takes Ukyou's place] Poor Akane. [smiles] You do
love him?
Akane: [stops to cry then blinks] Nani?
Shampoo: [smiles] Shampoo now understands. [walks with Akane and Ukyou]
It's a shame that he had to leave to let ...[pauses] US realize our
foolishness. [lowers her head]
Ukyou: [smiles] Yeah. I guess so. [opens the door to the living room]
Akane: [sigh] So, it is true. [sits on the sofa with the two] You only know
that something...[pauses] or someone [trying not to cry again] is important
to you until...[looks out the porch] he's gone or lost him.
Shampoo: Never thought of it that way. [looks at Akane] I guess this is
hardest on you?
Akane: [nods] Hai.
[Cut to a red pickup running through a rough country road]
Ranma: [reading a letter] I just talked to Ucchan. She agreed to tell
Shampoo about your letter. I'm surprised she's taking it so well herself.
Though I don't know about Shampoo. [reads on] I hope you get back soon. I
miss you so much. Love, Akane. [folds the letter] [dreamy]
Nadochi: [notices Ranma] Good news?
Ranma: [blink] Oh, definitely good news. [smiles]
Nadochi: [grins] Well?
Ranma: [giggles] I can't tell you. It's ... personal. [grins]
Nadochi: [laughs] Oh, really?
Ranma: Hai. [smiles]
Nadochi: [after a while] Is there anything mentioned about me? [pauses]
Not that I expect something, you know.
Ranma: [unfolding the letter again then sees a note at the bottom] [speak]
P.S. Ukyou says Hi to your cousin, and that she'll be waiting for him when
you get back. [grins] [taps Nadochi's shoulder] See, she remembers you.
[laughs]
Nadochi: [grins] Nice try, Ranma. There was nothing there about me, ne?
Ranma: [blink] Gomen. [pauses] Hey, don't give up.
Nadochi: [smiles] I'm not. [brings out a sealed envelope] I got a letter
myself. [laughs as he hides it back in his pocket]
[They just laugh as the truck rocked and tumbled across the landscape]
[Flashback and we see Ukyou in her room writing something]
Ukyou: [crumples the paper] Arrgh! I can't do this. [throws the ball to the
nearby can already filled with similar waste]
[She pulls out another piece of paper then starts again]
Ukyou: [writing] Dear Nadochi, I'm glad that you remember me all these
years. I believe we were just five or six years old when I
first...[pauses] and last saw you. [sigh] [then momentarily tries to
remember her [past]
[The scene then fades to a sad and humiliating time in Ukyou's life. We see
a man and a young child standing in the streets, looking dumbfounded and
confused]
Ukyou: [still a very young child] Father, why did my fiancée run away?
Man: [brings Ukyou up to his chest] I'm sorry my child, it seems that he
and his...[lowers his head] no good father only tricked us. They even took
our business away. [pauses then stares at Ukyou] But don't worry daughter,
we will survive.
[Then a young boy approaches the two]
Boy: [stares at the two] Excuse me, but, have you seen my uncle and my
cousin around?
Man: [letting Ukyou down and completely ignoring the young boy] Ucchan,
stay here for a while. Your father will find some way to make a living.
[turns toward the nearby restaurant]
Boy: [taps Ukyou's shoulder] Hey, did you see two funny looking people
around here?
Ukyou: [noticing the boy] Huh? Who are you? Funny people?
Boy: [bows] Gomen, I didn't mean to startle you. [extends a hand] Hi, my
name is Nadochi, Saotome Nadochi. What's yours?
Ukyou: [blink][glares] Saotome! [she then grabs the extended arm and throws
the young Nadochi towards a few stalls then again runs after him and
continues to pulverize him.]
[Back to reality and we now see the older Nadochi holding a piece of paper
and is sitting on a bench inside a building crowded with people]
Nadochi: [scratching his head][think] Now I remember. [smiles] [think] She
can be so violent at times.
Ranma: [sits beside Nadochi] I've got the tickets. [notices Nadochi reading
the letter] So, what did she say? [grins]
Nadochi: [grins] Nothing I can tell you...It's personal you know.
Ranma: [laughs] I bet. [looks at a bulletin board above] We've got an hour
before the flight.
Nadochi: Ok. [reads more] I'm sorry for beating the hell out of you the
first time we met.
Ranma: [leaning on his cousin] Let me see. [but is pushed away]
Nadochi: Do you mind?
Ranma: [grins] Ok. [then looks at the people passing by]
Nadochi: [reads on] Where have you been these past twelve years? I know
you didn't find your cousin Ranma. You've got some nerve...[pauses then
looks at Ranma]
Ranma: [blink] Not good, ne?
Nadochi: [sigh] Looks like she still hates me, or..[pauses] in her
words...[recites] do away with you for promising to marry me then just
leaving me like that! [sigh] I'm done for.
[Flashback to Ukyou in her room writing the same letter]
Ukyou: [smiles] [think] That should be enough. [places her signiture]
[pauses] [writes] P.S. I want to hear from you again. And don't forget
about your promise, Ok. Good luck, to the two of you. [she then places a
kiss at the end] [think] I better give this to Akane. [stands and leaves
the room]
[The scene fades to darkness]
End of Chapter 2
-------------------------
Chapter 3. Apologies and Promises
----------------------------------
[The sunlight broke through the curtains inside the room as the sound of
blowing horns filled the air. Deftly yet slowly the beam of morning light
sways and dances across the chamber as if the world was turning around, up
and down. But we now see that this enclosure is actually a living quarter,
complete with bunk beds and two sleepy figures slumbering on them]
Voice: [mumbling in his sleep] A..Akane. [turns over to the other side,
unfortunately the room shifted in the same direction, thus the young man
fell off the top bunk making a huge crash that woke up his companion]
Man: [waking up] Nani? [looks down on a male sprawled on the cabin floor]
Ranma!
Ranma: [raises his head still half asleep] Are we there yet? [his head gave
way due to his sleepiness] Hmm.
Man: [rising from the lower bunk] Chikusho! This is your entire fault.
[walks up to a closet]
Ranma: [mumbling] I … love…
Man: [smiles][think] Still dreaming. [shouts] Ranma no BAKA!
Ranma: [surprisingly jumps up and tries to cover his head] Nani? Akane?
[looks left and right] Hey! What's the big idea, Nadochi?
Nadochi: [enters an adjacent bathroom] Wake up, Ranma! We're here. [closes
the door]
Ranma: [shrugs his head] … [stands up and walks to get fresh clothes]
[think] I have to get her off my mind. [looks out the porthole] I just hope
we didn't lose too much time.
[A few minutes later both Nadochi and Ranma where down on the pier looking
around]
Ranma: [stares at the crowds then at Nadochi] What now?
Nadochi: [sigh] We go to the airport. [grabs a small bean bag that contains
most of everything they have then looks for the exit]
Ranma: [slowly follows] Hey, Nadochi. I'm sorry if I made …[pause] a
mistake about those…tickets. [smiles]
Nadochi: [glares] Oh, now you're sorry, eh! [quickens his pace then hollers
for public transportation]
Ranma: [lowers his head in silence]…
Nadochi: [notices Ranma's stillness][smiles] Hey, don't worry about
anything, Ranma. [grins] I'm sure I would have made the same mistake of
…[pause as a cab stops in front of them] buying tickets for a ferry ride,
instead of an airplane ticket. [laughs][enters the backseat]
Ranma: [follows] I still can't believe how I got in the queue for ferry
tickets instead in the line for flights to China. [looks at Nadochi] And
the weirdest thing, why would they be selling ferry tickets in an airport?
[shrugs his head]
Nadochi: [grins] Well, as that…kind lady that sold you those tickets told
me…they were having a special sale for tickets on the new hydrofoil ferry
we just got off. [laughs] And to think, you where the first one that she
actually got a sale. [turns towards the driver] To the airport, please.
[Gets a quizzical look from the driver] [smiles] <Airport, and hurry>
Ranma: [sigh] [whispering to himself] Must be fate.
