________________________________________________________________________
J. Austin Wilde and Fission Park Press proudly present:
RANMA GOES TO WAR
by J. Austin Wilde, K.B.C.S.
Safety Control Rod Axe Man,
Fission Park Press
wildeman@psn.net
http://www.psn.net/~wildeman/
"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting
to die for one's country. But in modern war there is
nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die
like a dog for no good reason."
-Ernest Hemingway
"There's many a boy today who looks on war as all glory,
but, boys, it is all hell."
-Gen. William T. Sherman
________________________________________________________________________
Revised Introduction...
"Ranma Goes to War" was my first fanfiction effort. Next to its
sequel "Chasing the Wind," it is probably the story I am best known for
in the world of Ranma 1/2 fanfiction. It's been almost two years since I
wrote it, and looking back, there were parts of the story that didn't
quite achieve what I intended in the first telling. Few writers ever get
the opportunity to revise their works after publication, but at least in
fanfiction (where none of us gets paid and we answer to no one save our
readers) we have this opportunity. It seems a shame to waste it. This is
not a full-blown rewrite, but I would have to say it is an extensive
revision with a great deal of new material filling in the parts that
were previously dealt with only briefly during the connecting narrative.
At the time I first wrote "Ranma Goes to War" (December 1995 to
January 1996), a Second Korean War was already a real and even immediate
possibility. There were many indications that the North Koreans, their
people starving and their leadership under intense pressure from their
military to act, were preparing to launch an attack during the late spring
or early summer of 1996.
In light of this critical period in time, the Special Warfare
submarine _USS Kamehameha,_ of which I was a member of its Engineering
Department, deployed to Korea for Operation Foal Eagle 1995. The details
of the _Kam's_ operations outside of the Foal Eagle wargames are of course
classified, but I'm sure you can draw your own conclusions as to our true
purpose there. Personally, I'm very glad that war never materialized, as
I would have been right there in the middle of it. Spec Ops were harrowing
enough at times without riding the oldest boat in the fleet (built by the
lowest bidder) in a full-blown shooting war.
In this story I have tried to convey what a Second Korean War might
be like for Ranma and Company. Whether Japan would actually send troops
to fight in a Korean conflict is up for debate, but with German involvement
in NATO action in Bosnia, and the steady downsizing and withdrawal of the
United States military from the Western Pacific, Japan might well find
itself left in the position of having to take care of itself in a war.
__________________________________________________________________________
Chapter One
The summer of 1995 had come to Nerima the way it had for years past
count. School was over for awhile. For some, however, school was over for
good.
Ranma Saotome, fresh from his eighteenth birthday, had graduated from
Furinkan High. This was a fact that surprised some, particularly the
faculty. Despite his never being much of scholar, he had done well on his
final exams, and his prospects for college weren't half bad.
For his part, Ranma had no particular interest in further schooling.
It distracted him from his true talent: Martial Arts. He had already made
up his mind about not going to college in the fall, and nothing his father
or Mister Tendo could say would change it. After all, neither of *them* had
been to college.
Akane's performance was outstanding, a fact which surprised no one.
She would be attending college in the fall with her older sister Nabiki.
This was a last summer of sorts, and the thought of it had forged an uneasy
(and unspoken) peace between Akane and Ranma.
The Tendo Dojo was particularly quiet that afternoon. Soun Tendo and
Genma Saotome played shogi, as they always did, in the waning sun. The
heady aroma of Kasumi's cooking filled the air. Even the koi in the pond
seemed content with the remains of the day.
Nabiki, home for the summer, was perched before the television
watching the news. She curled her legs up to her chin and watched the
screen. They had acquired a satellite receiver through unknown (and
dubious) means, though no one was arguing much about it. CNN was tuned
in.
Ranma and Akane came into the living room from separate directions.
Both plopped down beside each other to watch the news with Nabiki.
Nabiki held her tongue, deciding that if Ranma and Akane decided to sit
next to each other, who was she to argue. Their truce was keeping the
place quiet, though she missed the good old days already.
"What are you watching?" Akane asked.
"CNN. It's the top of the hour, so the headlines are coming up. I'm
only watching for the financial reports though." Nabiki replied.
"What? You mean you don't have a ticker tape machine constantly
feeding you Nikkei Index reports?" Ranma chided.
"My dear Ranma, please get with the times. My laptop with cellular
modem receives all the information I require in that intelligence spectrum.
I simply wish to evaluate my options from a human side. The Market is,
after all, based on perception."
"Sorry I asked," Ranma said lamely.
"Shhh!" Akane hissed. "The headlines are next."
They all turned their attentions towards the small screen. The
Indomitable Sturm Blitzen appeared on screen, the Herald of World Conflict
for CNN. He was on some sort of ship at sea. Japanese subtitles flicked
across the screen as he began to speak.
