Thanks for reading this far! This is my first post to the FFML. I have
written some other fics, but really wanted more help on this one.
If anyone has experience creating Japanese names I would really love some
assistance coming up with a better name for Ranma and Akane's daughter. I
have defaulted to 'Ranko' for lack of a better name. I was trying to come
up with something having to with "wild" "pony" or something else that
would be a diminutive horse, other adjectives than wild could be
"exuberant" "spirited" or best I think "untamed". Any opinions out there?
Now, on to the fic. <<This is done in a hybrid OAV/OVA style>>
ANY comments would be greatly appreciated!!
***** Story Pasted Below *****
<<Blackout to opening scene>>
[We hear the wind blowing lightly, and birds chirping in the
background as the picture slowly comes into focus. Colours brighten,
and sharpen, as the scene resolves into Akane reclining on the grass
on a hilltop, staring dreamily into the sky, as her hair is ruffled
by the wind. A BGM'ish tune starts to play in the background. The
camera pulls back so we still see Akane on the hilltop, but we now
can see the deep blue sky and fluffy clouds she is looking at]
""Feels like ... I'm standing in a Timeless Dream ...
of Light Mists ... of pale amber rose
Feels like ... I'm lost in a Deep Cloud of Heavenly Scent
Touching ... Discovering You ...
Those days ... of Warm Rains come rushing back to me
Miles of windless ... Summer Night Air ..
Secret moments ... shared in the heat of the afternoon
Out of the Stillness ...
Soft spoken words ...""
[The clouds are constantly shifting, and changing shapes. Some
become recognizable shapes as they blow through. A P-chan floats
by, and Akane giggles. Close on his tail, a Neko-Shampoo scuds
across the sky. In the background a "piyo-piyo" style chick, a Panda,
a couple of koi, and a beach-ball can be seen.]
""I Love You Always Forever Near and Far Closer Together
Everywhere I Will Be With You Everything I Do for You
I Love You Always Forever Near and Far Closer Together
Everywhere I Will Be With You Everything I Do for You""
[The wind picks up a bit, and Akane shivers. A 'cloud-deformed'
Ranma-chan scoots across the sky, chased by a cloud-Kuno. A very real
Ranma-kun jogs up the hill, carrying a bundle in his hands. He reaches
Akane and hands it to her. It turns out to be a windbreaker. She puts
it on, and says something to Ranma. He turns away, red-faced and
uncomfortable. The both turn to face the clouds again. A cloud
image of the Romeo and Juliet kiss scene that Ranma and Akane took part
in materializes, and then puffs away slowly. Akane is wearing a
wistful face.]
""You've Got ... the most unbelievable Blue Eyes I've ever seen
You've Got ... me almost Melting Away
As we Lay There ... under a blue sky with Pure White Stars ...
Exotic Sweetness ... a magical time ...
I Love You Always Forever Near and Far Closer Together
Everywhere I Will Be With You Everything I Do for You""
[The scene blurs briefly. When it comes into focus again, Ranma and
Akane are lying on the hilltop again, but older, maybe in their 20's.
Akane has her head on Ranma's stomach as they cloud gaze. Happosai
floats above them in cloud form, causing both to wince. He quickly
dissipates, being followed by numerous cast cameos. Azuza, Ukyou,
Ryouga, Toufuu, etc.. The wind is swirling around the hill top, we
see a toddler dressed warmly against the chill trying to chase the
flying leaves, but mostly managing to fall on her bottom. Akane sits
up opening her arms toward the child, she starts to run towards Akane.]
""Say you'll Love, Love Me Forever
Never Stop, Not for Whatever
Near and Far and Always and Everywhere and Everything
Say you'll Love, Love Me Forever
Never Stop, Not for Whatever
Near and Far and Always and Everywhere and Everything (Repeat)
I love you always forever near and far closer to-gether everywhere
I will be with you
everything I will do for you ...""
[The scene blurs once more. When it clears, there is a picnic scene
at the hilltop. Akane and Ranma (even older still) sit on a cheery
blanket with a little 6-year-old girl, and a new toddler. The clouds
over head are blowing by even faster now. The sky is starting to
darken slightly. Cloud-forms of the Dojo-Yabouri, Gosungki, and
Kodachi breeze by, other adversaries can be seen in the background.
The music ends, and the sky darkens dramatically. A flash of lighting
lights the sky, and a crash of thunder booms. Ranma scoops up the
children as Akane hurriedly wraps the picnic up in the blanket. Then
rain begins to pelt down, as they run down the hillside. As the scene
fades out, you can just barely catch a glimpse of black hair turning to
red.]
<<Blackout, text appears on black screen>>
Introducing:
"WILD HORSES"
An Original Video Animation Fan-fiction
by T. Thomas
<<Blackout brightens quickly to scene>>
[The scene opens in a shabby, cramped apartment. Coats, clothing,
foodstuffs, and martial arts gear are hanging from pegs and on shelves
covering the walls. City sounds can be heard in the background, as well
as faint shouting coming from other apartments, or children crying and
dogs barking. There are stacks of random stuff on the floor mats.
Ranma, who looks quite beyond his 23 yrs. is sitting at the table. He
is starting to get heavy-set, and has a noticeable gut forming. He is
rattily dressed and unkempt. He also has a look of dread on his face.
Akane is over in the closet that masquerades as kitchen, waging war with
dinner. She is wearing a dirty housecoat and apron over a dress that
has become quite snug. Like Ranma, she seems to have aged beyond her
youngish years. Her hair is greasy and unevenly cropped at her shoulders
and she looks to have fallen quite a bit out of shape. Sitting next to
Ranma at the table is their 5 year old daughter Ranko. She is dressed
in a grubby pink gi, with "Piyo, Piyo" on the back. She has dark red
hair, almost black in its intensity. She is also devastatingly cute.
Her smile is the only source of brightness in the otherwise dim flat.
The tension in the air is almost palpable.]
"Kuso!" *** Akane loudly cursed from the kitchen. A singed odour, laced
with the smell of burning plastic wafted from the kitchen. Bangs and
loud scraping sounds accompany her outburst.
"Oy! What ARE you doing in there?" Ranma yelled back, "You trying to set
off the smoke detectors again?". A ladle came flying out of the kitchen,
narrowly missing Ranma's head. "I did offer to cook tonight ya know"
Ranma retorted. A surly look crossing his face. <I've had a long day,
I'm tired as hell, and hungry enough to even eat 'her' cooking!> he
grumbled mentally, <I DON'T need this tonite>.
"You just said that because you hate my cooking, and that was the only
way you would avoid having to eat it!" Akane spat back. <Baka! Baka!
Baka!> she thought to herself, a mantra whilst trying to scrape the
charred food off of the pot lid.
"I don't 'hate' your cooking..." Ranma said trying to mollify her, hoping
to salvage some semblance of dinner from the rapidly disintegrating
situation. "...I don't 'enjoy' eating it either" he mumbled to himself.
"NANI??" Akane screeched. She stomped into the living area, facing
Ranma, skillet in one hand, cooking spoon in the other. "WHAT did you
say? I slave over this hot stove for you and Ranko, trying to make
something nice for dinner and all you can do is criticize it? I know my
cooking isn't the greatest, but can't you even try it before insulting
it for once?!".
Ranma still sitting at the table, his irritation and hunger getting the
best of him taunted back "Well, if you could "for once" come up with
something palatable to eat, that I wasn't afraid would poison me or
Ranko here, maybe I might!".
A hurt look flashed across Akane's face, followed quickly by anger.
Her red aura began to glow brightly. Reaching into Hammer-space, she
pulled out a medium #4 wood and flattened him. Ranko looked over at
her dad and then at her mom, and with that sort of self-justified look
all children that age get, looked up to her mom and said "Daddy no-baka,
right?" and began bonking on Ranma's head with her own mini-mallet.
A troubled look passed over Akane's face, and as she began to tell
Ranko that "No, daddy is not really a 'baka', he just isn't very
sensitive to other peoples feelings..." the smoke detector on the wall
began wailing.
At this, Ranma woke up from his mallet induced nap and jumped for the
kitchen, mashing the detector with the palm of his hand on the way by,
and grabbing the fire extinguisher. He quickly sprayed the flaming pot
on the stove with a well-practiced motion. He was definitely NOT in a
good mood now. After a long day of work at his crappy job he was hungry
and tired and all he wanted was some peace and quiet and something
to eat. And now, this had to happen -- again. He sighed to himself
and began to wonder why the Kami had chosen to do this to him. What he
ever done to deserve this?.
Akane came up to him with tears in her eyes, screeching "Look what you
made me do!! You distracted me, and look at what happened to dinner!
It's ruined, and it's all your fault!". She stood in front of him with
fists balled at her sides daring him to say something. "I spent the
last of my paycheck on getting something decent and healthy to eat and
now it's gone, wasted! We have almost nothing in the cupboards, and
Ranko has got to have something to eat tonite!".
Ranma shrunk back at her outburst, shame slouching his figure. "Well,
we could get something at the cheap take-out place around the corner."