[Ranma still can't believe that bad luck he ran into as the cab raced away]
[At the airport back in Japan a scene is taking place]
Woman: But, Ma'm there are no pets allowed inside the plane. You have to
place those two [looks mysteriously at a purple colored cat and a duck with
glasses] in the cargo hold.
Cologne: [smiles] Dear girl, I can't … [holds on to the cat] be parted with
my cat. But you can take the duck. [the duck then made screeching noise]
Man: [approaches] [whispering to the woman] It's all right, we've finally
got clearance for the pets to stay.
Woman: [blink] What?
Man: [takes the woman away for a moment] It seems that … [looks over her
shoulder at Cologne] the troll over there is a frequent flyer, and
this…thing has happened before.
Woman: [sigh] Ok. [turns to the P.A. system] Ladies and gentlemen, I'm
sorry for the very long delay… [a lot of moans and gripes are heard
throughout the cabin] [stares intensely at the Cologne and her pets] We'll
be lifting off in a few minutes. [turns to Cologne] I'm sorry for the
trouble, It seem we can now let your…pets inside the plane during the
flight. [turns to walk away] [think] What is going wrong with the world?
[disappears inside first class]
Cologne: [smiles at her companions] <See, I told you it would work. Now…
[places them in the two chairs beside her] you two behave, or they might
suspect something.>
Shampoo-cat: [curling in the chair] Meow. [think] I guess I made the right
decision to go back to village. Shampoo needs time to think about what
Ranma said in letter. [lays to sleep then smiles wearily]
Mousse-duck: [glares at Cologne] [think] That ghoul, I should have never
agreed to this…money saving plan of hers. This is humiliating![looks at
Shampoo] [think] At least, she finds this amusing.
[The plane takes off towards China]
[Two women having a conversation inside the Tendo dojo replace the scene.
We see that those two are Akane and Ukyou]
Akane: [glares] She did what?
Ukyou: [sigh] You heard me, Akane. Shampoo has gone back to China.
Akane: [stands up] I knew it! She's going to hunt him down! [stares at
Ukyou] We've got to stop her!
Ukyou: [blink] Nani? But she already left hours ago.
Akane: [grabs Ukyou's arm and drags her up the stairs] Then we'll follow
her back to China. Help me pack!
Ukyou: [stumbling around and tries to break free] Akane! Let go of me!
Akane: [drags Ukyou in her room and lets her fall on the futon] Ok, [starts
to get clothes from her drawer] first some clothes]
Ukyou: [shouts] Akane! You're overreacting! [blocks her path toward the
next drawer] She's not after Ranma!
Akane: [glares] Oh, yeah! How do you know?
Ukyou: [hands her a note] Read this! [sits down] It's Shampoo's letter to
you.
Akane: [pauses then sits on her bed then opens the sealed envelope] [starts
to read] Dear Akane, I'm sorry if …
[The scene fades to last night inside Shampoo's room]
Shampoo: [sitting and writing with a pen] I'm sorry if I couldn't tell you
personally. Great-grandmother said we have to leave early tomorrow to get
on the earliest flight. Anyway…I'm going back to village in China. I've
got so much things to think about. [she stops then looks at a picture of
her and Ranma on their first attempted date, hanging on the wall] [think]
She's going to be a good wife to him. [sigh][writes] I know now how foolish
I've been. Although I still can't let him go from my …heart. But I hope
my vacation would ease my feelings. [pauses to look back at the
picture][think] Yes, this is good thing to do.
[writes] I know you make Ranma happy as does he to you. [smiles][writes] I
hope to be back, a changed amaz…[erases] friend. [smiles as she folds and
seal the letter in an envelope]
[Shampoo is now walking the dark streets of Nerima with Mousse accompanying
her]
Mousse: [a bit irritate] Where are we going?
Shampoo: [smiles] Shampoo has something to give to Ukyou.
Mousse: [looks at the dark sky] Isn't it kind of late, Shampoo?
Shampoo: No matter, Shampoo told Ukyou to wait for me. [slows down as she
reaches the Uutchan and sees a half asleep Ukyou standing at the door]
Ukyou: [crossed arms][sigh] I thought you'd never get here?
Shampoo: [hugs Ukyou] Sorry for being late! Mousse was hard to convince to
accompany Shampoo. [hands over two letters]
Ukyou: [grabs the letters] What's this?
Shampoo: [smiles] These are my letters to you, and Akane.
Ukyou: [giggles] Don't tell me your also into this writing stuff. [keeps
them]
Mousse: [blink] Letters?
Shampoo: [hugs Ukyou again] We are going back to China tomorrow, Ucchan.
Ukyou: [blink] Nani? You're not going after…[glares] Shampoo! How could
you?
Shampoo: [surprised but understands the apprehension] No! Shampoo not
after Ranma. Shampoo is going on vacation back to village. [smiles] I need
to settle down to get ….Ranma out of Shampoo's life. [lowers his head]
Ukyou: [gasp] I'm sorry…[smiles] I hope you find someone, Shampoo.
Mousse: [glares] Hey, what do I look like to you?
Ukyou: [blink] Oops, I didn't mean to offend you, Mousse. [giggles]
Shampoo: [giggles][leans on Mousse] Don't worry about Shampoo. I think I
know who to go to, [looks at Mousse] right?
Mousse: [red in embarrassment] Eh, Sure Shampoo.
Shampoo: [smiles] [looks back at Ukyou] Bye, Kounji-san. [turns to walk
away]
Ukyou: [still a bit appalled] [think] I think those two are going to turn
up [smiles] just fine…[enters the Uutchan and finally locks up the
restaurant for the night]
[Back to Ranma and Nadochi, arriving at the airport]
Nadochi: [entering the air parcel section of the building] Come on, I guess
our luggage arrived here ahead of us. [grins] It's a good thing I made
those arrangements, ne?
Ranma: [glares] Hey, you don't have to rub it in!
Nadochi: [laughs] Ok. [looks up ahead and sees the booth] There it is.
Ranma: [notices the bulletin board declaring incoming flights] [smiles]
Hey, look at that.
Nadochi: [slows down to look] Well I'll be…[looks at Ranma] Must be fate,
that flight we should have gotten hasn't left Japan, yet.
Ranma: [slaps Nadochi on the shoulder] See. Something good turned out from
my mistake. [laughs]
Nadochi: [smirks] Ok, you don't have to rub it in. [turns to the woman
taming the parcel desk] Excuse me.
Woman: [smiles] Yes, may I help you?
Nadochi: [hands out a piece of paper] I've got some luggage that's supposed
to arrive here. [smiles]
Woman: [receives the paper and checks her computer] This may take a few
minutes. [smiles] We do get a lot of luggage. [waits as the terminal
verifies the claim stub]
Nadochi: [smiles] Well, maybe I can help you…my luggage came with a red
truck.
Woman: [blink] Oh, that's yours? We did get a red truck and some luggage a
few hours ago. [stops the computer and redoes a search] [smiles] It's
confirmed, Mr. [squinting at the terminal] Saotome? Is that right? [hands
over a receipt form]
Nadochi: [receives the papers] Hai. [tries to look confused] Uh, where?
Woman: [blink] Oops. Sorry. [points to the gate adjacent to the booth]
Right over there. It's been nice to meet you, Mr. Saotome. [giggles]
Ranma: [think] Jeez, looks like I'm not the only one that gets so much girl
attention.
Nadochi: [smiles then walks towards the door]…
Ranma: [grins] Nice to meet you, Mr. Saotome. [imitates the giggle the
woman made]
Nadochi: [passing the gate] Not funny, Ranma, not funny at all. [slams the
door hard on Ranma who was following him]
Ranma: [grimaces] Ouch! Well you didn't have to…[disappears as the gate
closes behind Ranma]
[The breakfast at the Tendo dojo was again a silent one]
Nabiki: Come now, oneechan. You can't do this to yourself.