"This is Sturm Blitzen reporting to you live from the Arleigh Burke
destroyer _USS John S. McCain,_ currently deployed near the Spratly Islands
in the South China Sea. The _McCain_ is part of a surface task force trying
to project a sense of stability to the sea lanes around the Spratly Islands.
Tensions between Western Pacific Nations have been very high the past few
days with formal proclamations of ownership by at least eight countries:
Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, the People's Republic of
China, Singapore, and Japan..."
"What the heck do we want with a bunch of islands out in the middle
of the ocean?" Ranma asked. Nabiki shushed him. Blitzen continued.
"The Spratly Islands have become an economic boon for the surrounding
nations with the discovery of vast mineral wealth, particularly crude
oil..."
"You see, my dear Ranma, Japan relies almost entirely on foreign oil.
If we were to develop our own resources, we would rid ourselves of a vast
drain on our energy dependent economy," Nabiki supplied.
"So what are the Americans doing there? They can't possibly have a
claim to those islands as well," Ranma asked.
"The Americans are just playing policeman again. I say let them. It
spares us the expense of using our own Maritime Self Defense Force ships."
The CNN anchor was on again. Superimposed behind him was a map of the
Korean peninsula.
"In other news in the region, the military Junta that deposed
former ruler Kim Jong Il of North Korea has demanded trade concessions
with their cousins in the south. Such demands were met with great
criticism in Seoul..."
The screen then shifted to show file footage dated from last winter.
An American officer in green camouflage fatigues was speaking.
"As we learned during the recent Foal Eagle exercises with Republic
of Korea forces, this next year will prove to be the year of North
Korea's discontent..."
"What did he mean by that?" Akane asked.
Nabiki sighed. "He was making a reference to Steinbeck. What he
means is that North Korea is bankrupt without support from China and the
foundering Russian Republics. If they don't take drastic measures, they'll
be completely ruined."
"Oh well," Ranma sighed. "It really doesn't affect us at all."
Nabiki was about to rebuke him when Kasumi appeared in the room.
"Dinner's ready!" the eldest Tendo daughter declared cheerfully.
Such matters were forgotten...
* * *
Weeks had passed since that afternoon, and it was a quiet evening in
the house. Everyone had gone to bed save for Ranma. He stood out on the
balcony of the dojo, watching the stars. It was a glorious night, filled
with heavenly light.
**It was time I said something to her,** he thought to himself. It
seemed that as far as Akane was concerned, words that were so easy to say
in his heart became a tangle, driven by frustration into the inevitable
cutting remark that he never meant to say, but came out anyway. **It's
gonna be different this time!** he vowed. Soon she would be away at college;
hers would be a different life from the one they'd shared these last two
years. He had to do something, say something, or he just might blow it for
good.
He had already dropped the ball after the ruined wedding attempt. In
the year since then, he had often argued with himself that it was better
that it hadn't happened. After all, they were just kids then! Things were
different now, and he knew his own mind better -at least he thought he did.
"Ranma?"
Ranma jumped in surprise as the subject of his thoughts appeared behind
him in the door. His inner will to do what had to be done crumbled with an
inaudible crash.
"Uh, yeah?" he asked. "What's up?"
Akane's eyes sparkled in the starlight. "I was just wondering where
you had run off to. That's all."
"Oh," he replied with some relief. "Well, now you know."
"It's a nice night, huh?" she asked, settling next to him along the
balcony rail. Although she rarely wore perfume, Ranma found the sweet scent
of her short blue-black hair unnerving.
"Yeah," Ranma replied lamely, still smelling her hair on the breeze.
"Real nice."
A shooting star arced overhead. Akane gave no indication of having
noticed it. Ranma stood there in a kind of paralysis, waiting for Akane
to say something.
"Have you thought about what you're doing this fall yet?" she asked,
finally obliging him.
Her reminder of their dwindling time together hit home. He had to say
something to her!
"Uh, Akane...?" His voice was shaky, and he cursed himself silently
for such a weak start.
She didn't seem to notice. Or did she? "What is it, Ranma?" Her voice
had that tone about it that spoke volumes.
He found his small reserve of nerve failing. How could he say it when
she just stood there with her sparkling eyes and glowing skin and her hair
that smelled so... so... He couldn't think of anything to describe the way
her hair smelled, only that it made him feel so jittery and anxious and,
well, so *good,* dammit!
"Uh, I've been meaning to talk to you about something for awhile
now..." he forged on.
"Oh? About what?"
"Um... You see, I've been thinking. You go off to college this fall
and I'm going to be here at the dojo and, well, I..." His voice trailed
off.
She turned to look him in the eyes. Hers were now a little dewy, and
his heart started turning somersaults. **Say it, you coward!** a part of
his mind railed at him.