Ranma said, managing to cringe at the same time.
"That greasy slop?" Akane shot back. "Its like we're always getting
dinner from there. Yeah it's cheap, but it's not very healthy!
LOOK at me! This dress doesn't fit anymore, I'm getting FAT! We can't
afford to eat better, and there is no money either to at least get me
something to wear that doesn't look so horrible!".
"But we don't have any money!" protested Ranma "We both work long hours
and...".
Akane interrupted him, "Well if maybe you didn't drink away half of your
pay every week" poking him in the gut to make her point.
Ranma's posture stiffened, he stood there for a couple of seconds, his
mouth opening and closing like a fish, his complexion pale. Then anger
flashed across his face, and he whirled around running for the door.
Akane chased him to the door, yelling after his retreating figure
"Sure, use the 'Saotome Secret Technique' you COWARD!". As she stood
at the door she could hear neighbors shouting back "God-dammit
you Saotomes, can't you just keep it down!" "Shut-up already!" "What?
They're at it again?". She closed and locked the door and turned to
the small table by the door. She grabbed the package of cigarettes lying
there and pulled out the cheap plastic lighter tucked in the pack. With
a practiced, unconscious motion she tamped the pack, pulled out a cig and
lit up. She took a deep drag, and then another. She stood there and
stared at the cigarette in her hand. <What did dad ever see in these
damn things?> thought Akane, and then she noticed that the hand holding
the cigarette had stopped shaking. <Oh...>. She lifted the cig to her
mouth again, tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes, and took
another deep drag, the tip glowing fiercely. She exhaled sharply, blowing
a wide arc of smoke and mashed the cigarette into the ashtray on the
little table and went over to their futon in the corner of the living
room, still unmade from the morning. She flopped down on it, curling up
in a ball as sobs wracked her body.
Ranko who had watched the whole show in wide-eyed silence, began to
sniffle, tears running down her cheeks and sucking her thumb, even though
she knows that 'big-girls' don't suck their thumbs.
<<The apartment scene quickly fades out to grey, a new scene follows,
coming quickly into focus>>
[The scene opens on the cluttered, flat roof of the apartment building
in which they live. There are folding chairs, some potted plants
scattered about, and other random stuff where residents have claimed some
space outside their own cramped dwellings. Ranma has claimed an area at
one corner of the roof, overlooking Sapporo, that is very neat and
spartan. Aside from a straw training dummy and a broom, the space is
devoid of ornament or object save for the couple of rows of small white
stones that delineate the space. There is no one else on the roof
except Ranma. He is perched on the roof ledge. His head is bowed, and
his hands are holding his head.]
"Why does this shit always happen to me?" Ranma said softly. "What did I
ever do to deserve all of this? It can't be all my fault!!". "Heh!" he
snorted, "I'm beginning to sound like Ryouga now...". He shook his head
and rose, trying to clear the fog starting to fill his brain. <Maybe a
few katas will help> he thought.
He jumped down to the centre of 'his' space. <Just about the only
thing that I can call my 'own'> he thought glumly. He started the
first kata, moving slowly. It is obvious that he has gotten rusty, as
some of the movements are slightly jerky. As he picked up speed, the form
flowed more freely, becoming more graceful. The first form became the
second, and just as Ranma was getting into the groove, the form
stuttered and fell apart.
"Kuso!" Ranma swore under his breath. <Breathe... breathe... okay now,
clear the mind, start the form> he thought to himself as he took the
ready position. The form started again. It was more graceful this time,
he picked up speed and the form resolved. And again, the images of Akane,
before Ranko was born, when they still had their innocence and youth
flashed unbidden through his mind, destroying his concentration. The
kata broke apart like a shack in a typhoon. Images of their fall from
grace now flashed through his head, their lives falling apart around them,
more helpless than he had ever thought he would be. How could he have
fought it? There was no specific enemy to pound, no strategy to
use or learn, nothing concrete he could do. Akane's face from the
recent fight, so different from the face of the Akane he had fallen
in love with <but had such an impossible time admitting>, now filled
his mind. The anguish, hurt marring it. The hard life they had been
living, taking its toll. He felt his heart breaking.
"Ya' gotta get a grip" he told himself. Feeling desperate, feeling
the need coming on, he walked over to the edge of the roof, and climbed
down the fire escape. Slowly, not bounding like he might once have done.
Once at the bottom, he turned at the end of the alley and made his way
up the street.
--------------------|--------------------
He walked the few blocks up to his other form of escape. The one
that filled more of his time now. A bent metal sign, once brightly
painted, but now faded and peeling proclaimed that the dive Ranma
entered was the "Raging Stallion Bar". A grimy working class pub
with filthy windows, and a stale stink in the air. Dimly lit, the bar
seems dark and depressing; garish colours flash occasionally from the
old tired neon signs plugging their respective sins.
He walked up to the bar grabbing a stool at the end, avoiding the few
other customers in the joint, waving half-heartedly in response to the
couple of greetings he got. The bartender glanced over, recognizing
Ranma, and waved a greeting. When he finished up the couple of drinks
he was making he moved to where Ranma slumped on his stool. He pulled
a bottle of cheap sake from under the counter and placed it on the bar.
Ranma grasped the bottle, contemplating it for a moment, and then
unscrewed the cap, taking a few strong draughts. Letting out a harsh
breath he downed the rest of the bottle with as many gulps. Beginning
to feel the warmth building, and the fuzziness starting he thought back
to his father and Soun playing endless games of shoji, and their just
as endless cups of sake or bottles of Kirin. <They sure used to put
the alcohol down> he though to himself. Soun he could understand, a man's
wife dying, and raising three girls by one's self could drive a man to
want to escape life for a bit. His father, on the other hand, caused a
different thought to enter his head <Humph! The old man was just a coward,
running away from everything, no sense of responsibility...>. Just as
the thought finished running through his head, the memory of Akane's voice
screeching after his retreating figure "...you COWARD!!" was almost enough
to make him double over in disgust of the realization that he was indeed
becoming his father's son.
"Rough day?" the bartender queried.
Ranma shrugged no, saying resignedly "Just another day.", and then
motioned for another bottle. The bartender motioned for cash but Ranma
pantomimed no money in return.
"You wanna work it off? I'll put it on your tab" the bartender replied.
"Just give me the bottle already" Ranma sighed.
The bartender bent down, and grabbed another bottle, laying it on the bar
in front of Ranma. Then he pulled a crumpled package of smokes from a
pocket in his apron. Tamping it a couple of times he pulled one out,
and stuck it in his mouth. Reaching over the bar he offered the open
end of the package to Ranma.
Ranma waved it off saying, "Man, I hate those things. Stink up the place
and they're horrible for ya..." and then giving a small sad smile
"'sides, I'm a martial artist. Ya know that whole 'body is a temple'
thing?" and then he lifted the bottle in a sort of salute.
As he opened the new bottle and tipped it back, the bartender said
"Well, you're certainly not your usual grim self tonite. This seems
worse than usual, care to talk about it?".
Ranma put the bottle back down and thought for a second. <Who'd wanna
really hear about my life anyhow. Like anyone'd believe me in any
case>. He wiped his mouth, sighed, and looked the bartender squarely
in the eye. "Well, Toshi, ya really wanna hear about it?".
"I've got the time..." replied Toshi, waving around to the nearly empty
bar, "...not like this is a rocking joint, being in this district and
all. Besides, you've been comin' here for 'bout four years or so, you
talk a little, but mostly you're the quiet type. I know about Akane,
her temper, her cooking, her penchant for mallets, need I go on? Let's
see, I know about your dead-end shitty job, but then whose isn't 'round
here? But that all's nothing. I've been watching you come in, more and
more regular, and going all to hell while your doing it. You're a strong
proud man, or so it seems. You toss those kegs down to the basement
like they were friggin' beach toys, and you always stick-up for the
underdog whenever there's a fight, and hell, you're a damn good bouncer
when I need one." he paused for effect, "I'm curious to find out what
could bring a guy like you down.".
Ranma looked Toshi in the eye again, and then slugged the rest of the
bottle. "It's a long story.." he said when he finished.
Toshi pulled out another bottle, unscrewed the cap himself and poured
some into two cups. He raised his cup, Ranma mirroring him, and then
drank it down.
Ranma slouched down, getting less uncomfortable and started off. "Well,
I might as well begin where my life first started becoming the shit-hole
that it is... ...in the beginning".
Ranma started with Genma, the 'promise', and the years long training trip
to across Japan and over the sea to China. He covered most of what
happened since, glossing over the 'tragic' happenings at Jusenkyou
and not mentioning the actual nature of his curse, finally stopping with
his return to Japan and meeting the Tendou family, along with his
family 'obligation' there.
After Ranma stopped, Toshi raised his eyebrows, "That was some story
there."
Ranma looked back at Toshi and deadpanned "Heh. It's just getting to the
interesting part.".
"Seriously?" replied Toshi.