Kasumi: Yes, Akane. Please eat something. I know Ranma would be dying to
eat some of this.
[Then a few stares bared upon the innocent looking Kasumi]
Kasumi: [blink] Oops. I shouldn't have said that.
Soun: [a bit crying] Akane, dear. Please don't starve yourself to death.
[smiles]
Akane: [just ignores everyone and looks out the backyard] [think] I can't
stand it anymore! Ranma is in China, and worse Shampoo's there too.
[closes her eyes trying not to cry]
Genma: [whispers to Soun] Tendo, you have got to find or do something to
make happy.
Soun: [nods] Right! Akane [looks at his daughter]
Akane: [startled then looks at her father teary eyed] Nani?
Soun: [smiles] Tell me Akane, what will make you happy? I'll gladly do it.
As your father…
Akane: [joyfully] Really? Dad, promise you'll do anything? [hugs Soun]
Soun: [breaks the hug and smiles at her] Of course, if it will make you
happy.
Akane: [smiles] Then I want to go to China.
[Shocked from what they heard]
Nabiki: [eyes wide open] Excuse me?
Soun: [freezing] No, anything but that!
Akane: [glares] Daddy! You promised! [cries then runs towards the stairs
up to her room] I hate you!
[From these words everybody just freezes and try to digest and consummate
what had just happened]
Kasumi: [stands] I better go to her.
Nabiki: [looks at Soun] Father, you can't be thinking of letting her go to
China, are you?
Soun: [crying as he heard Akane say cruel thing to him] Akane hates me!
[slumps on the floor] What have I done. [Goes to the desk holding a
picture of his wife] What do I do wife? [falls to cry again]
Genma: [confronts Soun] Tendo, you must then let Akane go to China.
Soun: [flashes up] Nani? You can't be serious?
Genma: [sits down] She's having a hard and terrible time coping with the
present situation. Maybe she'll feel better if we let her go.
Soun: [glares] No! That's unacceptable! [then hears Akane's cries echoing
through the ceiling] Yikes! Well maybe…
[Cut to Akane's room, Kasumi has just entered bringing a tray of biscuits
and a tall glass of lemonade]
Kasumi: [putting the dish down on the desk] Akane, I brought you
these…[sits down beside her prone weeping body lying on the bed] You didn't
eat at all. Please eat something.
Akane: [still crying] Kasumi! [hugs her] What do I do?
Kasumi: [smiles as she breaks the hug] Well, first you better eat.
Akane: [stops crying then reaches for a few biscuits] Thanks, I guess I've
been skipping on eating lately. [eats some] Oh! These taste marvelous.
Kasumi: [smiles] I'm glad you love them. [stands up] And when you've
finished that, you better apologize to father.
Akane: [blinks] [realizes] Oops. I guess I got too emotional?
Kasumi: [smiles] Oh, I wouldn't worry about Father. It's Nabiki that I'm
worried about. [starts to leave]
Akane: [blink] Nabiki?
Kasumi: [smiles as she leaves] She's been assigned by father to accompany
you to China. [closes the door then she hears shouts inside, mostly joyful
screams]
[Cut to the roads in China]
Ranma: [looking at a few maps] Where the hell are we? I don't understand
any of these. [folding a few maps] [think] Now I know how Ryouga must feel
like.
Nadochi: [grins] Well, we've got some directions to get to the countryside.
But I'm afraid when we get there we'll have to find someone to guide us.
Ranma: [looking out his window] China has sure changed a lot since I last
came here.
Nadochi: [grins] Must have been a memorable experience. [laughs]
Ranma: [turns to glare at his cousin] Cut it out!
Nadochi: [slightly laughs] Ok, I'll stop. [pauses] So how did you get this
curse anyway?
Ranma: [sigh] A long story. [turns to look away]
Nadochi: [grins] Well? We'll be on the road for a couple of hours, why not
tell me?
Ranma: [sigh] Ok…Well it started …
[The scene fades and then builds up into a scene back at the Tendo dojo]
Nabiki: [walking around] [think] Oh! Why me?
Soun: [playing shogi with Genma] Nabiki why are you walking back and forth
like that?
Nabiki: [frowns] Thanks for ruining my summer, Daddy! [pouts and leans on
the wall]
Genma: Now, Nabiki. It isn't all that bad. You're going to China and look
after your sister.
Nabiki: [stares coldly] Yeah, … on a wild goose chase!
Soun: [stands and confronts Nabiki] Nabiki, please do this for Akane, and
me. [starts to cry again] I wouldn't know what to do if something would
happen to her.
Nabiki: [grins] Jeez, Daddy you're so concern about Akane… What about me?
I'm coming with her too. We're both your daughters. [turns and walks
inside]
Soun: [blink] I didn't realize? [turns to look at Genma]
Genma: [gasp] Don't look at me.
[Then a knock is heard at the gate]
Kasumi: [comes from the kitchen] Oh, we have a visitor. I'll get it
[disappears through the door]
Nabiki: [slumps on the chair] [think] Daddy can be so naïve! To think he's
sending two of his daughters to China. [shrugs her shoulder] Oh what a
mess.
Voice: Hello, I'm back.
Genma: [blink] [think] Nodoka?
Kasumi: Father, Mrs. Saotome's home.
Nabiki: [raises her head] [smiles] Hello Auntie…[an idea hits her] [jumps
up and hugs Nodoka] [joyfully] Auntie! I'm glad your back!
Nodoka: [overwhelmed] Why, I'm happy to be back, Nabiki.
Akane: [coming down the stairs] Auntie! [runs to her and hugs her] I'm so
happy to see you again!
Nodoka: [smiles] Why, thank you Akane.
Genma: [entering the living room with Soun] Well, how is the boy?
Nodoka: [smiles as she places her things down] He's fine. They left a few
days ago. I guess they would be in China by now. [sits down]
Nabiki: [grins as she takes a sit beside Nodoka] Speaking of China, Auntie
what do you think about of going to China?
Akane: [blink] Nani?
Nodoka: [smiles] Well I would also be there by now, if my son hadn't
insisted that I don't come with him.
Nabiki: [curious] Why is that?
Genma: [smiles] That's my boy! Protecting his mother from those cursed
pools.
Nabiki: [think] Chikusho! My plan is breaking apart.
Akane: [smiles] Auntie, I'll be going to China.
Nodoka: [blink] Nani? What for, dear?
Akane: [smiles] Oh, nothing I just got this urge to go there.
Nodoka: [pats Akane's shoulder] I know what you mean, Akane.
Akane: [blink] You do?
Nodoka: [smiles] I know you've had a rough time since he's been gone.
[pauses] But going after him won't help him in his mission.
Akane: [lowers her head] I know what you mean, Auntie. [hugs then starts to
cry] But I miss him…so much!
Nabiki: [grins] Listen to her, Akane. It won't do you any good to go after
Ranma.
Akane: [breaks the hug then stands up] I don't care, I'm going with or
without you!
Soun: [staggers to confront Akane] Akane! Please, reconsider.
Akane: [glares] Nope, I made up my mind. [turns around] I'm going after my
fiancée.
Nodoka: [blink] Why are you being so stubborn, Akane. Don't you want Ranma
to find a cure?
Akane: [turns to confront her family] That's just it! I never realized it
before, but…these past days he's been gone… [pauses] made me realize that I
… don't care about his curse. I don't care if he is cursed! I just want
…[slumps to a chair] us to be together. [cries]
Nodoka: [comforts Akane] You know, you should have said this before we
left?
Akane: [cries] I know, Auntie. I know!
Nodoka: [stands up] Well I guess there is no other way then.
Genma: [blink] Wife, what are you saying?
Nodoka: [lifts Akane up] Akane, I'll be honored to accompany you to China.
[smiles]
Akane: [overjoyed] Really, Auntie? [hugs]
Nodoka: [smiles] Yes. I'll help you find him. And probably [looks back at
Soun and Genma] after we do get him back, we'll get the two of you together
again.
Akane: [smiles] Thank you, Auntie.