He opened his lips to say the one thing he'd wanted to tell her for
so long. To get his feelings for her out in the open, to cast aside all
pretense, all pent up frustrations, and petty stubborn defenses and just
tell her. He had told her once, when she lay apparently dead in his arms
after the battle with Saffron. Then, like a fool and a coward, he had
denied it.
Why couldn't he say it?
**Akane, I love you!**
Akane waited, her breath held.
"I... That is I... Well, you know we've known each other for awhile
and..." **Coward! Coward! Coward!** his mind screamed at him.
"Yes, Ranma?"
The distant and totally unexpected wail of a siren filled the night.
More sirens, closer than the first, took up the plaintive cry. Soon all
of greater Tokyo was filled with them. The roar of jet engines was far
away now, throaty and powerful, and any pretense that they were the engines
of passenger jets was immediately dispelled as they screamed aloft.
"What's going on?" Akane cried.
"It sounds like an air raid or something!" Ranma replied.
"Here? How? Who?"
"I don't know, but maybe we should get inside!"
Lights came on in the house and across the neighborhood as the sirens
continued to wail. Dogs barked, adding to the din. As Ranma and Akane
reached the house, they heard Kasumi saying something in the living room.
The rest of the family clustered around the television set. They sat in
bleary-eyed shock as NHK carried the news live.
"What's going on?" Akane asked them.
Soun pointed at the screen. "It appears we've been attacked." His
voice was solemn. "Nagasaki and Osaka. About fifteen minutes ago."
They watched images of smoke and fire raging around the seaports of
Nagasaki and Osaka for over an hour. The reports were coming in hurried
and even a little panicked. No one seemed to have any idea what was going
on or who was responsible. The government was keeping silent to the media.
Nabiki flipped to CNN in disgust. The handsome CNN anchor's polished
calm and detachment screamed in the face of the horror he now relayed to
the viewers. Japanese subtitles scrolled along the screen as he began
speaking.
"This just in... A ballistic missile attack was just launched in the
last hour ninety minutes from North Korea's Keumjonri Weapons Complex at
Japan and South Korea. At this time at least thirty Scud type missiles
have been fired. All diplomatic channels with the communist nation are
believed to have been severed simultaneously with the attack."
A spokesman for the White House appeared on screen for what was
obviously a hasty early morning press conference.
"At this time, the most I can disclose about the situation is that
both Japan and the Republic of Korea have been struck with several long
range ballistic missiles, and that there has been loss of life and
property. The Republic of Korea government has informed the President that
they now consider the Armistice of 1953 null and void, and that a state of
open warfare exists between the divided country.
"The United States will honor its defensive commitments to both South
Korea and Japan in the event of further military action by the North, and
we will be presenting to the United Nations a measure to impose further
economic sanctions and the suspension of humanitarian aid for this
unprovoked and inexcusable act."
The CNN anchor returned.
"We take you now to Sturm Blitzen, who is currently in the Sea of
Japan, near the center of the crisis."
The screen switched to Blitzen. The sky was dark, and the crackle of
announcements over a loudspeaker filled in the silence before his report.
A subtitle declared that the clip was recorded live.
"This is Sturm Blitzen reporting from the _USS Lake Erie,_ a guided
missile cruiser in the Sea of Japan and the flagship of the US Naval
surface forces in the Western Pacific..."
The ship appeared to shudder as a flash of brilliant orange light and
the harsh roar of rockets filled the screen. Several sailors could be heard
cheering over the sound of the rockets. The cameraman tracked a Standard
SM-2 missile climbing higher and higher into the sky, leveling off at high
altitude and disappearing from sight behind a bank of luminous clouds.
"I'm told that we're firing on a second wave of theater ballistic
missiles launched from North Korea at Japan. The first wave of the long
range Scud-type No Dong-1 missiles came largely by surprise not fifteen
minutes ago. I'm led to believe Nagasaki and Osaka were hit especially
hard, although details aboard the _Lake Erie_ are sketchy right now. As
far as I know, Tokyo and its surroundings have not been targeted."
An announcement was made over the ship's loudspeakers, but no one
watching could make out what was said. Blitzen appeared to take a cue from
someone off camera as a sailor, clad in a sweat stained fire-fighting
ensemble and a Scott Air-Pak, rushed by him with a limp firehose.
"The Captain has just ordered the ship to prepare for a possible
nuclear-biological-chemical attack. We'll have to go inside for now...
This is Sturm Blitzen reporting for CNN aboard the _USS Lake Erie._"
"Oh dear," Kasumi said softly, hand pressed to her cheek.
"Dad, does this mean we're at war?" Akane asked, suddenly very
frightened. The thought that someone could rain missiles down on their
heads while they waited helplessly was enough to make all of them
frightened.
"That might be very true," Soun replied somberly.
"Well they haven't attacked Tokyo, and now we've got a fleet out
there shooting the damn things down," Genma offered, which seemed to
bring a little calm back to the assembled family.
"Yeah, It's not like they're trying to invade us or nothing," Ranma
added.