Looking rather dejected Ranma just nodded. Ranma then leaned back,
stretching, joints popping and resignedly picked up where he left off.
He started in with the daily grind at Furinkan High School, the
general chaos in Nerima, and the constant challenges from all
his adversaries.
"I still cant figger out why all these people keep coming out of the
woodwork hell-bent on beating the snot out of me. The best I can guess
is that my father must be at the bottom of it all, just like all the
fiances
he managed to give me to over the years." said Ranma grimacing.
He then rattled off all of his prospective fiances, and their respective
quirks. Finally, he briefly covered most of the major battles and
catastrophes that occurred during his tenure at the Tendou Dojo,
culminating
in the whole Phoenix Mountain disaster, and Akane's near death experience.
When Ranma stopped speaking, Toshi stood there for a second, his only
movement was his eyes blinking *poit, poit*.
"Wow." is all Toshi could manage to say.
Ranma took another gulp of sake, and then said "And, that was only
really the first part of what made my life such the shit-hole that it is
now.".
At that, Toshi fell face-faulted doing the raised index/pinky finger
thing. When he recovered he faced Ranma with a confused look, "But why
are things so bad with you and Akane now? I mean, it's not like you guys
had a normal engagement or anything like that. You seem to take all the
martial artists and monsters after your blood pretty much in stride, if
that can all be believed. If you were half the martial artist you said you
were, you seemed to handle it pretty well. I've seen you pull some
interesting feats around here, in any case. You really seemed to care for
Akane the most, of all the different fiances you had." At this Ranma
blushed. Toshi continued, "Like, you were always protecting her, and
looking after her, and even if her cooking can kill, she seemed to be
thinking about you quite a lot. You two were both making gestures in
your own way, you each just seemed jinxed to always mis-interpret those
efforts. But most of all, you two got married didn't you? And had Ranko
as well!".
Ranma, now wearing a sad, almost wistful face, said softly "I guess I
really did care for her then, even maybe fall in love. It's always been
hard for me to admit it though".
He stopped, took a breath and another gulp of cheap sake and then
continued,
"Livin' life for so long on the road, with that 'wonderful role-model' of
a father I had, I dint' ever get much experience with relationships and
all that, especially when it came to girls. I din't know what the hell
was going on in my head then. After the last failed wedding attempt by
our
parents, and that whole thing at Phoenix Mountain, Akane and I did start
to
get closer. We didn't fight nearly as much, and we both tried to listen
ta
each other a little better.".
Ranma gave a wry smile, "I guess almost losing the one closest to your
heart can do that for you.". Shuddering slightly at that thought, he
stared at the bottom of his cup and swirled the clear liquid inside. He
took another swig, feeling the warmth flow down his throat, feeling that
emotion he dreaded pass away again. "We started getting closer, in a way,
after those last momentous events.", he continued, "We started training
together, seriously even. We spent more time together just doing things,
not dates or anything, but just hanging out. Ya' know, enjoying each
others
company. I still had lots of emotions and stuff running through my head,
and was still trying to sort things out. Like I knew I din't want ta
marry any of my other fiances. Some of them were cute and all, and others
were some of my best friends, I knew I dint want 'them'." Ranma stopped
and ran his hand through his hair, "Don't wanna get too sidetracked here".
"Where was I? Oh, yeh. While we were getting closer and all, I still
managed ta hurt Akane real badly in way she or I never thought. I hadn't
had a mother in so many years, and was really enjoyin' gettin' to know
my mom again. We talked a lot, and spent time together, and I'm sure that
I babbled quite a bit about that time I spent to Akane. I jus wasn't
thinkin, see. Akane had lost her mother when she was very young, and she
still missed her somthin' fierce, though she wouldn't admit to anyone
else.
I hadn't realized how much until one day at the end of the summer break,
right before our senior year."
Ranma stopped to take a breath, and then a sip of sake. His head was
really humming now, but he had this strange sense of momentum going.
He took another deep breath, and then carried on. "My parents had spent
a couple of days back at my family's house, after it had finally gotten
fixed up again, to figure out where they were going to have me stay for
the upcoming semester. Soun was off with Nabiki, overnight, looking at the
university she was going to that year. The dirty old lech was off who
knew
where, and we hadn't seen him for days. Kasumi was staying with a friend
for a few days, who was trying to convince her to go to nursing school.
Basically, we had the place to ourselves. This sort of situation NEVER
did
bode well fer the two of us. The morning started out fine. It was a
glorious day, and I had gotten up just before sunrise, for a change.
I worked on my katas by the pond for a long while, letting the energy
build-up inside me, beating the tar out of my shadow. I noticed out of
the
corner of my eye Akane slipping into the dojo. I was all excited about
what my mom and I were going to do that day cause there was this
summer-harvest-fair going on, and I wanted to see if Akane wanted to
come along. I knew sometimes she would go into the dojo really early
in the morning, before she thought anyone else was up, before going
on her morning run. I never knew what she was doing tho, 'cause
she never spent that much time there and I never bothered ta ask her.
Well, I sort of bounded into the dojo and started babbling to Akane
about the day's event, and my mother coming over, before I realized
what she was doing. She was kneeling over by the family shrine and
had her head bowed. When she looked up at me, it would have hurt
less if she had grabbed my mom's sword and run me through with it.
There was so much pain on her face, and then anger. She screamed at
me "You insensitive JERK!! I don't want to hear about your damn
mom. Don't you know how I feel??". Tears were streaming down her
face now, 'n then she yelled "This is MY time! It's the ONLY time I get
with MY mom." Then she hauled back for that hell-ish mallet of hers.
She tried pounding me, but I was so on edge from her outburst and so
in tune from the katas that I feinted back, out of the way. This
only pissed her off even more. She launched into a full-out attack on
me. She really had me going there for a bit, I had to work hard at
defendin' myself. I don't like fight'n girls, and I 'specially din't
wanna hurt Akane. She got a number of good shots in."
Ranma winced at the memory of many 'good shots' over the years. "I sorta
lost it then and called her a kawaiikunee tomboy, and said something
to the effect of 'what the hell are you doing, I just wanted to see if
you wanted to go to the fair?'. She ran out of steam then, literally.
She grabbed onto me, sinking towards the floor, crying hysterically
then. I din't know what to do so I lowered us both to tha floor,
sittin' on the wood. Then I realized what I had done, and how much I
had been hurtin' her hit me all of a sudden, and shook me to the bone.
We were both very sweaty from the workout, and adrenaline was flowin'
through us still. My gi had fallen half open in the front and one of
her hands had found its way onto my chest. I felt these stirrings that
I had never really had, or had paid attention to, before. I guess what
with all of our pent-up emotions, and the release of the fight, combined
with I don't know what, we just lost control. I looked down at her, she
looked up at me with shimmering eyes, I think then, both of our minds
just blanked. The next thing I knew we were kissing. I'd never felt
anything like it. I mean, it was absolutely electric, like a shock. Then,
there were hands groping everywhere, our gis fell more open. I realized
then just how much I really loved her. That she was the one I really
wanted to be with, forever ya know? That's a strong feeling to hit ya
all of sudden. I think she felt the same way too..." Ranma faded off.
Ranma closed his eyes, thinking back, the memories flooding in, "We
became a tangle of sweaty bodies on the floor of the dojo, our arms
and legs where everywhere. We were both so innocent then, we had no
idea of what the hell we were doing, or where we going, and we just
got caught up in teenage hormones, and so much emotion we didn't
know how to express to each other, an' had been holdin' back for too
long. We did it right there on the dojo floor, it was messy and
chaotic, but it was so damn good. It was so natural, and yet it felt
like falling off a cliff or something, you keep fallin' an' there's
nothing you can do about stoppin' it. Afterwards, we were in so much
shock we just sat there, I think I held her for 2 whole hours, just
stroking her hair and rocking slowly. Then we realized the rest of the
family would be coming home soon so we panicked and cleaned up the dojo,
and took really quick baths. We were so nervous, we were sure they were
going to know what happened and marry us off right then and there. I
mean while our dad's joked about such things, it would'a been scandalous
for us to be caught doin' that. We acted like total idiots that night,
Akane ended up not goin' to tha festival with my mom an' me, but they
never did clue in to it."
"The next morning we swore that it would never happen again. That
lasted all of three days. We had gotten into another big fight, I'm
not even sure what that one was about, they all seem to blend into one
another after a while. The fight wound its way outside of the house,
it was late in the evening, she was about to clobber me and I pinned
her against the back wall of the dojo. Then she was all over me, her
mouth kissing and her hands searching. I couldn't help myself either.
We ended up doing it again there in the darkness and bushes. Kasumi
scared the hell out of us, almost catching us in the act as she was
looking for us with a flashlight. We didn't get caught that time.
This whole routine happened a few more times. It was always after a
big fight or argument. Always when our tempers were hot and emotions
running wild."
