Subject: For Every: Part 12b, Part 13, Interlude Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 20:50:06 -0400 From: Harold Ancell To: David Johnston References: <19987121935016334@ix.netcom.com> <3.0.5.32.19980713123215.0123b980@pop.access.digex.net> Date: Sun, 14 Dec 1997 12:57:55 -0700 From: David Johnston Subject: [FFML] [Fanfic] For Every Action Part 12 For Every Action Part 12 Most characters and situations in this story are the property of Takahashi Rumiko and are used without consent but without the desire to give offense. David Johnston, rgorman@telusplanet.net _____________________________________________________________ Ranma's first impulse was to follow Akane around on her date. It's not that he was jealous, since he was confident that Akane was even less comfortable in her boy form than he was in his girl form. He just would have enjoyed watching _her_ squirm for a change as she tried to "reason" with a chibi-Shampoo. But...that would have meant missing Kasumi's dinner, and he was hungry. And so it was that he was deeply engrossed in one of favourite activities when Mr. Tendo happened to ask, "Ranma, where is my daughter?" at exactly the wrong moment. Ranma answered, "Hork!" as he inhaled injudiciously. Mr. Tendo began to grow angry. "Stop pretending to choke, and answer the question!" "Glark!" Ranma responded, slamming his fist into his chest. "Er... daddy, I think he's really choking," intervened Nabiki. "Urk!" "Please excuse me," Kasumi said to Ranma and, for the first time in anyone's recollection, clenched her fist. She punched him solidly in exactly the right place to dislodge the blockage. "N-nice one, Kasumi. Thanks. (hic!)" Kasumi smiled. "I hope I didn't hurt you too badly, but drastic measures seemed to be called for. Have some water." Soun looked at his eldest daughter, puzzled, and asked, "How did you know how to do that?" "I sometimes actually read the books I borrow from Dr. Tofu, Father." Soun nodded and said, "Well done." As Kasumi blushed, he turned back to Ranma. "But you still haven't answered my question." Ranma was still gulping water as Nabiki answered for him, "Oh, did I forget to tell you? Akane's out with her girlfriend tonight." A mouthful of water sprayed out, and Nabiki looked irritatedly at Ranma. "Eating with you is _such_ an adventure. Anyway, as I was saying, Akane wanted me to tell you she'd be out with one of her friends. They're going to some movie, I think." Mollified, Soun sat back and chided, "You should take Akane out one of these days, Ranma. I'm sure she'd enjoy sharing a movie with you." While he was talking, Nabiki silently mouthed, "You owe me" at Ranma. Ranma shrugged and said to Kasumi, "Great meal, and thanks for the save. Gotta go." He ducked out as quickly as possible, and headed for the Nekohanten. ________________________________________________________________ Akane looked down at the dark pools of devotion looking up at her and sighed. "Look Bie-Deh, there is no way that you can be in love with me because I knocked you out. That's just...weird!" "Is easier...to...marry when decide be...to...be in love." Bie-Deh assured her, struggling to get the Japanese words out. Aaargh! The monomaniac just wouldn't take a hint, but was so nice about it! Akane missed having suitors she didn't mind hitting. Kuno had a lot of good points in retrospect. Akane struggled onward with her line of reasoning, "Well yes, but it's better if you fall in love first and then marry the man you love." "Bie-Deh do fall in love. Now Bie-Deh just be so-so nice that Kaneda fall in love. Then marry! Is right way, yes?" "Gaaaah!" Maybe it would be all right to hit her after all. It wasn't as if Akane was really a guy, even if she looked like one at the moment. "Bie-Deh sorry. She know Kaneda shy. Should not push before husband ready. Just be so nice..." Bie-Deh seeped closer, smiling as she continued, "...so nice that Kaneda want..." Akane didn't back up fast enough as the Kawaii Bakemono latched on. "...go on next date, yes?" She moved in for the kiss, both arms around Akane's neck. "Uhhh..." No. Akane put her hand up and started to push Bie-Deh away, then realised what she was now touching, and snatched her hands back to peel Bie-Deh's from her neck. As she did so, the pressure from Bie-Deh suddenly vanished as a green and black blur sent the little Chinese Amazon flying into the alley behind them. "Ohohohoho! How dare you grope my Ranma-sama!" _______________________________________________________________ Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 12:07:18 -0700 From: David Johnston Subject: [FFML] [Fanfic] [Ranma] For Every Action Part 13 This fanfiction is based on characters and situations created by Rumiko Takahashi. No offense intended And Now For A Word From Our Sponsor: The first 11 parts are now available in the RAAC archive. When I get another 30 kb together, I'll send the later parts in as well. For Every Action Part 13 David Johnston rgorman@telusplanet.net _________________________________________________________ At the Nekohanten, Shampoo's face lit up at the sight of her fiance. "Ai ren!" she greeted him, "Want some ramen?" Behind her, Mousse gritted his teeth, resolving to keep on watch on Ranma so that any insult could be avenged later. In the Nekohanten itself, Ranma was untouchable. Ranma looked around. Akane and Bie-Deh were nowhere to be seen. Now that he thought about it, he'd just assumed that the restaurant they'd go to was the Nekohanten. "Actually I came to ask you about your friend Bee-Deh." "Who?" "Maybe I'm pronouncing it wrong. Bei-Deh? Bie-Deh?" "Ranma always pronounce Amazon name wrong. What she look like?" "Kind of like you, but shorter, with black eyes and bright blue hair; uses a weighted chain to fight. There was a pause. "Shampoo has no friend like that." "She said..." Ranma paused. He generally relied on