When Ranma spoke Genma and Soun looked at each other, then Ranma,
then back to each other. Theirs was a grim countenance indeed.
"It'll all be over in a few days," Ranma said, trying as much to
comfort Akane as himself.
Genma and Soun shook their heads imperceptibly, now focused on the
sight of Ranma and Akane sitting close to each other. Neither was
conscious of the fact that their hands were now locked in the other's.
Chapter Two
The notice had come within the week. It was a shock to all save Soun
and Genma, who had known it would come, and yet remained stoically silent
on the matter. Ranma went out into the garden to look at it in private.
"You are to report no later than 10 July to the First Military District
Recruiting Depot for compulsory military service under the National
Emergency Act dated..." Ranma's voice trailed off as he read his draft
notice.
"Aw, this can't be happening to me!" he cried aloud. If there was any
sympathy for him from above, it failed to reveal itself.
"You must go, my son," Genma said evenly. Soun stood next to him with
a look of sorrow on his face. The two had appeared out of nowhere it seemed.
"It is your duty."
Ranma turned to face his grim faced father. The man wasn't getting
it, apparently.
"I understand all that, Pop. But why the hell does it have to be me?
I could care less about North Korea."
Genma's eyes widened.
"It doesn't mean anything to you that your own country was attacked?"
His father's words were lost upon him. "Yeah, but this is different.
Wars these days are fought with guns, not fists. What good would I be?"
Genma folded his arms over his chest.
"Then you will learn the ways of the rifle. It is your duty, son."
"I can't shoot anybody!" Ranma cried in protest. "Maybe beat 'em up a
little, if they have it coming, but I can't go killing anyone because of
some stupid..." His voice trailed off.
Genma was unmoved by his son's concerns.
"There are other paths than killing, my son."
Ranma went red. "If I go to Korea to fight, then I'll have no choice!
I'm not a killer, pop!"
Genma searched for a rebuke. He didn't want to see blood on his son's
hands either, but there was honor and duty to think of.
"Maybe if they find out about my little 'secret' they'd disqualify me
from service," Ranma thought aloud.
Genma was livid. "You will not bring such disgrace upon the Saotome
name!" He eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "I didn't want to have to bring
this up, but what would your mother think about you refusing your MANLY
duty to Japan?"
Ranma swallowed hard. Was his old man bluffing about telling mom? There
was one way to find out.
"Supposing I did refuse to go, and you did tell mom," Ranma said
slowly. "And supposing mom makes me commit seppuku. That would mean you
would have to kill yourself too, wouldn't it?"
Genma nodded. Tears welled in his eyes. "Yes son, I would. For the
glory of Japan, I would."
Ranma started. He was expecting his old man to realize his mistake and
back down, but the fool was going ahead with it! He never thought anything
would make Genma Saotome forsake his instinct for self-preservation, and
now he came to the sudden conclusion that reporting for duty was his only
acceptable course of action.
"All right, fine. I'll go," he said. "I don't like it, but it looks
like I don't have much choice."
With that he turned and headed back into the house.
Soun looked at Genma, whose face was beaming in a wide smile.
"He bought it," the Tendo patriarch declared. "I didn't think you had
it in you, Saotome."
"Phase One is complete," Genma agreed. "Now we move on to Phase Two."
* * *
He was going away, but there was nothing really for him to pack. The
JGSDF would send it all home when he arrived for training regardless. He
paced around the room wondering about what would happen next because he
couldn't think of anything else to do or say.
He still couldn't believe he'd been drafted! Of all the eligible
people in Japan, someone had picked *him!* He understood it, he supposed.
Japan didn't have a large standing army. It was actually quite small, even
with the slow withdrawal of American troops from his country. The only
branch of the Self Defense Force of any size was the Maritime SDF, their
navy. Nabiki had explained that Japan maintained a good sized and modern
Navy to protect their shipping, which was the absolute lifeblood of the
economy. She would know, of course.
As he mused, Akane slipped into the room behind him. He sensed her
presence, that slight tingle of nerves and excitement that struck whenever
they were alone together. He wasn't sure what she was going to say, and
tried to prepare for any number of possibilities.
"Ranma?"
He turned around.
"Yeah?" Somehow it came out sounding all wrong. He didn't want to
push her away, but he was going there fast.
Her expression was somewhere between hurt and anger.
"Ranma... I-- I just wanted to talk, but if you don't want to..." She
turned to go.
"Wait." He took her wrist gently and turned her to face him. "That
is..." he began. He stalled.
**Why aren't I any good at this?**
Akane bit her lower lip. "Umm... I just wanted to..."
"I'll be all right," Ranma said cockily. Once again the words came out
all wrong.
She put her hands on her hips. "What? You thought I was worried about
you?"
"Well isn't that why you're here?" He could have smacked himself even
as he said it.
Akane's emotional spectrum shifted further towards anger.