Ranma stopped for a second, catching his breath, and wiping a hand
down his face. "Then things started going horribly wrong. I think
Nabiki had started to catch on to what was happening. We were on our
way back to school, the semester had just started, I was walking on
the fence top as usual, with Akane down on the sidewalk, and Nabiki
was just ahead. Nabiki made one of her usual shocking comments she
liked to tease us with. The comment had something to do with "If you
guys are doing the deed behind our backs, I sure hope you're at least
using protection.". I fell clean off the fence into the canal. Akane
covered great for us. When I cleared the water out of my ears, I
could hear her telling Nabiki the reason why I had ended up in the
canal was that I had made some snide comment under my breath 'bout her
and got knocked into the canal for my efforts, and why would she even
want to think about having sex with a sex-changing pervert like me.
It kinda hurt hearing that, but I knew she needed to keep up
appearances. I don't think either of us heard a thing in school that
day we were so nervous. For the rest of that month or so things
were a lot quieter between us. Less arguments and fights, but we also
kept a little more apart. We were so scared of the whole idea of
'unprotected sex' that we didn't have any more at all.".
Ranma stopped and refilled his cup, and then drained it. He focused
on Toshi's face again. "We were so stupid." he spat, "Because neither
of us before that time were never really interested in the opposite sex,
let alone ANY sort of relationship, I guess we din't really pay 'nough
attention to tha 'human sexuality' course at school. My dad sure din't
say nothing to me at any time about that sort of stuff. I'm pretty
sure that Mr. Tendou woulda blown a gasket at the thought of having to
discuss that sort of thing with his little girls, so Akane had never
really been told about it either. We lived really sheltered lives then.
We were still jus' kids. Then Akane started feelin' under the weather.
She would only pick at her food, and often'd not finish. Then she got
sick a couple of times. We thought at first it was just the flu or
eatin' her own cooking, or something like that, hoping it was. This
lasted for only a week or so, and then she was feeling a little better.
She hid the occasional nausea pretty well from everyone else includin'
me. We even started to get back into our 'normal' routine.", he paused
wiping his hand down his face again, eyes reddening. "I shoulda picked
up on things sooner. Her appetite came back with a vengeance, soon
she was almost matching me. Then one morning before breakfast as I was
comin' out of my room, Akane ran by me, real pale like, running for
tha bathroom. I dint think that much of it at the time, 'cause I could
smell breakfast gettin' ready. I went downstairs to see what Kasumi
was up to in the kitchen. Then I heard her voice calling for me from
the upstairs hall. Kasumi was just about finished cooking and I was
helping to set the table, so I put the bowls down and to see what was up.
I went upstairs and she was in her room, with the door cracked. I
went up to it, and knocked on the doorframe, and she hissed for me
to come in. I went in, giving the door a push behind me as I went
by it. There were clothes everywhere, scattered all over tha place.
Akane had her back to me, her school uniform on. Then she turned to me
with tears in her eyes and a real frightened look on her face. Her
blouse was only half-buttoned, cause she couldn't the buttons all the
way done, and the ones that had been done were strained. Her breasts
had gotten somewhat larger and were spilling out of the bra she usually
wore. Her skirt was also not closed at the top. I hadn't realized that
she had gotten so pudgy. She looked at me with a panicked look, and
hissed "Ranma, you gotta help me. I have got to get this uniform on!"
and as she was saying that, she was trying to button the skirt which just
wouldn't quite fit over her tummy. "I can't figure it out, my breasts
have been getting bigger..." she said "...and I work out with you all
the time, but I'm getting fat!". Her face kept getting paler and paler.
I guess mine was too, as the reality was sinking in. Nabiki it seems
had been doing the numbers in her head, and I must not have pushed
the door hard enough 'cause Nabiki had watched the whole episode from
the hallway. She came in the room and shut the door with a click.
This caused us both to jump we were so uptight. She looked us both over,
she eyed Akane up and down. A rather grim look on her face the whole
time. So I said "Mebbie Kasumi just shrunk your uniform in the wash?"
Then Nabiki looked at me and said "Don't be an ass.", and then she
turned back to Akane, "How long's it been since your period, Akane?" she
asked. Akane looked like she'd been shot. "How long?" Nabiki repeated.
Akane looked over at her calendar on her desk, and then fainted dead
away. I barely caught her as she was falling. That's how out of it
I was. Nabiki just looked at me coldly. "Get her to the doctor now.
Just go now, I'll cover for you." she said.
Ranma then paused for effect, "Sometimes people really surprise you, ya
know? Never thought ole' Nabiki had it in her. In fact, she threw me
a number of loops there, now that I'm thinking back on it. But anyways,
She helped me get Akane into her gi, being the easiest thing to put on
her. I opened the window and jumped down, Akane in my arms, heading for
the only medical person I knew I could trust. As I looked behind me,
while topping the compound wall, I saw Nabiki in the window, her hands
covering her face.".
Ranma stopped, leaned back and cracked his back again. He drew his
hand down his face yet again, trying to wipe away some of the fatigue
and emotion that was building up inside him. Ranma and Toshi looked
around, everyone else had long since gone home. The clock on the wall
read a little past closing time.
Toshi looked to Ranma and said, "Ahh, you might as well finish up, after
all, its just getting interesting. You can help me close afterwards",
Ranma nodded his agreement, "Besides, I think I can see where this is
heading..." Toshi said with a sad face.
Ranma drew another tired breath and began to finish his tale. "I took
her to Dr. Toufuu's office as fast as I could go. He's not a gy- gy-...".
"Woman's doctor?" interrupted Toshi.
"Yeh, thas it" Ranma replied. "Actually, he's a chiropractor 'an
accupressurist, and martial student of the pressure points of the
body and the way chi flows in a person. But he was the only doctor
I really knew, 'sides I knew I could confide in him. He's also taken
care of Akane since she was a lil' girl what with all the trouble she
got herself into all the time. He's always been real understandin' and
kind to us... Well, I got there all out of breath, worried lookin'.
Akane was still out cold, Dr. Toufuu had me lay her on the examining
table. He asked me what was the matter. I told him I din't know what
was wrong with her. He looked her over real quick, and then pressed a
few pressure points. A surprised look came over his face. He pressed
another few points and watched her chi for a little bit. His face then
got real serious like, and he looked over at me and said "I think Akane
should hear this too..." an' then I asked him what was wrong, 'cause I
was gettin really worried 'bout her. As he pressed another couple o'
points, waking Akane up, he said to the both of us "Well, nothing is
'wrong' with you Akane...". Akane grabbed my hand with a crushing grip
and she gave me a panicked look, and then we both looked back to
Dr. Toufuu. He pushed his glasses up his nose, and then said "You two
are going to have a baby.". The silence, needless to say, was deafening.
Then he looked at us both, he gave us a small smile, and said
"Congratulations. I really mean that too! I know you two are destined
to be happy together some day, even though you think that may never
happen, but you truly are made for each other. No matter what happens,
treat this child with all of the love you have for each other. Now for
the bad news. This is going to be the most difficult thing you have
ever faced. Your family is probably going to say a lot of things they
don't mean. Society is going to look down on you because of your marital
status. You are going to have a hard life for a while, but I promise
things will get better as long as you love and care for each other, that
is the only thing that really matters in life. Now I am not going to
lecture you two on responsibility or anything like that, as there is no
use crying over spilt milk, and you seem to be magnets for Murphy's Law
anyhow. I know that you have a bond between the two of you, and a simple
thing like a marriage certificate shouldn't make all of the difference
like it does in our society, but other people don't know you like I do.
Be strong, and be there for each other. You should probably go home now,
and tell your families. Give me a call in a few days, and let me know how
things went, and I will also give you the name of an Obstetrician I'd
recommend.".
"That..." Ranma said, "...was the nicest, most understanding, reception
to the news that we got."
"Let me get out the mop and stuff, but keep going, I'm still listening!"
Toshi interrupted, as he stood, stretched and turned to the small closet
behind him.
"Well," Ranma continued on "we decided not to go home right away, Akane
and me stopped by the school nurse's office, and she borrowed a spare
uniform so she could change out of her gi. We tried to go to classes to
take our minds off of the 'news', but we were both so distracted
by it all we had to hold buckets in the hall two times before lunch, and
I got whacked with erasers too many times ta count fer not payin'
attention. So we tried to slip out without being noticed at lunchtime.
We just wandered around for the rest of the afternoon, not saying much,
not even feeling like fighting or anything. Then when class usually
got out, we walked slowly toward home.".
Then Ranma sighed "That was one of the longest walks I've ever had.".
"When we got home, my Mother and Father were at the dining room table,
along with Mr. Tendou, and Kasumi and Nabiki. They all had worried looks
on their faces. Kasumi spoke up first asking if Akane was okay as Nabiki
had told them in the morning that she wasn't feeling good, and that Ranma
had taken her to Dr. Toufuu's. Then the others started asking things like
"Why didn't you stop back home before going to school?" "Is it something
serious?". We both looked at each other, and then Akane squeezed my hand
and then faced the group and said in real quiet voice "Um, I'm, Um,
pregnant."."
