Well folks, here's the first fic I posted in a while.... I'd love to
hear comments or criticisms.
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For Love of Kodachi
Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@hotmail.com)
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. And
all that other good stuff. Proper licenses belong to respective
properties and characters. The manga takes precedence over material in
the anime.
This file can be freely distributed so long as it appears in its
complete form and proper credit. No part may be reproduced for monetary
gain without permission from the author. (to which the answer is
probably "no")
Author's note: This story takes place after the wedding fiasco in
Vol.38.
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Opening theme: Little Date
It was to Kodachi's surprise that she received a note from Ranma,
asking to see her later that day.
In fact, Kodachi was so elated that she invited her fellow students
from St. Hebereke to witness what she believed was the day. The day that
Ranma would side his heart with Kodachi.
I knew your heart wasn't with that Tendo girl, Kodachi thought to
herself. Never before had Ranma asked to see her, never! This was a
change after all!
She stood alone in the middle of the park, standing near the fountain
that dominated the park's heart. The water cascaded from its peak down
to the cool pool below, spouting from the mouth of some exotic fish.
Kodachi's peers hid amongst the bushes at the edge of the plaza, among
them Gosunkugi, whom Kodachi paid to take pictures for her.
Ranma-darling, you picked such a wonderful spot!
It was well-after the time when Furinkan High's students were
dismissed for the day; Ranma chose that moment to make his entrance--
alone. He wore his usual Chinese shirt and pants, hands in his pockets,
head held high, whistling to himself, as if what he was walking into was
no problem at all.
At once Ranma spotted Kodachi. More to the contrary, Kodachi spotted
him.
"Ranma-darling!" Kodachi cried, elated, her arms outstretched, ready
to hug her beloved.
Ranma's calm expression turned serious. Avoiding Kodachi's embrace, he
said, "Kodachi, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's very
important." He waved a hand toward the rim of the fountain. "I think
you'd better sit."
Kodachi immediately complied, unable to contain her eagerness. Her
legs bounced against the ground, as if she were ready to run. "I'm
waiting, my dearest!"
Ranma took his seat at the fountain, careful to keep another person's
distance between himself and the crazed schoolgirl. He scratched his
head nervously. "I don't know where to start."
"You can get to the point, or start from the beginning," offered
Kodachi. I can wait forever; I want to savor this moment!
"Well, okay, the beginning," Ranma decided. Clearing his throat, he
said, "Kodachi, I'll admit that I don't really know you. I should be
flattered that you always think of me...."
It was at that point that Kodachi decided to stop listening, being
consumed by her own thoughts of marrying Ranma, of ridding herself of
those three common girls, of living happily ever after. Of being loved.
"...and I'm kind of surprised at your behavior lately...."
I can't believe it! He's finally seen me for what I am! He's no longer
afraid of me! Oh, how wonderful!
"...so what I'm trying to say is, that...."
"Ranma, I love you too!" Kodachi cried spontaneously, hurling herself
with arms-open at the young Saotome.
"Wha...?!" was all Ranma could yelp before Kodachi collided with his
person, sending Ranma back-first into the pool, Kodachi clamping herself
onto him.
Head submerged under water, Ranma wanted to scream as Kodachi pressed
her lips onto his own. A deep, passionate kiss. Ranma flailed wildly,
her eyes ready to burst, arms throwing water all about and over the rim
of the fountain pool.
Had Kodachi's eyes been opened, she might have seen her beloved Ranma
transform into the hated pig-tailed girl. Unfortunately for her, her
peers from school rushed from their hiding places, gathering around the
pool with shocked stares. Gosunkugi waded to the rim of the fountain
pool, taking pictures of the two teens.
It was then that Ranma forced herself to the surface of the pool,
throwing Kodachi off herself quickly. She took several deep breaths,
having been lacking oxygen for a few moments-- perhaps almost a minute?