"I came to help you pack!" she said and stormed out of the room.
Ranma buried his face in his hands. **That went *real* well...**
* * *
Kasumi had pulled out all the stops for dinner, as this was going to
be Ranma's last one with the family for a long time. Unfortunately, no
one was feeling particularly hungry. Not even Ranma, who was a chowhound
of the first order.
"Is there something the matter?" Kasumi asked, unused to the lack of
attention her meal was getting.
"No! No not at all, Kasumi dear," Soun said.
"Guess I should be enjoying this," Ranma said glumly. "It's my last
supper."
"Please, Ranma, don't say that!" Kasumi cried.
"Gallows humor doesn't suit you," Nabiki added.
Dinner went really well after that...
* * *
That night, after dinner, Ranma decided to try and make a final
peace with Akane. He didn't want to leave with bad blood between them.
He went upstairs in search of her.
The first place he looked was her room. He knocked, but there was no
answer. He decided to let himself in (it hadn't stopped him in the past.)
She wasn't there.
Next he tried the bath. He knocked.
"What is it?" Nabiki's voice asked.
"Is Akane in there?" Ranma asked.
"Haven't seen her," was Nabiki's curt reply.
"Uh, okay," Ranma offered, and headed for the dojo.
She wasn't there, either. He walked out into the yard. The sky was
filled with light.
He looked skyward, shaking a fist to the stars.
"You're always popping up at the worst possible times, but when I
need you you're not there!" he yelled. His voice echoed across the
neighborhood.
"Need who?" Akane asked.
Ranma just about jumped out of his skin.
"Need who?" Akane repeated.
"Oh, uh. Nothing."
She smiled at him. "Oh, I just thought you were talking about me."
He started to turn red. Fortunately for him, his head was backlit by
the rising moon, and Akane didn't notice.
"I was going to take a walk, would you like to come with me?" she
asked. Her hand was just far enough from her side to be an invitation
without seeming too forward. He had seen that trick before, after their
Ryuugenzawa misadventure.
"Well, sure."
He steeled himself, and took her hand. It was warm and soft, and his
jitters seemed to melt away.
They left the yard and walked out into the street. Ranma had to
suppress his conditioning and not jump up to walk along the walls. Akane
felt him start to surge out of her hand, and gave it a firm squeeze and
gentle tug to pull him back next to her.
"Uh, sorry," he apologized. "Force of habit."
They walked hand-in-hand for awhile with neither of them saying a
word. Ranma was content with that, as a conversation would probably ruin
everything again. As long as he kept his mouth shut he couldn't screw up.
The two of them eventually returned to the yard. They sat down in the
grass to watch the stars. Akane leaned her head on his shoulder, which
both thrilled and frightened him to no end.
She sighed, and for a moment Ranma felt like it had sounded more like
a sob. He started to panic inside, wondering what he'd done wrong now.
"W-What's the matter?" he asked quietly.
She shuddered a little. "You promise me that you'll be all right?"
He leaned his head over to rest on hers. Her hair smelled so sweet,
and her closeness was intoxicating.
"Don't you worry, Akane. I'll be just fine."
She looked up into his eyes. Hers were wet, and still he wondered
what he'd done wrong to upset her.
"You promise?"
He gave her hand a squeeze as she had done to him earlier. "I promise."
They were so close to each other, he felt sure they were going to kiss.
He started to lean closer, just letting his heart take over for once, and
his foolish pride be damned! Akane closed her eyes in anticipation.
"Aha! There you two are! Father's been worried sick," Kasumi cried
from the porch, oblivious to what was about to happen.
The moment was shattered. Ranma could almost hear it crash down
around them. Akane cursed so softly, he wasn't sure if he heard it or
just felt it from her.
She stood up, and he rose with her. Kasumi went back into the house,
only now realizing that she had interrupted something. Ranma was once
again at a loss for words, and decided that he shouldn't push his luck
by saying anything.
It was very late, and they climbed the stairs to their rooms. Only at
Akane's door did they let go of each other's hands.
Akane opened the door and started to go inside her room. Then she
spun on her heels and threw her arms around him in a brief but fierce
hug.
"Please be careful!" she whispered into his ear. Then she broke from
their embrace and ducked into her room.
"Good-bye, Akane..." he replied to the closed door.
He walked slowly to the room he and his father shared.
**I finally did something right with her!** But grim thoughts of the
future followed, and his bouyant mood was smothered in doubts. **Too bad
it might be the only time I ever do...**
"Where have you been, boy?" Genma asked him.
Ranma wasn't in the mood for this. Not when he was already feeling the
pangs of both homesickness and the loss of Akane -and he hadn't even left
yet.
"None of your business," he replied in a surly voice.
Genma let the remark pass for a few moments before speaking.
"So are you going to do the right thing or not?" he asked cryptically.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ranma asked from his
sleeping mat. He hadn't even bothered to strip down for bed.