Ranma then gave a wan smile, "The babbling from the rest of our families
stopped instantly. Like someone did something so horrific or revolting.
It got real quiet like, and then my Mom asked Akane to repeat what she
had just said 'cause she was sure she didn't hear her correctly. Then
Akane bowed her head, and said again in a small voice "I'm going to have
a baby." It got even more quiet then, if that was even possible. Kasumi
passed clean out, din't even say "Oh My!" or anything."
Ranma gave a little chuckle at that.
"Everyone else just bigsweated. After a minute the yellin', screamin',
and demon-heads started up. Soun was absolutely livid, bawling and
screaming alternately. My pop was furious too, but he got deadly quiet
like I'd never seen him. Mom turned red, and you could see her aura
forming. Nabiki just sat there, holding Kasumi who was still out.
Akane was holding onto me, crying into my chest like the world was gonna
end, and I was just in shock. We'd never thought that we would get a
reception like this one was. Then mom grabbed the two men, and
rushed 'em into the kitchen fer a conference. While they were out of
tha room, Kasumi came to and started sobbing. After a few minutes the
parents came back, Soun in the lead. He pointed at me, and obviously
trying to control his 'demon-head chi manifestation', said "Saotome Ranma!
You have ruined my daughter, her honor and her reputation. You have
dishonored our family, our clan and this dojo. If I ever see your face
again, I will kill you. This is not a challenge, this is a promise.".
He stood there, after that, standing still trying not to break out into
tears again, trying to look as fierce as he could."
Ranma sighed, "Don't think I'd ever seen him as mad then, during any
other time somthin' bad happened around tha dojo.
Ranma shook his head slowly and then continued, speaking softly, "Then my
mom and pop stood forward, and dad said with great heroics "My son has
disgraced himself and our family, and even worse, disgraced a fine family
with a glorious lineage such as the 'Line of Tendou' has." and then he
looked me right in the eye, with this look like I was dog-shit or
something, and said "Martial artists are said to possess the control of
mind, body, and spirit. Obviously you are no martial artist, and I have
no son.".
Ranma shuddered after uttering the last statement. He look up at Toshi
who was slowly wiping the bar, while listening to Ranma's woeful tale.
His eyes were shimmering, and bloodshot. Toshi stopped for a moment,
observing the old pain in Ranma's eyes.
"I couldn't believe what I was hearin', but things got even worse, if
you could believe it. My mom spoke up next sayin', "My son, I declared
you a man-among-men, and your father's promise ful-filled but this..."
she pointed at Akane and then she wrung her hands "...such dishonor you
have heaped upon us, and your inuuzake*** and her family! We will gather
what belongings of our family still remain here, and take them away.
We will leave no trace to remind the honorable Tendou family of our
ill-fated presence here. We will try and make what recompense we may,
and try and restore our honor as we can, but you can no longer be
my son.". At this, she turned away from me, she bowed to Soun and then
rushed out of the room. My dad, I sorta expected that sorta two faced
behavior from, but my mom... I felt like my heart was being ripped
from my chest."
Ranma stopped and shuddered again, this time draining his cup of sake.
Toshi wordlessly refilled it, emptying the bottle.
Ranma drew another ragged breath and forged on, "Akane could only stand
there in shock. Then my dad bowed to Soun too, tears running down his
face and went after my mom. After pop left, Soun said "Akane". At this
she broke away from me and ran to Soun and went to hug him, but he put
his hands up to block her approach. He held her at arms length and said
"You are just as much guilty as that wretch Ranma over there. You have
dishonored our family, and heaped much disgrace upon us. Your mother
would be so disappointed in you.". Akane rocked back at that comment
as if she'd been slapped. Then he took a step back and turned around,
putting his back to her. He took a deep breath and then turned back
around saying "Akane, you are no longer welcome in this house. You have
one hour to gather what you may carry with you, and leave this house
forever. I would hope that that evil wretch Ranma will care for you and
your bastard child, and salvage what little of his honor that remains,
as I no longer will be responsible for you." He stopped, bowed his head
and muttered softly "I'm so sorry Kimiko I have no daughter named Akane.".
Then he turned and walked out, when he reached the yard, the waterworks
turned on and we could all hear him wailing about the tragedy of it all,
and why should this sort of thing happen to him. Akane stood still for
a moment, and then she wavered and fainted, I just barely caught her in
time again too."
Ranma stopped and looked up at Toshi with red rimmed eyes (whether from
the alcohol or emotion, Toshi couldn't be sure). "He was so horrible to
her."
Toshi blinked confusedly, but then Ranma continued his thought
"She was ALWAYS "daddy's little girl", the one who was gonna follow in
his footsteps, and inherit the dojo, the one who could do no wrong.
Kasumi had to grow up so fast, and take her mom's place in runnin' the
family, and Nab's seemed to be quite capable of taking care of herself,
and it seemed like it had been that way for years. Akane was the only
one needing or looking for support an' encouragement, and then Soun
goes and pulls a stunt like that."
Ranma looked up with fire in his eyes, "it's not like we murdered
someone or anything, but we got treated worse than dirt. Like we
was Ainu or something. He hurt her so bad.", Ranma stopped and
looked down at his hands. They were white and tightly gripping the
sake cup, and shaking so bad that some of the warm lethe-like liquid
sloshed over the side. He slowly put the cup down.
Toshi said softly, "You hate that don't you."
Ranma looked up with a question in his eyes.
"You hate Akane being hurt." Toshi continued matter-of-factly.
Old habits fought valiantly across Ranma's face, as anger and denial,
and indignation all flashed briefly across it. Exhaustion won the day
though, and Ranma let the mask slip. "Damn right!" he finally
growled.
Ranma shook his head again, to clear the fast accumulating cobwebs.
"Um, where was I? Oh, yeh... ...right after Soun dropped the bomb
Kasumi just looked on stunned, still sniffling and then she suddenly
got up and ran to her room. Nabiki looked at us with the weirdest
expression on her face, like she couldn't believe what was happening.
Like everybody was gonna come back into tha room and shout "Surprise!
Fooled ya!". When nobody did she got up too, and slowly walked out
towards the front door. As I gathered Akane up, to take her to her room,
I heard a soft "Aiee-Yah" behind me. I turned towards the open wall
facing the pond, and Ukyou and Shampoo were standing there in the doorway
with shocked looks on their faces. I had no idea how long they had been
standing there, but I guessed it was long 'nuff. Then Ukyou looked up
to me, and said "I just came by to see how you were, you left school
early. Shampoo here just tagged along. We only caught the last part,
but I think I get the gist of what happened.". As she was saying this,
tears started to run down her face, and she kept gettin' paler and paler.
Then she screamed "How could you??" and slapped me across the face harder
than she ever had before, made my ears ring and I couldn't see straight
for a few seconds, and then she took off, across the yard and over
the fence. Shampoo was still there, you could hear the gears turning in
her head. "Aiee-Yah..." she said softly, "...all this talk of dishonor,
Ranma banished, Hammer-girl banished. She 'with-child' right?". I
nodded.
"You two, no married right?". Again, I nodded. "You no promise to marry
her also, right?" I was beginnin' to feel like one of those plastic birds
that dips its head into a glass of water as I nodded yet again. Then she
took a breath, a scared look on her face. "You least plan marry
Hammer-girl now?". Then my usual foot-in-mouth reflex kicked in, and I
started off on why anyone would wanna marry a "sex-less tomboy like her",
and the usual stuff, but then she cut me off saying "No good have
dishonorable husband, you soil yourself, and prove you unworthy-ness of
being husband to Amazon. Is Ancient Law of Amazons..." Then as the
realization of what she had just said to me hit her, she broke into tears
and ran 'through' the fence, makin' a Shampoo shaped hole on her way out."
"Wow" was all Toshi could say.
"We're almost at the end of the story..." Ranma said wearily "...at the
end of the Sake at least" and he drained the last from his cup.
"Here, I'll grab the bucket and mop and I'll start mopping up, you grab
that bar rag and wipe some tables. In your condition, that's all you're
probably up to." Toshi said as he went behind the bar. "You can finish
the story while we clean."
Ranma nodded and grabbed the proffered rag and started wiping tables
slowly as he finished the story. "Well, I took Akane up to her room and
laid her on her bed. I went to my room and grabbed my pack and shoved
what little clothing I owned and the few mementos I had, into it. Took
me all of five minutes. Then I went back to Akane's room. I sat on the
edge of her bed, and gently slapped her face to wake her up. She opened
her eyes, and man, it hurt so much to look in them, all they pain they
held. Then I pulled her up, and told her to be strong, that I would
always be there for her, but we had to pack. We shoved what we could into
her pack, and then crammed some more of what she wanted to take into the
space left in mine. It still left a good-sized pile on the bed of what
couldn't go with us. Kasumi was standing in the doorway as we finished.
Akane went to her and pleaded "Can't you do something? Can't you say
something to Father??". Kasumi shook her head 'no' and said quietly
"Little sister, I'm so scared, father is so upset, and I can't do anything
with him like this. This is all so horrible." and then her lower lip
trembled. This was the first time I ever say good old reliable Kasumi
lose it, ya know. Then she started up again, "You might have also ruined
us!". Then she said desperately "Did you not know what you were doing?
