"Without Friends" Part 2
Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction
Jonathan Ng <jonathan@worldy.com>

Ranma 1/2 and its respective characters are owned by Rumiko Takahashi
Publishing Rights go to Shogakukan Inc. Tokyo, Jademan (Holdings) Ltd.
and Viz Inc. for Japan, H.K. and North America, respectively.

Now...

"Without Friends" Part 2, v0.1 - Without Direction

-Akane's interdimensional hammer, coupled with a magic Joketsuzoku
mirror portal, sends Ranma into another universe...

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[Scene: Nekohanten.  Akane and Shampoo are sitting intently.]

Akane and Shampoo sat down in chairs.  It took Cologne over five 
minutes (and a well placed blow to the head) to calm Akane down.

Cologne leaned heavily on her stick.  "If what you said is true,
then it would be almost impossible to know where Ranma is.  But
we can try."

Shampoo and Akane listened intently.  "How?"

Cologne sighed. "I will go look for the necessary tools.  You two
might as well pack, because it will take a long time."

Shampoo added unnecessarily, "I will do anything to get back airen."

Cologne rummaged through her belongings and found a button and a 
compass.

Akane was a bit suspicious.  "What are these?"

Cologne said simply, "These will help you find son-in-law.  The compass
is magical; it will slowly guide you as you jump across realities to
find Ranma.  Just hold the compass as you think of your Ranma, and it
will guide you to him.  The button will bring you back.  Just tap it 
once and say 'Agamar rules the galaxy' and you'll be back.  Just wait 
until you have Ranma before coming back, though.  If you don't, then 
you have to redo the whole journey again."

Akane and Shampoo nodded.

An hour later, both were packed (without too many arguments) and the
girls said goodbyes to their respective loved-ones.  Soun (as usual)
wept big tears because of Akane's 'courage'.

Cologne produced the button and compass.  "It is time to go."

Shampoo immediately grabbed for both.  Akane managed to get the button,
while Shampoo had the compass.  Shampoo immediately leapt for the 
mirror.  Akane was able to grab her before she went in.

In a flash of blinding light, both girls (and the mirror) were gone.

Cologne sat on a stool.  She sighed wearily.  <I hope they find 
son-in-law... and soon.>

			* * * * *

Ranma walked in a random direction, her head hung low.  <What could I
have done to make everybody so angry?>  It was pitch-black night, and
most of the lights were out.  Everywhere she went, people would treat
her with hatred and contempt.  As it were, it was in the fringes of 
autumn, and the cold wind beat at Ranma, causing her to shiver.  <God
help me before I freeze to death.> She silently pleaded.  She slumped
down in the dark, back to a wall.

Nodoka Saotome was returning home from getting the groceries.  She had
talked to an old friend and caught up with events, causing her to be
late to come back.  Her husband had gone on another training trip, 
so she was okay.  Her thoughts were that of Ranma.  <Ranma... your 
unmanly acts have caused disgrace in the Saotome line!  If I ever find
you... You must commit seppuku.>

Her train of thought suddenly ended when she saw onna-Ranma, hugging
her knees, shivering.

"Ranko-chan!  You must be freezing!  Let's take you home."

onna-Ranma was still deep in thought when her mom called her.  When
she realized her mom was calling her Ranko, she snapped back to 
attention.  "Hi, Auntie Saotome.  Nice to see you.  And let me carry 
that."  She then followed her mom home, bags in hand, nowhere to go 
and wanting a good place to stay.

They arrived at Nodoka's house.  "You can set the bags down over 
there."

"Yes, Auntie."

"Why don't you help me prepare supper?  It'll be so wonderful with
you around."

Ranma hated doing 'feminine' things like cooking, but she complied, 
deciding to take the time to think.  She had been doing that a lot 
lately, with the whole town of Nerima breathing down her neck.

<I've repeated this over ten thousand times in my head already...
so why not this once?  Why the heck is the town out for blood against
me... Whoah!>

Ranma's heart skipped a beat.  Some hot water had splashed awfully 
close to her.  <If my mom finds out... seppuku time!>  She shuddered
at the thought.

"Oh dear!  I'm sorry Ranko-chan.  You could have been burned."

<Being scalded is the least of my problems.>

Nodoka and Ranma finished making supper, and sat down to eat.  Both 
were quiet.  Ranma tried to initiate some conversation, thinking it
will get her some answers.

"How's Ranma doing?  I haven't seen him in a while."

Nodoka suddenly tightened her grip on the chopsticks.  Ranma froze.

"Ranko... I don't want to talk about it."

"What happened?  Did you two fight or something?"