"You join the Self Defense Forces tomorrow," Genma began. "We could be
at war at any time, and, as much as it pains me to think about it, you may
not return at the end."
Ranma cursed to himself. He did not need his old man reminding him of
possibilities that already paraded unbidden through his skull at all hours.
"Just watch the news," he retorted to his father. "It's all being
taken care of by the diplomats. There ain't gonna be a war, okay?" He said
it as much for himself as to derail whatever train of thought Genma had
going.
"What if you're wrong, Ranma?" Genma continued. "Do you want to leave
Akane heartbroken and alone, having never known the joys of matrimony?"
Ranma winced. Anger swelled in him as he realized what his father was
getting at.
"You've got some nerve, Pop. Trying to fast talk me into marrying
Akane before I report for duty..."
"We could take care of it first thing in the morning," Genma said
greasily. "You don't have to report until that evening -so you'd have a
little time alone together to consummate--"
He didn't get a chance to finish, for Ranma had planted a foot
squarely in his face.
"You are unreal, Pop..."
He settled down to try and sleep, and wondered if his father might be
right.
* * *
The next morning came against all hope. He hadn't slept much at all
that night, lost in his thoughts and the events of the past few weeks.
His mother had come to see him off, and she had prepared a simple breakfast
for Mister Tendo, his father, and himself so they could catch the train.
He said his good-byes. Kasumi was indefatigable -no surprise there.
Nabiki was her usual distant self. His mother threw her arms around him
and gave him one last hug. He almost choked up at that point, and he hadn't
even said good-bye to Akane yet.
She stood demurely at the gate, looking down at her feet. As they
approached, she looked up and gave him a weak smile, though her despair was
plain to be seen behind it. He returned it with a jaunty wave. There would
be no emotional outbursts, no tears or crying, and unless she said it first,
no confessions of undying love. They had said what they could last night,
and nothing would take that from them.
He took one final look at the dojo and walked away with the two
fathers. The trip was filled with silence. Mister Tendo had quickly spent
his meager store of peppy small talk, and in the end stared off into space.
Genma nursed his bruised chin while reading a magazine.
When they reached the Depot, long lines of other young men around his
age stretched around the corner of the building. Their families tried to
look strong and supportive, but the dread and the pain of separation was
plain to be seen.
Ranma didn't know what to do when he saw the crowd waiting at the end
of the line. Tatewaki and Kodachi Kuno were there, the sister weeping
openly for her brother while he stood stoically like some television
melodrama samurai. Ryoga Hibiki was there, having no family present, but
in the company of Ukyo. His perpetual high school sidekicks Hiroshi and
Daisuke gave him waves and welcomed in into the line. Hikaru Gosunkugi was
last, and his family was just as spooky looking as the frail eighteen year
old himself.
"So they got you too, eh, Saotome?" Hiroshi asked.
"Yup," Ranma replied casually. "Looks like they got everyone." He
turned to Ryouga and Ukyo. "I can't imagine how *you* managed to find this
place in time."
"He had a little help, Ranchan," Ukyo said before Ryoga could get
angry at the remark. She smiled sweetly for him, but there was that same
look of silent despair that Akane had.
**Why does everyone fear the worst?** he thought. **I'm just going
into the reserves -it's not like I'm going to be on the front lines. Heck,
I'll probably spend the whole time in Japan!**
Kodachi brightened a little at seeing him, then broke down into
another wave of tears. "Oh, not my Ranma darling too!" she sobbed. She
moved to embrace him, only to be held in check by her brother.
"Hush, sister. Waste not thy tears on him," Kuno said gruffly.
"Oh, but I may never see him again!" Kodachi cried. The black rose in
her hand became an image, particularly morbid, graven in Ranma's mind.
"Oh come on!" Ranma said full of bravado. "We're going into the
reserves! We'll probably be right here in Japan!"
The others took a little heart to his words.
"Yeah, there's no way they'd send *us* into a fight," Daisuke cracked.
"Besides, by the time we get out of training this will all blow over.
They'll cut us loose in no time."
Ranma nodded enthusiastically.
**Perhaps this won't be so bad after all. I just have to keep
convincing myself that it will all work out.**
The officials inside the building seemed to be taking draftees inside
in groups, and their turn to go in was coming up. He said good-bye to his
father and to Mister Tendo, both of whom lost all resolve and began to weep.
They didn't even beg him to reconsider their quickie marriage plans. It was
hard for him to see it from both men, but he dismissed it as just useless
worrying.
Kodachi gave him her rose and promised to write him every day. She
stood there as they began to walk in single file into the building. Ranma
wondered where the Principal was that he wouldn't see his only son off, but
then figured that the man was probably in Hawaii again.