How could you be so foolish?". Then she stood back quickly, almost
horrified of what she had just said, I think, and ran down the hall and
stairway, sobbing "Oh, little sister..." as she left the room. Akane and
I took up our packs, 'cause our time was almost up, and a few things to
carry in our arms and went downstairs. There was no one in the living
room, but we could hear Soun wailing away in the Dojo. As we made our way
to the front door in stunned silence, Kasumi appeared behind us and said
"Wait!". She handed us each a small bundle. "Something to eat tonite..."
she said. Then, she hugged each of us. "Akane," Kasumi said as we
shuffled awkwardly at the door "be safe, and show Ranma the love I know
you have for him. Don't let this get in the way of that. You can always
find happiness if you allow yourself to.". She turned to me next, with
the
most serious look I ever saw her give, "Ranma, don't you dare EVER let
Akane go. She needs you, the baby will need you. Show her the love I
know you have for her and things will work out. Always be there for
her.".
Then tears filled her eyes and again, and she ran back down the corridor.
We then left the Tendou Dojo forever, and have never been back. Then just
as we left the gate outside the compound, we saw Nabiki running up the
sidewalk. "I'm glad I caught you!" she puffed. "Here take this" she said
as she shoved a thick envelope at me. Then she handed another thinner
one to Akane, saying "this should get you two by for a bit. I've done all
I can." She hugged Akane, one sob shaking her body. Nabiki then turned
to
me "Just take care of her Ranma! Don't let me down again!". I said to her
that I'd pay her back as soon as I got some money, but she cut me off
saying "I know people think I'm such a Dragon-Lady, but I'm just as human
as the next poor sod. I know I don't often show it, but this is about
family, and its about all I really have." She forced down another sob,
looked at us both, and then ran inside the dojo."
Ranma plopped down his rag and ran his hand through his hair. "Sometimes
people really surprise you, ya know"
"Yeh," Tohshi replied "I think you said that earlier.".
"Oh" Ranma looked down and started absently wiping a table, "Anyhows,
she sure as hell surprised me and Akane. Didn't know she had it in her.
That last part she said wasn't 'bout the money either. With the life I've
had, I know what it's like to have family as your only real possession,
and to have precious little of that too. The contents of the envelope
surprised me too. I din't have a damn yen to my name. Akane only had
a piddling bank account. Not like either of us had a job or anything,
all our bills were taken care of by our parents. My envelope had a small
wad of large yen notes, and a hastily written budget. Nabiki had put
a lotta effort into it. There was enough money to get us a dirt-cheap
apartment, and food and what-not for a couple of months, if we followed
her suggestions. Akane's envelope had a phone card and a friend's
phone number we could leave messages at. It also had a few suggestions
of places to look at fer rooms to rent, and some contacts for possible
jobs. She also put down a few doctors who worked the low-income clinics.
At the bottom were the phone numbers for the social service department,
and some other local aid organizations."
Ranma straightened up, and wrung out his rag "I din't ever get a chance
ta thank her properly for that. I'm not really sure how to, if I did...".
Bending down to wipe another table, Ranma went on, "The money got us a
little dive in a more run-down section of Nerima. We both tried getting
a job after school, but who wants to hire a couple of kids who haven't
even finished high school, and can only work after school. School itself
weren't too hot. The rumors started flying right away, and after a
couple of weeks we both had had enough of all the crap we were gettin'.
Principle Kunou also wanted to send Akane to a school for 'wayward' girls
because of the distraction her 'condition' presented. A couple of boots
to his head and we were both outta there. Turns out that there are even
fewer job prospects for kids who aren't even 'finishing' high school.
The few odd jobs we managed to pick up didn't come very close to meeting
all the bills, and Akane was gettin' more 'n more pregnant every day,
and her ability to do stuff was starting to get hampered. We decided to
go for the big change and looked at Hokkaido. Sapporo looked good 'cause
the cost of living there was less, and it was a bigger city with more
jobs.
So we got another place to live, even worse than the one before, but ya
gotta have a roof over your head. We looked around, but jobs were scarcer
than we thought, and got the crappy jobs we got now. Be'n a delivery
girl worked for Akane, 'cause she got to drive the van around while
pregnant, and after the baby came, she could put the car-seat in the chair
next ta her and be her own babysitter. Plus, she's tough as all get out.
People tend not to mess with her, after an incident or two, word got
'round. Me, I don't got much schooling, but I could lift stuff and move
stuff, and I'm quick about it. The factory that took me on needed a body
to organize parts on shelves, and move stuff around the plant. I din't
need no stinkin' forklift, and could do the work of 3 men, so they hired
me. The pay is no bunch of roses, but it's something. Ya gotta feed your
child ya know? But the money never stretches far enough, Ranko is
always outgrowing her clothes, and she needs heat in the winter, and a
roof over her head. We already moved to a cheaper place once since we
got here, 'cause we still couldn't afford the rent. I don't know what
Akane expects me to do..." he sighed, "...I work my butt off, but we can
never make ends meet. Shit, she thinks I drink my paycheck away in this
joint, but I hardly ever 'pay' for a drink anymore. Hell, I gotta 'work'
for my rot-gut, but that's beside the story."
Ranma took a last swipe at the table he was working on, and straightened
up again, stretching. "And THAT's the sad story of Saotome Ranma."
Toshi shook his head "Not a very pretty life there..."
Ranma looked quite depressed now "Nope. Its had its moments, that's for
sure, but the last four or five years... ...not very many good
moments there."
As the two men stood there thinking glum thoughts. The door to the bar
opened, and a tall rough clothed figure walked in head down, carrying
a backpack and familiar looking umbrella. Very familiar in a fanged,
bandana wearing sort of way.
"Sorry sir, but we're closed!" a startled Toshi said to the figure at the
door.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I saw the lights on and figured you were still open, I'll
be leaving now...", the figure said as it looked the pair over, without
recognition. The figure turned to leave, swinging its pack over its
shoulder.
"Oy! Ryouga!" Ranma yelled, surprised. "What's a pig like you doing in
a place like..." Ranma continued, but was curtailed by the wave of water
sloshing over him. The wave being created by Ryouga's pack knocking
over the bucket of mop water Toshi had placed on the table near the door
as he turned back around in surprise at hearing Ranma's voice.
The scene was frozen for a moment. A now frumpy looking, damp Onna-Ranma
stood where Ranma-kun had once stood. A very surprised, but dry, Toshi
stood looking on. Ryouga, stood there equally surprised at finally
recognizing the 'new and improved' Ranma.
"What the hell dija have to go an do that for..." Ranma-chan exclaimed,
her voice dying out at the end, as her eyes rolled back into her head and
she passed out.
The only sound for a few seconds was the *poit-poit* of blinking eyes.
After recovering from his initial surprise, Ryouga exclaimed "Ranma?".
At this, Toshi looked over to Ryouga "Who the hell are you? And what the
hell happened to Ranma?". Toshi followed this up by rubbing his eyes,
and looking at Ranma's now feminine, red-headed figure lying prone on
the floor.
"Well," Ryouga started grinned that silly grin of his, "the first part
is easy. My name is Hibiki Ryouga. I'm an old 'acquaintance' of
Ranma's here. We went to school together a long time ago, and trained
in martial arts off and on."
"And the second?" prompted Toshi.
"That's sort of a long story..." dodged Ryouga, while doing that 'scratch-
the-back-of-your-head' type thing while trying to think of something.
Having failed at thinking, Ryouga did what he did best and barged right
in.
"Well, you see there is the place in China, these old legendary martial
arts training grounds, called..."
"Jusen-kee-yo?" interrupted Toshi.
"Close enough" said Ryouga, looking puzzled, "How'd you know?".
"Ranma had been telling me his life story, and had just finished up before
he got splashed with that there bucket of water. He mentioned a
'legendary'
training place by that name. Cursed pools, right?"
"I guess he 'forgot' to mention the nature of the curses there" Ryouga
smirked. "It's pretty simple actually. Unbelievable too, unless you
actually get a chance to witness it. This place has all these spring-fed
pools. Each pool has a different curse and 'tragic legend' associated
with
it. Falling into a pool activates that particular curse. Each pool had
something, or someone, drown in it at some point in the past. Lets say a
piglet for example..." Ryouga gave an ironic smile "falling into that pool
would turn you into a piglet. This normally would be a 'bad' thing. Hot
water can reverse the curse, bringing back your true form. This is a
'good' thing. The problem being that any cold water in the future that
splashes you, re-activates the curse. That is a 'bad' thing. Ranma
here,"
Ryouga nudged Onna-Ranma's body with the toe of his boot "was training
with his father over one of the pools, and got knocked into the 'Spring-
of-Drowned-Girl'. Real tragic 'eh?"