"Ranko-chan... from what I heard, Ranma did some things that got 
everyone in Nerima very angry at him.  He would lie, cheat and steal to
get the things he wanted, from anyone he could.  He shames the Saotome
name.  He is very unmanly.  He should commit seppuku..." Nodoka stopped
as tears streamed down her eyes.

onna-Ranma felt a pang of guilt strike inside her chest.  <Was the 
alternate me really that bad?  Could I become that monster?  Was it
really possible?>  Then she realized her mom was crying.  She went over
and comforted her.  <Mom...  I'm here... yet I can't comfort you... I
feel so helpless...>  She then realized tears were inadvertently
forcing themselves out of her as well.  <I won't cry!  I have to be
strong for mom!  I won't cry...>  Ranma forced her tears back, but it
was no use.

They stayed in each other's embrace, crying their feelings away.

			* * * * *

Akane and Shampoo popped out of the portal, Shampoo carrying the mirror.

Akane said, "Let's check the surroundings for Ranma!"

She didn't have to wait long.

onna-Ranma was walking by on the fence.  She was grumbling something 
about a stupid old witch.  She noticed Akane and hopped down.

"Hey Akane!  What're you doing here?"

"Ranma?  What are you doing in your girl form?"

"I've got the cat's tongue, remember?  Stupid old witch... doing that
to me!"

"I don't believe you.  You got cured, right?"

"I haven't gotten the cure yet.  Try me."

Akane produced a kettle from nowhere and dumped it on Ranma.  Ranma
instantly flinched away from the water.

"See?  I told you."

"Stupid pervert girl!  This not Ranma from our world!"

"How the heck do you know that?"

"See?  Compass say it right here."  Sure enough, Akane read the words
'This is not our Ranma' on the top.  Akane facefaulted.

"Okay, Shampoo!  See ya later, Ranma!"

Shampoo took the mirror and compass, and thought of Ranma.  Akane held
Shampoo's hand as they both disappeared in a bright flash of light.

<I wonder what they're up to?>  Ranma thought, then hopped back up on
the fence again.

			* * * * *

"Thank you so much, Ranko-chan.  I don't know what I would have done
without you.  It's just that... I was so lonely since my dear husband
had gone on another training trip and..."

"Aw, it was nothin'."  <It's my duty to Mom, here, even if I'm not 
supposed to be here.>

"You don't have a place to stay, dear?  You were out on the street.
It's not safe for girls to be on the street so far into the night.
Why don't you stay for a night?  I may not have much here, but it's
better than the street."

Ranma hesitated, then finally decided it was for the best.

"Thank you very much, Auntie."

			* * * * *

Onna-Ranma stared up at the ceiling.  She was beside her mother, who
was sleeping peacefully.  Ranma could not go to sleep.  Twinges of 
guilt were still nibbling at her inside.  <This stupid curse... I can't
face my mom anymore in my real form!  Even my mom hates me!  My mom
hates me...>  A tear rolled down her cheek.  <God, I'm crying again.
I have to pull myself together.>  She went to the kitchen to get a 
drink.  She poured some warm water in a cup and sipped.  As she sipped,
she heard a purr behind her.  Her hair stood on end.  She slowly turned
her head around.  She did not like what she saw.

It was a cat.  Not a scary or frightening cat, but a cat nonetheless.
Ranma's nerves told her there was only one thing she could do.

She screamed, spilling the warm water all over her, transforming her
back into a man.

			* * * * *

Nodoka woke up at the start of a loud and high-pitched scream.  <Oh no!
Something must have happened to Ranko-chan!>  On impulse, she rushed
over to where the scream had originated.  She recognized a very male 
Ranma holding a glass.  The cat had disappeared out of sight.

"Ranma!  What are you doing here and what have you done with Ranko-chan?"

"Mom!  It's not what you think..."

"Your past actions have shamed you as a man!  In order to satisfty your
family's honor, you and you alone must commit seppuku!"

Ranma did the only he knew he could do.  He bolted.  It was an unmanly
act, for sure, but one couldn't care about these things with one's life
on the line.

<Hey, at least Mom doesn't know about my curse.>

Five minutes later, it rained.

<And it _had_ to rain.>

Onna-Ranma considered going back to her mom's house, but decided it was
too dangerous for her, with her body attracting water in either form.
She trudged through the rain, in the dark and lonely night.

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Author's Notes:
'Agamar rules the galaxy' is borrowed from Star Wars: Wraith Squadron.
I had to find _some_ funny phrase and this one just popped up.

I still can't think of anything to replace the button.  Maybe a brooch?

Nodoka doesn't know about Ranma's curse because it's easier to set up
that way.  (Plus Nodoka knows about Ranma already)  It also adds to 
the confusion.

Akane and Shampoo are gonna have lots of fun...

-Next Part: Ryouga!  Shampoo!  Ukyou!  Will Ranma finally seek refuge?
What about the normal-reality Shampoo and Akane?

C&C Very very welcome

April 19-26, 1998



Jonathan Ng
jonathan@worldy.com