Nodoka: [grins] That is, permanently, of course. [giggles]
Akane: [blink] [red in embarrassment] I'd be honored. [hugs her again]
[In the background was a happy Soun and Genma prancing around, Kasumi all
smiles]
Nabiki: [interrupts] Does this mean that I have to go, too?
Nodoka: [grins while still hugging Akane] If you want to, Nabiki.
Nabiki: [smiles] Ok, I will. [think] I guess I can sacrifice this much for
Akane.
Nodoka: [letting go of the hug] By the way, Genma. [looks at her husband]
May I talk to you at the training hall.
Genma: [gasp] [think] Uh, oh.
Nodoka: [walking past Genma and drags him] I've got this little punishment
I have to give you.
Genma: [freezes] [think] I'm doomed.
[Then the scene fades to black]
End of Chapter 3
-------------------------
Chapter 4. Cousins Comparison
-----------------------------------------------
[Afternoon came and we see a red trucked parked under a huge tree. Then we
see a young man carrying a huge backpack approaching the vehicle]
Man: [think] Strange, what is this truck doing here? [peeking inside and
sees a familiar figure sleeping inside] [blink] Nani? [shouts] RANMA!
Ranma: [jumps up in shock then hits his head on the car roof] Oww! What
the… [looks around and sees Ryouga angrily looking at him] Ryouga?
Ryouga: [grabs Ranma and pulls him halfway through the open window] Ranma!
What are you doing here? And..[looks around] Where is Akane! Where is she?
Ranma: [glares silently at the Ryouga] Hey! Let go off me you … [gets
slammed to the ground] Oww!
Ryouga: [looks inside the truck] Akane? [retracts and sees Ranma behind
him] Where is she? What have you done to her?
Ranma: [grins] Relax, Ryouga. She's safe back in Nerima. [dust himself
off]
Ryouga: [blink] Nani? You mean this is not Nerima?
Ranma: Well, duh? [glares] Does this look like Nerima?
Ryouga: [examines the landscape but sees unfamiliar farmlands and a nearby
village] Now that you've mentioned it, this place doesn't look like Nerima.
Ranma: [glares] That's because we're in China! You dope. [turns towards
the cab]
Ryouga: [blink] China? This is China? [think] If this is China
then..[speak] What are you doing here, Ranma, and why isn't Akane with you?
Ranma: [looks around] [think] Hmmm. Nadochi is not back yet? [turns around
when a hand hits his shoulder] Nani?
Ryouga: Are you listening, Ranma? What are you doing here? Why isn't
Akane with you? [a bit angry]
Ranma: [blink] [sigh] Yeah, I wish she was here, too. [sits on the driver
seat] [think] Damn you, Ryouga! You shouldn't have reminded me.
Ryouga: [sees the unusual reaction from Ranma] Hey, did something happen
between you and Akane? [think] Could they have broken up?
Ranma: [silently stands up and walks past Ryouga] Stop it, Ryouga.
Ryouga: [joyous] At last, Akane has finally dumped you! Now Akane is
mine..[interrupted by swift elbow to his gut] Oww!
Ranma: [glares at the fallen Ryouga] Akane is mine! [gets a container and
runs to the nearby stream]
Ryouga: [trying to recover] Ran…ma! I'm going to…[trying to rise up but is
then greeted by a splash of coldness which transformed him instantly]
Bweee!
Ranma: [picking up the pig and gives it the hardest kick he could do] Go
bug someone else bacon breath!
[Somewhere near the truck two figures sees the flying black pig]
Man: [blink] <What was that?>
Man: [turns and tries to see where the pig would land] <Looks like a
missile, no, more like a rocket.>
Man: <But it looked like a small pig.>
Man: [continues there approach towards Ranma and the truck] <Yup, it even
sounded like one.> [Sees Ranma][waves] Ranma! What in the world was that?
Ranma: [notices his cousin and another man] Hey, Nadochi. Where have you
been?
Nadochi: [reaches Ranma] Well?
Ranma: [blink] Nani?
Nadochi: [points toward the horizon] That pig you sent to orbit, what was
it?
Ranma: [grins] Oh, that. It was just Ryouga.
Man: [blink] <What is a Ryouga?>
Ranma: [notices][whispers to Nadochi] Who is this guy?
Nadochi: [smiles] He's our guide. [looks at the man] Yuen, this is my
cousin Ranma. [smiles] Sorry, but he doesn't speak much Chinese. [looks at
Ranma] Ranma, meet our guide, Yuen.
Ranma: [extends a hand] Nice to meet you.
Yuen: [bows] So am I. [shakes his hand] But tell me, what is a Ryouga?
Ranma: [laughs] Nothing to worry about, it was just small irritating pig.
[sees a confused look at Yuen]
Nadochi: [looks inside the truck and brings out some maps] Ok, Yuen do your
stuff. [hands over the maps]
Yuen: [smiles] Oh, no. I don't use maps. [points up his head] My map is
here.
Nadochi: [smiles] Excellent, then we'll have a travelling companion.
[throws away the maps] Hop in. Oh, Ranma.
Ranma: What?
Nadochi: [smiles] You owe my 1000 yen. [hops inside the truck]
Ranma: [letting Yuen enter first] What for? [then finally hops in]
Nadochi: [starts up the vehicle] I've sent your message through telegram.
Ranma: Really? [think] I hope Akane gets it. [looks out the window]
Yuen: [smiles] Don't worry your fiancée will get telegram. Telegram in
village is state of the art. Also sent it through Internet. [smiles]
Ranma: [blink] How did you…[glares at Nadochi] Nadochi, you talk too much.
Nadochi: [grins] Hey, you wanted it rushed, ne?
[At the airport back in Japan]
Akane: Will you guys hurry up! [quickening her pace]
Soun: [gasp] Akane wait up. [having a hard time carrying several luggages]
Genma: [dragging luggages] Whew…
Nabiki: [meeting them] Ok, I've got our tickets…and Kasumi is all right at
home. [walks with Akane to the departure area]
Nodoka: [smiles] Are you sure you don't want me to help, husband?
Genma: [blink] Oh, I'm all right. [think] As long as I carry her katana,
I'll be safe.
Ukyou: [catches up with the Tendo sisters] Hey, I'd like to thank you for
allowing me to come with you guys.
Nabiki: [grins] Sure Kounji-san. [think] At least you paid for your fare,
Ukyou. [smiles]
Akane: [smiles] I'm happy you decided to come with us Ucchan, although, you
didn't have to pay for your fare. [glaring look at Nabiki]
Ukyou: [gives her ticket to a security officer] No really, I wanted to pay.
[smiles]
Man: [taking the tickets of the rest of the gang] You better hurry up miss.
Soun: [giving up the luggage to the proper section] Let's go.
[Soon everyone was inside the airplane]
Akane: [seated beside the window] [think] Ranma, I'm coming. [looks out the
window and sees a small black pig landing on the wing of the plane][blink]
P-chan!
Nabiki: [seated beside her at looked outside] P-chan? Where?
Akane: [getting the attention of the stewardess] Excuse me but my pig is on
the wing of this plane.
Woman: [trying to be polite] Did you say pig? There can't be a…[sees the
pig running around the wing] Oh, my!
Ukyou: [stands up and turns toward the door] Don't worry Akane, I'll get
Ry…P-chan. [think] Oops, almost slipped]
Woman: [trying to stop Ukyou] Ma'm don't! We can get …[sees Ukyou jumping
off the doorway, landing on the wing to grab the pig] [think] What? First
it was a ghoul and two barn animals, then now a pig. [shrugs her head]
[think] I need a vacation.
[Ukyou returned and gave P-chan to Akane]
Akane: [holding the pig in front of her] Where have you been, P-chan?
Really now, you're as worse as Ryouga!
Ukyou: [beside Nabiki on the aisle seat] [smiles] [think] If you only knew,
Akane!