"I'd say..." said Toshi, "I've seen all sorts of weird things around here,
but this..." shaking his head "...this one wins hands down. What a crappy
life he's had eh?"
"Don't get me started on having a crappy life" grumbled Ryouga. "So why'd
he conk out like that anyways?" and he poked her hard in the side again
with his boot.
"He sure put away a good amount of sake tonite. That new body seems
to be a lot smaller. Probably couldn't handle the liquor as well."
Toshi speculated.
"I know his wife, Akane, pretty well. We're friends. I can drag his
sorry butt home if you like." Ryouga offered.
"That'd be great." replied Toshi "not too many cabs this time of night
in this part of town.".
Ryouga then put on his pack, and hefted Ranma-chan over his shoulder.
"What's he owe you?" he asked while reaching for his wallet.
"Nothing." said Toshi "he usually works off his tab here at the bar.".
Ryouga headed for the door, and while half through the doorway, he turned
his head back toward Toshi "Um... ...would you mind giving me a few
directions? I don't quite remember where they live." he said sheepishly.
"Oh, That's right! You're the one with the lousy sense of direction!"
Toshi exclaimed. "Give me a second, and I'll lock up, then I'll show you
to his place. It's just a couple of blocks over".
Ryouga turned his head towards Ranma's, "I hope you have one hell of a
hangover 'buddy', 'cause you're gonna pay for that comment 'bout me."
--------------------|--------------------
[We see Ryouga and Toshi walking up the street. A passed-out, soggy,
Ranma-chan is bouncing over Ryouga's shoulder as they walk. The trio
comes to a halt at the base of the building that Ranma and family live
in. Run-down, dirty, and shabby are polite words to describe the
building.]
"Just go up the stairway. Next to last floor, door opens onto the
stairwell. Says 'Saotome' on the door. You can't miss it." Toshi said
to Ryouga.
"Hmph! I've heard that before" grumbled Ryouga.
"I've got to get home, it's been a long weird night." Toshi said before
bowing slightly, "Thank you for bringing Ranma home. I only ever worry
about my regulars. The rest of the gutter trash I usually could care
less about." and then he turned and walked away muttering to himself
"...gotta lay off that 'Thunderbird Sake', I think its beginning to
get to me.".
Ryouga stood there for a second, watching the bartender trudge up the
street, thinking to himself {so Ranma's turned into a drunk}. Then he
started up the stairs. About halfway up, Ryouga shifted his load {and
he's let himself go to pot too!}. When he reached Ranma's floor, he set
Ranma down by the door, and gently tried the handle. It was locked. He
knocked softly, and after he got no response, he rifled through Ranma's
pockets and found a key ring. After trying a couple of them, the third
one worked in the door. He picked Ranma back up, and then opened the
door and walked in. The lights were still on in the tiny, dingy
apartment,
and as Ryouga's eye's flicked about, his face grew more and more red as
his anger built up. He saw Ranko huddled in ball on her own small futon
in the corner. He saw the grubby state of the room. He saw Akane sitting
at the table fast asleep, a pile of cigarette butts in the ashtray, and
one in her hand that was a long cylinder of ash, having burnt clear down
to the filter. He smelt the odour of burnt food in the air. He saw the
piles of belongings, and dishes, and general debris strewn about. His
temper reached its peak and then he blew.
"RANMA!!" roared Ryouga, as he lifted the prone body off his shoulder and
slammed it down on the floor. Ranma-chan started to stir and groan after
the rude awakening. "Just what the hell have you been doing to Akane and
your daughter??" he continued at full volume.
At this Akane started awake, jumping back startled. She went to a corner
of the room and grabbed a long wooden object, and as she was coming back,
about to bean Ryouga on the head with a bokken, Ranko exclaimed "Uncle
Ryouga!!" as she had also been woken up by the commotion. Akane ground
to a halt.
"Ryouga? What are you doing here?" Akane asked him, "you almost scared me
to death!"
Ryouga looked her up and down, noting her bloated figure, and ratty
house-coat. {What had happened to his beautiful Akane?} he thought
hastily.
An unconscious grimace crossed his face.
Noting the look, Akane pulled her garment tighter about herself, as if
that
could help hide her from his view.
Ryouga then indicated the floor near his feet where Ranma-chan lay.
Ranma-chan was still lying there and groaning slightly.
"Did you two fight again Ryouga?" Akane accused, taking a confrontational
stance. "Here I thought you guys had settled your differences. I never
can understand why the two of you are always going at it..."
"It wasn't that Akane." Ryouga cut in, "He'd been down at some bar. He'd
been drinking for a while. I wandered in, and accidentally splashed him
with some water. I guess the alcohol was too much for his other form to
handle, and he passed out."
Akane looked down at her sodden 'husband' still in female form and sighed.
"How much do we owe you?" she asked softly, her eyes and head downcast.
"Huh?" was all a confused Ryouga could reply.
"You brought him home, he looks like he was in no condition to pay for
what
he drank. How much did you have to pay to get him out of there?" Akane
continued tiredly.
"Uh, nothing." Ryouga replied, scratching the back of his head.
"C'mon, Ryouga, don't be so high and mighty. We may be poor, but we still
have our honor and cover our debts..." Akane said hotly, mentally adding
{where we can},her temper rising again.
"No, nothing, really!" Ryouga stammered, "The bartender said he usually
works off his drinks. He didn't owe anything." and as Ryouga finished,
Akane's fight seemed to deflate before his eyes.
Akane looked over to the clock, it was quite late, {No rest for the weary}
she thought. "Would you like some tea Ryouga? And, then you could tell
us how you came to be in these parts, at this time of night?" she asked.
"Uh, sure Akane." he replied, and flashed her one his best smiles.
A brief thought of regret flashed through Akane's mind at the smile.
She had figured out at some point along the way that Ryouga had feelings
for her, maybe even a crush. She thought it was cute, but she had never
considered him a suitor. But that brief bit of sunshine, in her otherwise
dreary life, the smile offered, made her think {might have things
been different...}. She quickly squashed the thought, though, at seeing
her daughter, so much like her father, walking over to where Ryouga was
standing. She shook her head to clear the jumbled thoughts, and went to
boil water for tea.
--------------------|--------------------
Ryouga stood there watching Akane look at him strangely, and then turn
and walk into the kitchen alcove. He felt a tugging at his pant leg.
He looked down and saw it was Ranko, she had a sleepy grin on her face.
He bent down, and picked her up. "Heya! Long time no see, 'eh kiddo?".
Ranko nodded back. Then she looked around to see if her mom was watching,
and when she saw that Akane was occupied, she leaned over to Ryouga's ear,
and whispered in that loud child's whisper "Dija bwing me anything, Uncle
Ryouga?".
Ryouga looked surprised for a second, and then grinned "Sure did kiddo.
Don't I always?". He turned then, while still holding her in the crook
of his arm, and leafed through the top of his pack. He pulled out a
string of I-Ching coins that glinted in the light. Ranko reached up and
held them, 'ohh-ing' over the bauble as they jingled lightly in her hands.
"Each of those coins means something special, things like good health and
good luck." Ryouga said to her softly, "Keep 'em safe, and I'll tell you
what they mean some day.". Ryouga then sat down to wait for Akane. Ranko
seemed comfortable in his arms, and was dozing off, so he didn't see fit
to disturb her.
When Akane returned with the teapot and cups she saw Ryouga sitting there,
Ranko had fallen asleep in his arms, her head on his shoulder. She felt
another of those maternal tugs at her heartstrings. Another unbidden
thought of Ryouga in some alternate world ran briefly through her head
before she shamefully chased it out. She poured the water into three
cups, swirling the powdered tea leaves within. After pouring out the
portions for tea, she dumped the rest of the hot water unceremoniously
on Ranma-chan's slightly groaning body.
Ranma sat bolt upright at the contact with water and transformation.
"Hot!" he complained, which he followed up by holding his head, which had
now started spinning. "Uhhhnn..." he continued. "...how'd I get home?"
and then he blinked owlishly at Ryouga, "I thought I saw you at the bar.".
Akane looked over to Ranma giving him a look of death "He dragged your
sorry self home. You should thank him for being such a good friend. Now
shut-up and drink your tea," now giving him a look of disgust "looks like
you could use it. Besides, Ryouga's gonna tell us where he's been for the
last two years or so.".
Akane and Ranma both grabbed their tea-cups and took sips and looked
expectantly at Ryouga. Ryouga launched into a description of the places
he'd been, and some of the encounters he'd had. This was interspersed
with comments from the Saotomes, "So why 'dintcha beat the snot outta
him?" "Oh, the cherry blossoms are so beautiful there that time of year!"