Kodachi landed on her back, her school uniform soaked, absorbing the
dirt lying on the ground. Her eyes still closed, she breathed several
hard breaths, letting the world sink into herself. Oh, it felt so good!
That is, until the disturbing murmurs of her companions woke her from
her reverie.
"Kodachi, I didn't know...."
"I don't believe what you just did!"
"What happened to that guy?"
"Oh, was this what you wanted to show us?"
"I took the pictures, just like you said!"
Kodachi sat up. Her eyes opened to the sight of several shocked faces
staring at her. "So, how was it?" she asked, unaware of just what
happened. "Where's Ranma?"
"I'm right here, you idiot," a feminine voice shouted over the others.
The female Ranma pushed her way to the center of the circle around the
Kuno girl. "You kissed a girl!"
Kodachi's look turned venomous. "You! What have you done to my Ranma?"
It was then Gosunkugi caught Kodachi's attention. "Well, I got your
pictures right here." He presented her with several Polaroid pictures,
still awaiting the time to finish self-developing themselves. "May I
have my pay now?" he asked nervously, obviously ready to dart.
Kodachi reached into a pocket and produced a wad of wet yen bills.
"Take it and get out of here!"
Gosunkugi accepted the bills, then forced his way out of the circle.
With that, the Kuno girl stood up, the unfinished Polaroid pictures in
her hand. She stared at the pig-tailed girl with flaring anger. "I asked
you a question, and I want you to answer it!!"
Ranma folded her arms across her chest. "Well, if you want to know,
why don't you look at the stupid pictures."
"Fine, I will!" Kodachi said, fanning the Polaroids before her eyes.
By this time she could make out her own features, and that of Ranma,
just moments before they hit the pool.
But, as she flipped through the Polaroids, the smug look on her face
turned into terrible panic. There they were, pictures of the pig-tailed
girl, submerged in the pool, with Kodachi on top of her, pressing her
lips against her shocked face.
"No...." was all Kodachi could say, backing away. "This... no!"
"Pictures don't lie," Ranma pointed out. "You brought this upon
yourself."
Kodachi continued to back away, the circle of St. Hebereke girls
breaking for her. "No, no, no!"
"I didn't know you were gay," someone commented.
"What would the others say?" said another.
"I had no idea...."
"That leaves more boys for me...."
"We'd better watch out next time...."
"...she might come for one of us!"
"NOOOOOOOO!!!!" Kodachi screamed, her voice echoing throughout the
park.
Kodachi fought the tears that streamed down her eyes, lowering her
head so the others couldn't see. And then, turning, she ran.
Tatewaki Kuno entered the empty rooms of the Kuno estate only to be
greeted by the sound of wailing.
"How odd," Kuno told himself, "that there would be a voice in these
grounds that suffer, without the presence of Father!"
Silently, Kuno used his ears to follow the wailing to its source. He
made his way down the hallways, oblivious of where he was, until he came
to a stop.
At Kodachi's door.
He knocked.
"Go away," was the response from within.
"It's me, your brother."
"I don't care, go away!"
Kuno shook his head. No, it simply wouldn't do to live in the same
house as a wailing maniac. Not if said wailing maniac was your own
sister.
He opened the door.
Kodachi sat huddled in the corner, wearing a damp school uniform, her
head buried in her arms. Before her, face-down, were several Polaroid
pictures, the depiction of which Kuno had no doubt disturbed his sister.
She continued to sob, letting the tears roll down her cheeks and to her
arms. No doubt she'd been crying for quite a while.
"I thought I told you to go away," Kodachi said, stifling a sob.
"I admit, I've never seen you in such a condition," Kuno said. "What
circumstances have gotten you to this undesirable point?"
She said nothing, only pointing a waving finger at the discarded
Polaroids before her.
Kuno squatted, gathering the Polaroids with his hands. With all the
Polaroids in his hands, he sifted through them, one at a time.
The first picture that greeted him was of Kodachi jumping onto Ranma
Saotome.