[Then the plane lifts off again towards China, the stewardess didn't want
another delay by asking for the pig to stay in the cargo hold]
[Back at the Tendo dojo]
Kasumi: [tending the kitchen] [think] I wonder if Dr. Tofu would like to
come for dinner? [hears a ringing sound] Oh, my.
[Kasumi looks then picks up the phone first but realizes that it wasn't the
phone that produced the ring]
Kasumi: [think] What made that sound? [walks upstairs to Nabiki's room]
[Inside she sits in front of Nabiki's computer and switches on the monitor.
She clicks the mouse and opens theinbox]
Kasumi: [blink] I've got mail. [smiles][clicks a bit more then a paper copy
comes out the nearby printer] Let's see…[reads] It's for Akane. [reads on]
Oh, it's from Ranma.
[She puts down the paper then clicks another icon, forwarding the message
to Nabiki's portable computer]
Kasumi: [turns off the monitor] I'm glad Nabiki showed me how to do this.
[leaves the room] [think] Now to call Dr. Tofu. [giggles]
[In a certain village that looks deserted in China]
Mousse: [bringing down some bags] <Are we here?> [tries to look around] <I
don't recognize this place.>
Shampoo: [grins] <Mousse should clean glasses.>
Cologne: [hops in front of the troop] <I wonder where everyone is?>
Voice: You are just in time.
[The three turn around and sees a young woman walking up to them]
Shampoo: [joyous] <Aiya! Cream, how are you? >[jumps forward to hug the
woman]
Cream: [struggles to break the hugs] <eh, Shampoo. I'm fine.> [bows to
Cologne] <Great Grand Aunt.>
Cologne: [smiles] <So where is everybody?>
Cream: [walks and lead the three] <Oh, there at the clearing. Mother is
about to appoint a successor to being high priestess of village.> [smiles]
Cologne: [blink] <A successor?>
Cream: [frowns] <Yes, mother grows ill by the day.>
Shampoo: [smiles] <Then favorite cousin is new high priestess?>
Cream: [weak smiles] <I don't think so, Shampoo. Mother thinks I'm
too…young and …out of control.> [sigh]
Mousse: [struggles with the luggage] <Can I unload these first?>
Cream: [giggles] <Sorry, here let me help.> [raises her hand and soon all
the bags are floating with Mousse]
Mousse: [blink] <Hey!> [falls as he releases his hold] Oww!
Shampoo: [helping Mousse up] < Be more careful next time.> [giggles]
Mousse: [dusting himself] <It wasn't my idea to … [realizes the bags are
floating along as they walk] What the…[turns to Cream] How did you do that?
Cream: [blink] <Oh, you mean…[smiles] it's standard chi-control technique.
Cologne: [smiles] <I can see that you've improved a lot, grand nephew.>
Cream: [as they reach a house] <I do practice everyday…[motions for the
bags to enter the doorway] Unfortunately I may have trained for nothing.>
[sigh]
Shampoo: [glare] < Shampoo talk to Auntie, tell her you should be high
priestess.>
Voice: <Cream, your mother is asking for you!>
Cream: [blink] <What now?> [waves] <Got to go, see you all later at the
clearing.> [then disappears inside a huge building]
Shampoo: [follows] <I'll be back>
Mousse: [blink] <Hey, Shampoo…[sigh] to late.>
Cologne: [enters the house] <What are you standing there for? Help me
unpack.>
Mousse: [think] <Just what I needed…being bossed around by this…troll.>
[disappears inside]
[A red truck now approaches the village]
Nadochi: [looks ahead] So what's going to happen here?
Yuen: [smiles] Big sister is about to be appointed high priestess of
village. So I've got to be here.
Ranma: [finally wakes up] Are we there yet?
Nadochi: [grins] Nope, we're making a stop-by here [slows the truck as it
enters the village] at Yuen's village. We may need supplies and a few
hands.
Ranma: [looks around] This place looks like a ghost town.
Yuen: [smiles] Everybody must be at clearing by now. [points to a big
house] There we can stop there.
[Nadochi nods and quickly parks his truck in front of what looks like the
biggest house in the village]
Nadochi: [stepping out] Yup, no people around.
Ranma: [steps out and stretches] Ah, that feels good. [inspects his
surroundings] Are you sure people live here?
Yuen: [approaches the door] Come on in, my mother will love to meet you.
[opens and enters]
Nadochi: [looks at Ranma] What?
Ranma: [walks up to Nadochi] Where did you dig that guy from?
Nadochi: [chuckles] He does seem strange, ne?
Ranma: Not only that … I feel something weird about him. [reaches the door]
Everything about this place is..[interrupted by a scream]
Shampoo: [jumping from the door] Ranma! You've come to Shampoo! Aiya!
[hugs Ranma and falls with him to the ground]
Ranma: [blink][think] I know that…[shocked as Shampoo hugs him and trips
him over] Arrrrrgh!
Nadochi: [looks down at the struggling Ranma and Shampoo] [grins] I get
that she's one of your fiancées.
Ranma: [pushing Shampoo up from him] Shampoo! Get off me!
Shampoo: [blinks] Oops. [rises up] Shampoo forgot about letter. [smiles as
she helps Ranma up] What brings you to village Ranma?
Ranma: [still angry] What are you doing here, Shampoo? Aren't you supposed
to be back in Nerima…[blinks when he realize] This is your village?
Shampoo: [smiles] Right? You've been here before Ranma?
Nadochi: [stares at the beautiful Shampoo][think] Damn, Ranma. You sure
have a gorgeous fiancée. [speak] Eh, Ranma. Who is your cute friend here?
Shampoo: [notices the young man standing beside her] Shampoo. I'm Ranma's
…[pauses] friend. [extends a hand][smiles][thinks] He's cute.
Nadochi: [shakes her hand] Well nice to meet you, Shampoo. I'm Saotome
Nadochi, Ranma's cousin. [smiles]
Ranma: [blinks] Nani? She didn't say fiancée. [speak] Friend, Shampoo?
Shampoo: [think] Ranma's cousin, Aiya! [turns to Ranma] Sure, Shampoo a
friend. You wrote it in your letter, remember? [smiles and looks at
Nadochi] [think] Is he available, maybe I can challenge him to a fight…
Mousse: [approaches] Hey, Ranma! I never thought I'd see you here.
Ranma: [blink] Mousse! [think] If he's here then…
Cologne: [jumps in] Well if it isn't son-in-law. You've finally crawled
out of the stone your hiding, eh.
Ranma: [glares] I'm not hiding, and I'm not your son-in-law!
Shampoo: [smiles] Nadochi?
Nadochi: [smiles] Yes?
Ranma: [notices Shampoo and Nadochi][think] What is she up to?
Shampoo: [grins] Want to fight? Shampoo promise to lose. [smiles and leans
towards Nadochi]
Nadochi: [blink] Fight? Why would I…[is dragged away by Ranma] Nani?
Ranma: [glares at Shampoo] Don't you dare, Shampoo. [to Nadochi] Don't
fight anyone here, especially her. Or they'll make you marry them.
Nadochi: [blink] Marry? Cool! [gets a slap on his head left and right]
Ranma: [shouts] Snap out of it, cousin.
Nadochi: [shrugs his head] Why did you do that for? [looks back at Shampoo]
She looks harmless, and she's cute too. [a punch lands on his head]
Ranma: [glares] Haven't you been listening to my stories? She's dangerous,
man. [think] Come to think of it, why hasn't she been aggressive on
me…hmmm.
Shampoo: [silently approaches then taps Ranma's shoulder] Ranma, is there
something wrong? Are you jealous. [smiles]
Ranma: [blink] No way! Me, jealous, Ha!
Shampoo: Good! Akane would kill you if you were. [giggles]
Ranma: [surprised] [think] Something is wrong with this picture.
Nadochi: [recovers then smiles] Well it was nice to meet you again,
Shampoo.
Shampoo: [realizes] Did you say you were … [think] Could he be who Ukyou…
Nadochi: Yes?
Shampoo: [weakly] Do you know Ukyou? [think] Please not, please.