his viscera more than his brain, but now he was starting to think. "I need to talk to Cologne." "OK. She in kitchen." Cologne was cooking the next set of orders for her customers as Ranma walked in. "Well, son-in-law, did you come to ask Shampoo out, or was it me?" Cologne's eyes glittered a little with amusement as Ranma shuddered. "Come to think of it, I did run into an old boyfriend of yours last night. Maybe he'll ask you out...old ghoul." Cologne briskly rapped him on the head and then asked, "Who are you talking about?" "A guy who calls himself Mizu. He claims to have taught you the Shark-Fist." Cologne paused to consider a vivid memory from her youth of being transformed into a boy and tried before the Amazon Elders before saying, "Water, eh? Yes, I remember such a person. I take it, you're the latest target of his sense of humor?" "Yeah," Ranma half-lied, "What's with that guy, anyway?" She eyed him and dryly reprimanded, "If you don't learn to ask meaningful questions, you can not expect to receive useful answers." "Well, what is he? How can I take him on?" "He is an elemental spirit, and so has great control over his element, being most dangerous in its vicinity. Apart from that, he has the magical power represented by his element. As fire excels at destruction, air at movement, metal at durability, and wood at bringing forth life; so water is the element which transforms what it touches or is transformed. He can transform others or himself with frightening ease. Apart from that, he is also an immortal who has studied martial arts for longer than I have been alive, although perhaps not so intensely," Cologne lectured, ominously. "What about weaknesses?" Ranma prodded. "He's bound by his word, far more than than any human could be. Once he makes a promise or bargain, he is quite incapable of violating its wording. He's bored enough that he'll accept challenges that restrict him from using his full power, and the more he is separated from his element, the weaker he is." ________________________________________________________ It really was an honest mistake. Kodachi recognised Ranma's favourite outfit, heard a piping Chinese accent, and was downright eager to have some fun. True, maybe the hair was wrong, but the wealthy-and-therefore-eccentric gymnast wasn't overly inclined to sweat the details. Batman, the Joker, and Poison Ivy all wrapped into one slender package, she snagged a convenient projection and swung into action. Knocking the impertinent interloper aside, she slid into the arms of her beloved...wait a moment... This boy was NOT Ranma. He was taller and more muscular. He didn't look very happy though. Akane snarled, "Kodachi!" Kodachi blushed in embarassment at her mistake, wondering how this first grade slab of beef knew her, "I'm terribly sorry, sir. The clothes you are wearing-" "Dress ruined! Kiss ruined! Obstacles are for killing!". Akane just stepped back as Bie-Deh surged at Kodachi like a tsunami. *Should I stop her?* Akane wondered. If Bie-Deh actually killed Kodachi, that would mean a lot of legal problems, but Akane had trouble believing the little Chinese girl would actually kill someone...deliberately that is. On the other hand that grip on Kodachi's throat did look pretty enthusiastic. Akane sighed and pulled Bie-Deh off, warning "Don't get carried away, Bie-Deh. Amazon laws won't keep you from going to jail here if you actually kill her, and she's more like an irritant than an obstacle." Kodachi gasped for breath like a drowning victim as she rolled backwards and up to her feet. "Irritant" was she? She'd show them irritation. She smiled and her eyes glittered in the darkness as she began to speak, "My love...how could you let this gaijin treat me that way; when only last night you swore that she meant nothing to you and you would soon be rid of her? How cruel!" Akane tried to interrupt but was overridden by the rolling Kuno Soliliquy (tm) as she continued, "To use a young girl's affections and then to discard her, such is the act of the lowest kind of man. You seducer of innocents! Enemy of women!" Akane looked at Bie-Deh, staring back at "him" with trembling lips and wide teary eyes. "Oh, come on, you don't actually..." Wait. This was her chance. Ranma's problem was he didn't have the courage to reject girls, even for their own good. She wouldn't even lie to Bie-Deh, really. She took a deep breath and said, "Well, didn't you think that I might already have someone I was going to marry? It's not as if I came to your village and looked to challenge you. You attacked me! I've been trying to break it to you gently, but it's your own fault if you got hurt." Bie-Deh turned red as steamed lobster. "Kaneda Baka!" Her leg whipped out to deliver a kick to Akane's shin that sent pain shooting up to her hip. "She nasty! You stupid ...to... pick her over nice fiancee! Is not fair!" The blue haired girl turned and ran. Crouched down to grab her injured leg, Akane looked after Bie-Deh, imagining she could actually see a stream of tears floating in the air behind her "fiancee". It was for her own good, but Akane couldn't help whispering Bie-Deh's name as the girl fled. Meanwhile Kodachi watched in confusion. She hadn't expected her trick to work quite so well...unless... "Oh Kaneda-san, have you truly longed for me from afar? But my heart is already given to another!" Akane straightened up from where she was crouching, appalled by what was about to happen. Desperately she said, "NO! I wasn't=" "Ohohoho-kaff! How shy! You do seem to have many of the qualities I so admire in my Ranma-sama, so perhaps we shall discuss this again!" Kodachi tossed a single black rose and as Akane hastily dodged, the Black Rose leapt back into the darkness. Akane looked after her and sighed. Maybe marrying Bie-Deh wasn't such a bad option after all. __________________________________________________