"I told you he was no good for you," Kuno said. "You shouldn't have
tried to love an evil man."
"That's not it!" protested Kodachi. "It's much worse!"
Kuno took a few silent moments to sift through the rest of the
Polaroids. To say that he was in shock was an understatement.
"The pig-tailed girl...."
"Your stupid goddess has defiled me!" Kodachi screamed, almost
seemingly ready to bite at her brother. "She... oh, how can I face the
others again?!"
"I don't believe this...."
"I can't stand to live with this on my head!"
Kuno nodded. He put the Polaroids in his pocket, then sat himself down
against the wall, next to his weeping sister. He placed his arms around
the girl, cradling her lovingly.
"It's not the end of the world."
"Yes, it is."
"I'll destroy the pictures for you. I'll make sure the damage is
undone. You'll see, everything will be all right again."
Kodachi's head raised to meet her brother's eyes. Without a word, she
buried it again, this time in her brother's arms.
"Don't let go...."
"Shhh. I'm still here," Kuno assured his sister. "I'm not leaving
you."
"You never did know when...."
"No, I suppose not."
*Sniff.* "You always were there...."
"Yes, I know."
"Even when I didn't want you...."
Kuno nodded. "Love may have gotten you into this, Kocchi, but love
will certainly see you through it as well...."
The next day was overcast. Ranma ran alone to school, fearing that he
would be late for the first class. He turned into the gates of Furinkan
High, only to be welcomed by an awesome spectacle.
"Greetings, Saotome," greeted Kuno.
Forming a half-circle on the inside of the school wall was the Kendo
team in its entirety, blocking all passage into and out of the school
grounds.
"Oh brother," Ranma muttered.
"Saotome, it has come to my attention that you were involved in a
scandal with my sister, the victim," declared Kuno.
"What about it?" asked Ranma impatiently.
"Your involvement in the scandal has caused me to take extreme
measures to rectify it," explained Kuno. "Your involvement will yield
appropriate punishment."
"Well, whatever," Ranma said, shrugging.
Something tapped Ranma on the head.
The young Saotome looked up at the overcast sky, watching as tiny
drops of rain assaulted him. Then more. And more. Until it started
pouring.
"Pig-tailed girl!" exclaimed Kuno in surprise. "How did you get
here?!"
Ranma peered at Kuno critically. "Stupid."
"Saotome's punishment can wait; I have business with you," announced
Kuno.
Unfortunately, to Ranma's surprise, Kuno didn't greet her with open
arms. Instead, he greeted her with a long, steel katana. The blade slid
from its sheath without a sound, exposing the cold, hard blade against
the pouring rain. If one inspected the blade carefully, one would have
found the characters for 'Kuno' inscripted upon it.
"You...." Kuno said ominously.
The female Ranma held up her arms in surprise. "Kuno-darling! Don't
point that at me! It was an accident! Honest! I thought you loved me!"
Kuno didn't seem to listen. The members of the Kendo team spread out
to complete the fighting circle, surrounding their leader and the
pig-tailed girl in the center.
"To think, I once loved you," Kuno cried. "The insult you have brought
upon my undeserving sister, and my family... SHALL NOT GO UNPUNISHED!!"
Raising katana high, Kuno charged, shouting, "HAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
Closing theme: Don't Mind Lay-lay Boy
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Author's Rant
This fic's purpose was to help illustrate Kodachi and Kuno-- how close
they stick together in their worst times. Hey, you would too, if this
happened to YOUR sister. I know I'd do it, too, except I don't have a
steel katana at my disposal ^^;;; The bond between brother and sister is
much stronger than love of another. What happened to Ranma is completely
up to you, but in my version, he's fish bait.
I'm not really good at/eager to do one-shot fics. Seriously.
http://www.crosswinds.net/anaheim/~slythe/ranma/ranff.html
<!-- End File -->
"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5.
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Jump. Jump now!"--Kosh, Babylon 5, making some sense.
--Razorclaw X
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