Nadochi: [blink] Why, as a matter of fact, I do.
Shampoo: [heart sinking] [think] No!
Nadochi: [notices the dejected look in Shampoo] Did I say something wrong?
Shampoo: [weak smile] No, I'm happy to meet Ukyou's other fiancée.
Nadochi and Ranma: [blink] [think] Fiancée?
[Cut to the another part of China]
Ukyou: [think] I wonder how he looks now? [briefly imagines Ranma then with
short hair]
Akane: [notices Ukyou daydreaming] Ucchan?
Ukyou: [blink] Nani?
Akane: Gomen, but I couldn't help see you dreaming like that and…
Ukyou: [smiles] I just thought of how he would look like, that's all.
[sigh]
Akane: [smiles] Yeah, I guess being gone for so long, you'd forget how he
looked like.
Nabiki: [butting in] So tell me, is he cute, Ukyou?
Ukyou: [blushes] What do you mean?
Nabiki: [grins] Oh you know what I mean.
Ukyou: Well, [pauses] when I met him…he was as cute as Ranma then.
Nabiki; [looks at Akane] And probably as stupid and a hentai like Ranma,
ne? [giggles]
Akane: [glares] Nabiki!
Ukyou: [pauses to think] No, actually…he's like the opposite.
Akane: [blink] Really?
Ukyou: [sigh] I'm not sure…but unlike Ranma…who thought I was a boy.
Nadochi knew exactly that I was a girl when I met him…
Nabiki: [grins] Intellegent! That's good to know. [gets another shout from
Akane]
Ukyou: [smiles] Not only that, he even likes me cooking for him.
Nabiki: [giggles] Oh, definitely the opposite. [then is pushed away by
Akane]
Akane: [glares] Stop it Nabiki.
Nabiki: [smiles] I'm sorry oneechan, I just couldn't help compare.
Akane: [pouts] We'll I don't see how … Tatewaki Kunou could measure to my
Ranma. [crosses her arms]
Nabiki: [glares] And exactly what are you inferring?
Ukyou: [laughs] Oh, stop it you two.
Nabiki: [glares] No, I want to know what Akane is trying to pull.
Akane: [grins] Don't tell me you don't … think much of Kunou. [giggles with
Ukyou]
Nabiki: [glares] I don't! He's just my best client. That's all.
Ukyou: [can't stop laughing] Sure, Nabiki. We believe you.
Akane: Yeah. You two…[giggles a bit more] look good together.
Nabiki: [turns away] Oh, shut up! Forget I even mentioned it.
[The scene turns slowly to fade]
End of Chapter 4
------------------------
Chapter 5. Disappearance
---------------------------------
[We see two people sitting beside a table while a pretty girl serves them
some food]
Shampoo: [smiles] Here you go, Shampoo's special ramen. Hope you like it.
[as she places the bowls on the table]
Nadochi: [grabs a bowl] This smells delicious, thank you Shampoo. [about to
eat when he gets an elbow from Ranma]
Ranma: [whispers] You wouldn't want to eat that.
Nadochi: [blink] Nani? Why not?
Ranma: Trust me.
Nadochi: [whispers] But it wouldn't be polite.
Shampoo: [sits beside Nadochi] He's right, it wouldn't. [glares at Ranma]
Ranma: [grins] Well, go ahead. But don't say I didn't warn you.
Nadochi: [nods, then takes a sip] And it taste even better. [turns to
Ranma] See, there's nothing to it.
Ranma: [blink][looks at Shampoo] Ok, what did you put in there?
Shampoo: [smiles] Noodles, water...[starts to count with her fingers]
spices..
Ranma: Ha! See she spiked that ramen.
Shampoo: [glares] Spices are for flavoring! [calms down] And beside
special spices are forbidden in village.
Nadochi: [blink] Special? Like what?
Ranma: [blink] Well in that case…[grabs his bowl and taste] Hey, these
aren't half-bad. Thanks Shampoo.
Shampoo: [smile] Glad you like it. [looks at Nadochi's confused look] Don't
worry about those special spices.
Nadochi: [smiles] Ok. [continues to eat]
Ranma: [changes his seat to sit beside Shampoo] Shampoo, can I ask you
something?
Shampoo: [blink] What is on Ranma's mind?
Nadochi: [grins] Probably about Akane?
Shampoo: [smiles] Oh, don't worry about her Ranma…she's feeling a little
depressed, that's all.
Ranma: [sigh][think] I knew it, I should not have left her.
[Then a weird buzz is heard]
Shampoo: [stands up] What is that?
Nadochi: [grabs something from his backpack] Don't worry, it's just my
notebook. [lays a notebook on the table and opens it up] Looks like I've
got e-mail.
Ranma: [leans forward] Nani?
Nadochi: [rolling the small sphere in the middle of his computer] It's for
you. [passes the notebook to Ranma]
Shampoo: [glances] What is that?
Nadochi: [grabs Shampoo] I think we should leave him alone with his letter.
[leaves the table with Shampoo]
Shampoo: [trying to resist] But…
Ranma: [grabbing the notebook and tries to read] Dear Ranma, I hope you
are all right…
[The scene changes to the airport]
Nabiki: Ok, I've arranged transportation and accommodations.
Ukyou: Aren't we going to Jusenkyo directly?
Akane: We are. [smiles and walks away]
Genma: [lifting up some luggage and looks around] I wonder where…[sees
Nodoka carrying her things] No.
Nodoka: [smiles] Hurry up, Genma.
[The gang now leaves the airport]
[The scene now turns to what looks like a small room]
Woman: [lying sickly on a bed] <Cream, come over.> [coughs]
Cream: [kneels down beside the bed] <Yes, I'm here mother.>
Woman: [sits up] <I'm sorry to have said that I wouldn't pick you as
...[coughs]
Cream: [tries to stand up] < I'll get your medicine…>[but is stopped by her
mother's hand]
Woman: [smiles] <Stay, I've got something important to tell you.> [Cream
acknowledges]
Cream: <What is it Mother?>
Woman: <I've said before that you might not be the choice for my
successor.>
Cream: [nods]…
Woman: <I was wrong, the spirits has showed me that you have earned that
right.>
Cream: [joyous] <Really? That is good to hear.>
Woman: [frowns] <Unfortunately not.>
Cream: [blinks] <What?>
Woman: [grabs her daughter's hands] <Listen Cream. The spirits have chosen
this time to come out and this will be your test. You have to defeat the
spirits.>
Cream: [surprised] <Spirits? Are they hard to defeat?>
Woman: [smiles] <No, not really.>
Cream: <Then it wouldn't be much of a problem?> [think] And I thought…
Woman: [pressing on Cream's hands] <Listen, it won't be that way. These
spirits don't attack personally, they…[cough] they usually invade the body
of the strongest amongst us and heighten that person's abilities.
Cream: [blink] <What are you saying, mother?>
Woman: <I'm afraid that it is this person possessed by the spirits that you
have to defeat in order to pass the test.>
Cream: [smiles] <Then that won't be a problem. I'm strongest in village.
The next strongest would be..[gets slapped] Oww!
Woman: [glares] <Listen Cream. Take your test seriously. And I'm afraid
there are two other people that are stronger than you.>
Cream: [shocked] <Two? That's impossible.>
Woman: [frowns] <I thought at first that Yuen wouldn't be much of a
challenge to you once the spirits possessed him, but he has brought two new
faces to the village, which [cough] I'm afraid posses powers and strength
far greater than yours.>
Cream: [blink] <Yuen has brought somebody else to village?> [a bit angry at
the news then stands up] <I must go and see who they are.>
Woman: [lies back on the bed] [think] <I hope the spirits know what they
are doing, using outsiders has never been done before in three hundred
years.>
[Cream leaves the room]
[In another home]
Yuen: <Yes Father, they came from Japan. Nadochi and Ranma Saotome.>
Man: [Think] <The vision of the priestess has come true.> [to Yuen] <You
must take your friends to the priestess now, Yuen.>
Yuen: [blink] <The priestess? Why?>
Man: [glares] <Don't argue! They are needed at the ceremony later.>
Yuen: [bows and leaves][think] <Jeez, he didn't have to yell at me.> [sees
Cream running at him] <Cream!> [then gets punched towards the back wall]
Oww!