As he was about to step through the door, Ukyo rushed up and gave him
a tearful kiss upon his cheek. He marveled that he had such an unlikely
friendship with her, his Ucchan. The disaster of the failed wedding, and
her involvement in it, were a year behind him now. He didn't even think
about it anymore when he saw her.
Within seconds of saying his farewells he was whisked into a world of
stern faced doctors and soldiers. He was poked, prodded, probed, tested and
interrogated at every turn. When they drew several tubes of blood from his
arm he had to ask them what all that blood was for.
"We do blood typing, pathology, HIV testing, and of course the DNA
for the archives," the nurse replied cheerfully.
"DNA? What for?"
"To assist Graves Registration in identifying remains."
He decided that there were some questions he didn't need to ask. They
were taking this all so seriously, and Japan hadn't even sent troops
anywhere. The Second Korean War had yet to materialize, it was all blowing
over just like they said it would.
Chapter Three
The word was that they would be placed in a reserve unit following
their recruit training. Their training would also be greatly abbreviated
due to the nature of the emergency. Boot camp would only be six weeks long,
compared to the sixteen week training schedule normally directed for
recruits. He was glad he was already in top shape, as the JGSDF no doubt
had plans to squeeze in as much as possible within the shorter time
frame.
So far it had all been a joke. After getting off the bus at the base,
their drill instructors loudly bemoaned their sad fates to have received
such a sorry lot of recruits, and how they would just have to salvage what
they could. It was actually almost funny, Ranma thought.
It came as no surprise to Recruit Private Saotome Ranma that he would
get Tatewaki, Ryoga, Hiroshi, Daisuke, and Gosunkugi in his boot camp unit.
It was his karma, he supposed. The only real discomfort he could foresee
was that Tatewaki Kuno was his bunkmate, and had insisted on the bottom rack
of the double bunk. He could see that even six weeks of boot camp was going
to be an eternity, as the man was already crying out for the servants to
make up his bunk.
"What manner of hostelry is this?" Kuno raged. He was ignored by the
Furinkan crowd, though the others cast nervous looks in his direction and
prayed the drill instructors wouldn't walk in and decide that group
punishment would be in order.
**It took him three hours to come to grips with the fact that he'd
have to sleep on such a little bed, and with the entire platoon for
company,** Ranma thought darkly. **How long's it going to take for him
to figure out that he's supposed to make his own bunk?**
He sat on his bunk as Kuno continued his tirade. Eventually he got
tired of it and bonked Kuno on the head, sending him to blissful stupor on
the cold tile floor. The rest of the platoon applauded vigorously.
"I was going to do that myself if you hadn't beaten me to it," Ryoga
growled, not looking at him, but instead gazing emptily into space.
Ryoga had the bunk next to his. He and Gosunkugi were bunk mates, it
seemed. Hiroshi and Daisuke had the racks opposite. Ryoga continued to have
a far away look in his eyes.
Ranma shrugged. The sight of Ryoga and the others with no hair was
definitely weird. For one thing, the lack of hair caused other facial
features to become more distinct, and Ranma found his eyes drawn to Ryoga's
prominent fangs. Gosunkugi's dark circles were another thing that drew his
eyes, and he decided that he wouldn't look at the guy if he could help it.
He felt the top of his head, it was bare as well. For reasons that
became immediately apparent to the base's barbers, Ranma had to keep his
pig-tail where it was. He felt a little silly, and his unique condition
had leveled all manner of abuse against him by the Drill Instructors.
"This ain't so bad, huh, Ryoga?" he said.
Ryoga didn't answer.
"Aw, come on, Ryoga. The chow ain't nearly as good as Kasumi's but it
wasn't bad either. And the Drill Sergeants ain't nothin' but a lot of bluff
and bluster. You and me can take whatever punishment they dish out."
Ryoga remained silent.
Ranma sighed.
"Aw Ryoga, talk to me, man. You're one of the only friends, well, sort
of friends, that I have here."
"We aren't soldiers, Ranma..." Ryoga said at length. "Why are we even
here?"
**So that's eating him too...** Ranma realized. "Who said anything
about being soldiers? We're reservists."
Ryoga snorted.
"You actually believe that? Why such a short training cycle if our
country isn't going to need a lot of men ready for combat?"
Ranma hadn't thought about that.
"But we're not even at war right now. Everything's a little tense,
but the diplomats are working things out. Even *you* have to have seen the
news lately. It was all a big mistake, and the generals who were responsible
are being punished."
"Believe that if you will, Ranma, but as for me, I must come to terms
with the fact that I may be forced to kill someone I don't even know, over
something I care almost nothing about."
There seemed to be something else that disturbed him, but Ranma wasn't
certain what it was. It didn't seem to be a fear of death, that had never
concerned Ryoga in the past.
"Ryoga, the only thing we have to worry about is staying away from
cold water."
* * *
"Pla-TOON! To the right flank, march!"