Cream: [glares] <Yuen, how dare you evade the ceremony by bringing
outsiders here! >
Yuen: [recovers] <What? Hey, how was I supposed to know, besides, your
mother seem to know them, Ok!> [walks past Cream] <They're not bad people,
Cream. I want you to meet them.>
Cream: [follows][think] <I get you for chickening out, Yuen> [speak] <Take
me to them.>
[The two reached the restaurant and meets up with Nadochi and Shampoo
outside]
Nadochi: [looking at the approaching Yuen and Cream] Hello, nice to see you
again. I thought you left us already.
Shampoo: <Yuen? Is that you?>
Yuen: [bows] Nihao Shampoo, Nadochi. I've got someone who wants to meet
you and Ranma. [turns to Cream] Cream this is Nadochi Saotome.
Nadochi: [extends a hand] Nice to meet…[his hand is grabbed by Cream and he
is thrown far away]
Shampoo: [blink] <Cream! Why did you do that?>
Cream: [glares] <Shampoo, what are you doing with these outsiders?!> [runs
off to attack Nadochi]
Yuen: [sigh] <Here we go again> [runs after her]
[Just then Ranma came out of the restaurant]
Ranma: [looks around] Nadochi! Where are you?
Shampoo: [smiles] Over there? [points to several houses further down the
road] Cousin just threw him there.
Ranma: [blinks] Nani?
Shampoo: [sigh] [grabs Ranma and runs after Yuen] We better follow, or
cousin might kill you cousin.
Ranma: [keeping pace with Shampoo] Kill? What are you talking about?
Shampoo: [looks back at Ranma] Shampoo doesn't understand either.
Ranma: [looks ahead and sees Nadochi coming out from the a house with a
broken roof] There he is.
Nadochi: [dusting himself] eh, What the hell was that for? [glares at
Cream] Well?
Cream: [points] You stranger will not interfere with ceremony. [then a
whirlwind of blue smoke emits from her fingertip, which is rushing towards
Nadochi]
Nadochi: [blink] Nani? [He jumps away just as the whirlwind hits the house
he just came out from and quickly destroys it]
Yuen: [jumps in between Nadochi and Cream] Cream stop it! Your mother
needs to see them. [is then hit by another whirlwind which knocks him
toward Nadochi] Arrggh!
Shampoo: [stops at a house behind Cream] Shampoo wonder why cousin is
acting so violently.
Ranma: [awed at Cream's attack] What was that?
Mousse: [joins them after hearing the commotion] What's happening?
Shampoo: [sees Mousse] Looks like Nadochi and Cream are fighting.[grins]
Mousse: [glares at Shampoo] I can see that! I'm not blind, you know!
Ranma: [angry] Shut up! We've got to stop this. [the three then jumps away
as the house they were hiding behind was hit by Cream's attack]
Nadochi: [crashes to the ground with Yuen] Oww!
Cream: [glares] That will teach you not to mess with an amazon!
Nadochi: [recovers] Ok, sister. I don't know who you are …but I've had
enough. [raises his hand and then he disappears]
Ranma: [blinks] Nani? Were did he go?
Cream: [looking around][think] Mother was right, this guy is…ah! [Cream
goes down unconscious]
Nadochi: [reappears behind the fallen body of Cream] Sorry, but you gave me
no choice.
Shampoo: [running up to Cream] What have you done! Cream! [kneels downs]
Mousse: [looks at Cream] Hmmm…sleeping pressure point?
Nadochi: [smiles] Hai.
Shampoo: [stands up] You kill Shampoo's cousin? [glares at Nadochi]
Mousse: [smiles] No, he did not. He just put her to sleep.
Shampoo: [relaxes] Good, Shampoo was afraid that if you killed her…whole
village would then have to kill you. [grins]
Nadochi: [blinks][looks at Cream] But why did she attack anyway?
Woman: That's because she didn't want to fight outsiders during the test.
[Everybody looks behind them and sees the priestess]
Ranma: Test?
Yuen: [approaches] You mean they are Cream's test to become your successor,
priestess?
Priestess: That is true. And I'm afraid it will begin shortly. [kneels
down and touches Cream]
Cream: [waking up] What? [looks around]
Priestess: [stands up] It is time, Cream. Let us go to the clearing.
[walks away]
[The scene then turns to what looks like the inside of a train]
Nabiki: [sits besides Akane] I just talked with oneechan.
Akane: What did she say?
Nabiki: [smiles] Relax, sis. Kasumi is fine. [brings up her backpack to
the table and brings out a portable computer] She did however told me that
an e-mail arrived a few hours ago. [she opens the notebook and switches it
on]
Ukyou: [sitting across the two] E-mail?
Akane: [leaning over Nabiki] Yeah, electronic mail. I hope it's from…
Nabiki: [grins] Bingo! [slides the notebook to Akane] It's for you.
[giggles]
Ukyou: [blink] You mean Ranma?
Akane: [looking at the screen] Hai. It is from him. [pauses] And it looks
like they're halfway to Jusenkyo already. [think] They'll pass a village
…[interrupted
Ukyou: Let me see. [tries to grab the notebook]
Akane: [giggles] Here...
Ukyou: [reading the screen] [sigh] I sure envy you Akane. [returns the
notebook] Even when you two are miles apart, you always seem to find each
other.
Nabiki: [grabs the notebook] Well, you also have an e-mail, Ucchan. [slides
the notebook back to Ukyou.]
Ukyou: [blink] Nani? But who could…
Akane: [giggles] Who else.
Ukyou: [blushes then reads silently] …
Nabiki: Well?
Ukyou: [smiles then closes the notebook] Oh, nothing.
Akane: Personal, ne?
Ukyou: [nods] Yup, it's personal.
Nabiki: [grabs the notebook] Personal or not I'm going to see, it's my
notebook. [leaves the booth]
Ukyou: [blink] Wait….[runs after Nabiki] No, Nabiki! Don't!
Akane: [lifts P-chan up the table] Oh, P-chan! I sure miss him. [sigh]
P-chan: Bweee!
Akane: [looks through the window] Yeah, I know. It won't be long now.
[stares and smiles at her pet] And after we reunite, we'll get married.
[giggles] [think] I wonder ….
P-chan: [blinks] Bweee! [collapses]
Akane: [blink] P-chan?
[At the clearing near the village]
Cologne: What are you doing here you old hentai! [screaming at a small old
man who we know as]
Happosai: [glares at Cologne] Stop bothering me. I've got to find…[sees
the group of Ranma coming] Ah, there he is. [jumps towards their direction
and is followed by Cologne]
Ranma: [facing Nadochi] Shouldn't we get going?
Nadochi: [looks at Ranma] Yeah, I know but the priestess said…[interrupted]
Happosai: [jumps between Nadochi and Ranma] Nadochi! I've found you.
Ranma: [shocked] Arrgh! What are you doing here!
Nadochi: [blink] Sensei, what a surprise.
Happosai: Nadochi, we've got to…[gets hit on the head by a long stick]
Cologne: [interrupting with the stick] I told you they'd be needed for the
ceremony. And you can't interfere.
Happosai: [glares] Oh, shut up!
Ranma: [think] What is this pervert doing here?
Nadochi: [smiles] Now, sensei. What is it?
Happosai: [turns to Nadochi] You've got to get out of here, immediately.
Ranma: [blink] See, even the old dirt bag knows that we're not supposed to
be here. [gets hit with a stick] Oww! Why did you do that?
Cologne: [draws down the stick] Stupid son-in-law, we need you two for the
test.
Happosai: That's just it. If they continue with the test…one of them
would get stuck into the spirit world.
Nadochi: [back a bit] What? Trapped in the spirit world.
Ranma: [sweat] I don't like the sound of this.
Cologne: [blink] Really? How do you know this?
Happosai: [points towards the center of the clearing] From him! [we now see
a huge figure standing there]
Ranma: [looks at the man] Who is that?
Priestess: Nadochi and Ranma,, come over here. [waving to the two]
Nadochi: [shrugs his head] I don't like this either. [starts to approach]
Happosai: [jumps in front of Nadochi] Wait! Haven't you been listening?
Nadochi: [smiles] Don't worry about us, sensei. [nods to Ranma]
Ranma: [starts to walk] Are you sure?
Nadochi: [whispers] Positive.
[The two reach the center of the clearing, where the man, the priestess,
Cream and Shampoo are already standing]
Shampoo: [nervous] Shampoo shouldn't be here.
Cream: [whispers] Hush! Mother said your needed Shampoo. Don't ask
questions.
Shampoo: [pouts] Easy for you to say.
Priestess: Welcome Nadochi, Ranma. [she nods to each] You've come here to
receive a great gift, and do us a great service in return.
Nadochi: [blink] Gift?
Ranma: [blink] Service?
Man: Yes. That is true. In order to find a worthy successor the candidate
[looks at Cream] must fight the strongest individual.
Ranma: [think] Fight the strongest?
Nadochi: Then she shall fight which?
Man: Apparently you seem to be a stronger opponent.
Ranma: [relieved] [think] Whew, I almost…
Man: But, you on the other hand posses a very strong technique.
Ranma: [blink] Who, me?
Priestess: [picks up a pail that was lying beside her] Yes, I believe
Cologne said it was the Cat-fist. [dumps the cool water contents of the
pail on Shampoo turning her into a cat] I believe you need… [grabs
Shampoo-cat and throws it at Ranma] this.
Ranma: [shocked] Arrrrrrggggh! Get it off! [runs around with Shampoo
clamped behind his head] Get it off!!!
Cream: [looks at Ranma] Cat fist? Doesn't look that strong?
[Then Ranma transform and postures into a cat and lunges at the priestess,
but is thrown back by Cream]
Cream: [in pain from her blocking] Arrgh! He's fast!
Man: [slowly changes into a smoke then enters the cat form of Ranma] ….
[Ranma-possessed then lunges at the priestess again, which Cream painfully
blocked again]
Cream: [glares] Hey, why don't you attack me!
Ranma-possessed: You don't understand….I'm supposed to attack her!
[attacks again but this time is batted away by Nadochi]
Nadochi: [smiles] Cat fist, impressive. [Ranma-possessed attacks again
which injures Nadochi] Owww!
Happosai: Look out! [shouting from the sidelines]
[Nadochi rolls back to swiftly dodge the claw attack of Ranma-possessed]
Cream: [has created a blue illuminating ball] Hey, take this! [throws it
quickly at Ranma-possessed but the ball of energy dissipates ] What?
Nadochi: [has jumped in to block the shot] What the hell do you think your
doing? That's my cousin your trying to kill!
Cream: [throws another ball] Don't interfere! [But it just dissipates
again] Damn it!
[Ranma-possessed knocks the two down and lunges again at the priestess and
successfully connects]
Cream: NO! [sees her mother falling down] I'm going to…[a whorl of yellow
aura engulfs her and she raises her hands to point at Ranma possessed] Kill
you!!! [The blast hits Ranma directly]
[Surprisingly Ranma is just thrown back a few meters, Cream is surprised at
how he could have survived that but realizes Nadochi has blocked again her
attack and has absorbed most of the damage]
Nadochi: [crawls up] Arrrggh! That hurts.
Ranma: [wakes up] Nani?
Nadochi: [turns to see Ranma normal again] Are you alright? Oww!
[collapses]
Ranma: [blink] Nadochi! [runs up to his fallen cousin.]
Cream: [approaches] I'm sorry. Why did you have to step in like that!
Nadochi: [raises his head] Oh, this is nothing…oww! [tries to get up] So
where is he? [looks around]
Cream: There he is. [points to the man standing beside the fallen
priestess]
Man: [whispering to the priestess as he helps her to get up] She's
certainly powerful. But still needs work on her control, though.
Priestess: [sigh] I know.
Cream: [rushing forward to attack the man again] I'm going to…[pauses as
she sees her mother stopping her attack] What?
Man: You've done well, Cream…you can certainly dish out those powerful
attacks.
Cream: [blink] Huh?
Man: But you still need further control. That's is why you need to come
with me! [brings out a medallion]
Cream: [surprised] Come with you?
Man: Yes…[turns to Nadochi and Ranma] and one of you.
Ranma: [blink] You've got to be kidding?
Nadochi: [finally stands up] What the hell for?
Man: [raises the medallion and it creates a portal to open] For spiritual
training, of course. Well?
Priestess: This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Ranma: [think] I can't.
Nadochi: [smiles at Ranma] Let me, I know she's waiting for you.
Ranma: [shakes Nadochi's hand] Are you going to be all right?
Happosai: [butting in] Of course he will, I'll be with him.
Nadochi: [blink] On second thought. [laughs with Ranma]
[The four disappear through the portal, then it closes]
Ranma: [looks at the priestess] How long will they be gone?
Priestess: [smiles] The last time I was trained by the guardian, it took me
three years.
[Ranma just freezes]
Ranma: [think] Years? I can't believe it. He'll be gone for years?
Shampoo: [now restored and approaches Ranma] Oh, don't worry…Shampoo still
here. We can both wait for our cousins. [smiles]
Ranma: [turns around lowering his head] Yeah, whatever…[thinks] I wish
Akane was here right now. I could sure need the company.
Mousse: Hey! Ranma! There's someone here to see you!
Ranma: [looked up and sees a familiar face] Akane? [realizes that it is
Akane running towards her, he starts to run] Akane!
Akane: [hugs Ranma when they meet] Ranma! I missed you! [they kiss almost
in tears]
Nabiki: [think] Jeez, and I thought they'd never do it in public.
Soun: Looks like we made it in time.
Shampoo: [approaches] Nihao! This is a surprise, all are welcome at
restaurant. [smiles]
Ukyou: [whispers to Shampoo] Eh, Shampoo have you seen…
Shampoo: [blink] Oh, you've just missed him, Ukyou. Sorry.
Ukyou: Chikusho! Where did he go?
Shampoo: [blank stare] Shampoo doesn't really know. Sorry.
Ukyou: [angry] Oooohhh! I'll get him for this….[walks with Shampoo towards
the restaurant]
[Everyone is inside except the two]
Ranma: [finally breaking off the kiss] How did you know where to find me?
Akane: [smiles] You sent an e-mail, remember.
Ranma: [think] Yuen must have added that we'll pass by here. [speaks as
they walk] I was just thinking of you.
Akane: [blink] Really? Funny, I was also thinking of you. [giggles] [then
approaches the door]
Ranma: [opens the door] Akane, let's not do this again, Ok.
Akane: [blink] Nani?
Ranma: [smiles] You know, being away from each other …it's too hard.
Akane: [leans on Ranma] I know, I don't think I'll would have survived any
longer…without you near me.
Ranma: [enters with Akane] Then…Akane…will you…[interrupted]
Akane: [places a finger to Ranma's mouth] I already said yes to your
mother. [giggles]
Ranma: [blink] Really?
Akane: [hugs Ranma] I said I'd be honored to.
Ranma: [think] Is this real. [whispers to Akane] Akane, am I dreaming?
Akane: [glares] Ranma! [elbows Ranma then furiously runs ahead] Ranma no
BAKA!
Ranma: Oww! [looks at Akane] I guess not…[runs after Akane] Akane, wait! I
didn't mean it that way!
End of Chapter 5
------------------------
END
------
NOTES:
Thanks to Eric McGinnis for recommending the FFML
Thanks to Paul Gallegos, David Tai, and Jeffery Paul Hosmer for indirectly
inspiring
me to create this story