Because of his moderate height, Ranma was in the middle of the marching
formation, and watched with a bit of pride and amusement as the seventy men
in the platoon all bobbed and wheeled sharply ninety degrees to the right
to land their next footstep in time to the cadence.
Except for Ryoga, who would have lurched in the opposite direction
if not for the little piece of drab colored shoelace that Ranma had tied
to his belt. He quick jerk sent Ryoga turning in the right direction. He
could almost feel the heat coming off the lost boy's face as he realized
that he had been spared official ridicule once again.
"Pla-TOON! Left oblique, march!"
Marching drill continued, with those who failed to follow the drill
sergeants' instructions falling out to do pushups of increasing numbers as
the weeks went on. Ranma found that recruit training was actually pretty
slack in the physical training department, and much to the consternation
of his instructors who knew he could do better, he often screwed up just
for the exercise. They finally found a way to keep him in line by punishing
the entire platoon for his mistakes. Ranma was not going to hold everyone
else to his own standards of training, especially since most of them came
into boot camp pretty soft, and so toed the line thereafter.
"Pla-TOON, halt!"
They took their last forward step before bringing their other foot in
line at attention with a satisfying *clomp* of seventy boots hitting the
pavement in unison.
Sergeant Aikawa left the platoon at attention while he discussed a
matter with the drill instructor of their brother platoon. Ranma stared
straight ahead at the back of Tatewaki Kuno's head, noting the tiny bald
marks in the dark brown stubble where his father had shaved his head a
little too closely in the past. At least Kuno was no stranger to electric
clippers.
He also noted the dark clouds of a summer shower closing in on them.
Several expectant sniggers from the men around him confirmed his fears.
Ryoga to his left looked positively sick. This was a lot more stressful for
him, Ranma supposed.
It had been touch and go for the last few weeks trying to keep their
curses from the drill sergeants. Ranma's change was a little easier to
conceal, what with the fatigues being slightly baggy. Being in the middle
of the formation also helped, and because he had to keep his pigtail tucked
in under his collar, the change in color to bright red wasn't very apparent.
Ryoga wasn't so lucky. When the cursed summer showers hit, he would
literally drop out of sight in the middle of the platoon. After their
platoon mates adjusted to the shock of the two transformations, it became
something of a game with them to keep the secret hidden.
Raindrops came fast and furiously, and the platoon stood silently at
attention in the downpour. Aikawa didn't seem to notice the rain, nor did
he notice as Ryoga shrank out of sight into the folds of his uniform with a
whimper. As soon as Aikawa's back was turned, the platoon closed ranks to
fill in the gap, while Ranma scooped up Ryoga and his fatigues and stuffed
them into his jacket. He was only glad they hadn't yet been caught out on a
road march with full kits, but he was prepared: he had purchased a small
thermos at the post exchange. Hot water was available if necessary.
* * *
Six weeks went by in a blur. The platoon was dead tired to a man.
Even if Ranma was unfazed by the P.T., the accelerated training meant that
sleep was a luxury and not a right. Marksmanship in particular was stressed,
and they spent any chance they could get at the range. Aikawa had even
challenged their brother platoon to a hand to hand combat duel for their
range time -with predictable results considering the makeup of his platoon.
After all this, the word was that they'd be given three days leave before
their posting to a reserve battalion in battered Nagasaki.
On the subject of the word though, the truth was that they weren't
getting much of it outside the JGSDF, and the JGSDF was keeping mum. Ranma
found to his disgust that his letters were being censored. Big black
permanent markers had been taken to letters from Akane, Ukyo, Kodachi,
Shampoo, and his mother. He didn't know what half of the letters said,
only that he received more mail than anyone else in the platoon, and most
of it unreadable.
The day of graduation came with little ceremony. Sergeant Aikawa
seemed particularly solemn as he handed out each Private's orders. The
platoon was instructed to keep their orders sealed until the sergeants
had spoken to them. It was the first time their leaders had been so
informal with the platoon.
"It is our duty to inform you that upon the completion of your
training, you will be sent to the 1st Expeditionary Division, now in
combat against North Korea."
There was a stunned silence then upon the whole platoon. The sergeants
continued. "In a unanimous vote, the Diet declared that the provisions of
Article 19 of the Constitution did not apply under the present crisis, and
declared war against North Korea two days ago following a third missile
attack, and for attacks on Japanese flagged shipping in the open sea. North
Korea has invaded the south, and you will be part of a United Nations force
to oppose them. You must be on your highest standards of behavior and
conduct, as the Republic of Korea has openly protested the presence of
Japanese troops on their soil."
They let their words sink in for a moment before continuing. "It is
also our duty, and our regret, to inform you that all leaves have been
canceled for recruits, due to the need for replacement troops in the field.
You will be departing for the Divisional Staging Area in four hours. Your
families will be notified and instructed on where to send mail. Good luck,
and may the gods shine upon you for the glory of Japan."