"Disney World?!?" "Learn any new moves from him?". The conversation
stopped when Akane asked about Akari. Ryouga looked down at his lap,
"Things just weren't working out with us. She was just into pigs too
much for my taste.". When Akane pressed the subject, Ryouga said "No,
you don't understand, she REALLY liked pigs. That just isn't my cup of
tea.". Akane still looked confused, but Ranma almost blew tea out of
his nose trying to keep from laughing out loud. Akane and Ryouga both
glared at Ranma, "What's so funny?!". When Ranma didn't say anything
but kept on giggling, Akane punched him in arm, and then turned back to
Ryouga and leaned over the table and gave him look that read 'just
ignore that jerk' and said "go on with your story!" and then flashed
him a smile. Ryouga's heart leapt a little bit at that, resurfacing old
feelings he thought he had finally given up, years ago.
As Ryouga continued his story, it was found out that he and Ukyou, who
was still single and now owned a small chain of Okonomiyaki joints,
had gone out on a few dates. Akane wanted to know "...details! I
wanna hear some details!" ^_^ "I've been keeping her in touch with how
you guys are doing, whenever I see any of you." Ryouga said, "In fact,
she'd love to hear from you guys."
"Ucchan actually forgave me?" said Ranma, "I thought she'd never want to
talk to me again..." and he got a sort of sad, dreamy look on his face.
This did not go unnoticed by Akane.
"So, I've been chatting all the while here..." Ryouga continued,
"...what's been happening with you two, err, three?" as he noticed the
sleeping child still in his arms. "Frankly, you guys look like hell.".
Ryouga leaned over the table and poked Ranma in the gut, "You've gone
soft man! Whatever happened to your devotion to the art? I mean, I'm
gone for what, two years, and I come back and the great Saotome has
turned into a soft slob! You had nobody to spar with or something?
Akane, I can understand getting soft, being a mother and all. She has
an excuse, but man, I wouldn't feel right beating the crap out of you
now. No challenge in it, wouldn't be fair!". All the while, Akane's
anger was slowly building again, {Uhh! That Ryouga can be so pig headed
sometimes!!} she thought.
Ranma, meanwhile, was looking more and more morose, slouching further
down and hanging his head.
Finally Akane had enough "Okay Ryouga." she said through gritted teeth,
"We get the point. Our life's been shitty enough without you rubbing our
noses in it.".
Ryouga had the brains enough to look properly chastised at this. Then he
looked at Ranma and said petulantly, "You promised to take care of Akane,
Ranma. You gave me your word of honor. That was the ONLY reason why I
didn't wipe the ground with your miserable hide after I heard the news.
I couldn't just kill a child's father now could I? But you TOLD me
you'd take care of her, I can't believe you've done this to her.".
As old passions began to rise in Ryouga, his face flushed, and his temper
started to blow. "You call yourself a MAN?" Ryouga sneered.
"Hey!" Ranma exclaimed, "Watch what you say..." starting to get up.
Akane cut him short, yanking him down by his ratty pony-tail. "That's
ENOUGH Ryouga." she hissed. "Don't talk about my husband like that.
You have no idea what we've gone through. Besides..." she gave a wan
grin, trying to defuse the situation "...only I get to bad-mouth Ranma"
"But look at this place, look at you!" Ryouga exclaimed, his righteous
ire still simmering.
"You just try working all day till you're dead tired, just to make sure
you have a roof over your head, and the power doesn't get shut off, and
your child is warm, and has some decent clothing, and then the money
you get from your dead-end job 'sometimes' is enough to cover food.
Sometimes it doesn't." Akane growled at him.
Ranma looked Ryouga in the eye and said quietly, "Sure, you may have had
a difficult life, and I know I haven't helped, but you haven't really
experienced a 'hard' life. You have no idea what it's like. Livin' on
the road when you're a single guy is easy. You have no responsibility
except for yourself, you can sleep wherever, and scrapin' up a bit of
cash is no problem. You can't do it with a family. I won't do to my
daughter, what my old man did to me.". Ranma gripped his fists, and then
looked away from Ryouga, "Life gets in the way Ryouga. That's what
happened to us."
Akane got up, and walked over to Ryouga and bent down and lifted her
daughter gently off of Ryouga's shoulder, Ranko stirred and yawned. The
yawn quickly passed around the room, like they are wont to do. "I think
it's bedtime for all of us. Lack of sleep is making us testy. We can
talk some more in the morning. You are welcome to sleep on the floor,
Ryouga, if you want to."
"Um, I'd probably rather just sleep on the roof. There's a clear spot
up there right?" Ryouga replied.
"Yeah, I sleep up there quite often actually." Ranma said while giving
Akane a glare.
Akane returned his glare by 'Humphing' and turning her back to him.
"Let me just grab my bedroll, I'll leave the bulk of my pack here if you
don't mind". As Ryouga rifled through his pack, he stopped suddenly and
stood up abruptly, an envelope in his hand. "I almost forgot!" he
said, "I ran into Kasumi not too long ago, she asked that I give this
to you when I saw you next."
Both Akane and Ranma, who were putting Ranko back down to sleep, perked
up at the mention of Kasumi's name. Ryouga tossed the letter towards
them, and grabbed his bedroll. "See you in the morning!" he said.
"Make sure you come and wake me up, I'll never find my way back if you
don't!" he grinned and waved and went out the door.
Akane snatched the letter out of the air, Ranma crowding behind her, and
then held it in trembling hands. "I'm afraid to open it Ranma." said
Akane quietly, "I mean, we haven't heard from the family for going on four
years now, and then it was always Nabiki.". After holding her breath
for a few seconds, Akane took a deep breath and ripped open the envelope.
The fear and uncertainty got too much for her. "Here!" she said, turning
and giving the enclosed letter to Ranma, "I can't look. You read it!"
Ranma took the folded piece of paper, and the envelope as well, from
Akane. "She addressed it to Saotome Ranma and Akane. Looks like Nabiki
passed the news about the wedding at that little temple outside of
Hokido***." he said giving Akane a quick smile of encouragement. Akane
prodded Ranma in the side, motioning to continue reading. "I'm getting
there." he protested, "Okay, she says "Dear little sister and little
brother too, I hope the Kami finds you well, and the little one as well!
I cannot believe how much time has passed, and how much I miss you.".
Ranma looked up at this, a hopeful look on his face. "I shouldn't
digress too much right now. I hope this letter gets to you in enough
time, as we all know how bad poor Ryouga is with directions. I dislike
so, that my first letter to the two of you is the bearer of bad news.".
Akane gripped Ranma's shoulder hard when he read that part. He
continued on, eye's scanning ahead as he read. "Father does not know
that I am writing this letter to you, and I do not know if he would
approve or not. I feel, though, that it is very important that you
know of what has happened here in Nerima. Father is very unwell, and the
dojo's very existence is threatened. He got sick recently, and was not
in the best of health. A challenge was given to the Master of the dojo
and he accepted, even though we begged him not to, on account of health.
The challengers beat him. They beat him so badly little sister! I still
cry when I think back upon it. They destroyed the dojo after he
succumbed to their attacks. Please little sister, and little brother
too, please come home. Come as soon as you can. You must, as I do not
know how long Father has.". Ranma's voice as he read, became more and
strained, finally a whisper at the end. His hands were white. He turned
to look at his wife beside him, her face was ashen. Her eyes shimmered
with tears forming.
"We go first thing in the morning." Ranma said to Akane, a grim resolve
forming on his face. Akane nodded slowly, numb from shock. Ranma led
her to their futon, and sat her down gently. He untied the sash on her
housecoat and slipped it off her shoulders and down her arms. Then he
slowly unbuttoned her dress down the front removing it just as gently,
she shifted listlessly as he pulled the fabric from under her. He
unhooked and removed her utilitarian bra, and then softly laid her
down. Tears starting to run down her face again, she rolled away from
him, shifting into a fetal position. He looked over her body, her once
lithe and youthful figure now heading towards matronly having suffered
the ravages of childbearing and hardscrabble living, and to her face,
bearing the marks of growing up way to quickly for one so young, looking
away from him. "What have we become?" he murmured almost inaudibly.
He shucked his clothing tossing them on the pile in the corner. He then
crawled into the futon next to her, and pulled the covers over them,
reaching up to switch off the lights. He wrapped his arm over her, and
she rolled over into his arms. "Kawaiikunee tomboy" he said into her
hair,
giving her a deep squeeze. She hiccoughed, and then replied to his
chest "Bakayarou ***". He held her as she sobbed herself to sleep, her
hands gripping him so tightly he knew from experience he'd have marks
the next day. Sleep never did come to him.
--------------------|--------------------
Morning woke with the harsh braying of the alarm, set to the usual
ungodly hour they needed to awake to go to their respective jobs.
The loud alarm, usually necessary due to the almost legendary sleeping
ability of Akane and Ranma, caused Ranma to jump. He chided himself
for the weakness. {A martial artist should be ready for anything!!} a
voice spoke in his head unbidden. Shaking the fog from his head, he
pried himself from Akane's grip, causing her to awaken.
She opened her eyes, looking at him fearfully. "It really happened last
night didn't it?" she said "It wasn't all a horrible dream was it.".
He shook his head no. "We need to go. You wake Ranko and get her stuff
together. I'll work on our stuff."
They went about their separate tasks, slowly at first, but then picking
up speed as they realized the gravity of what the letter said. {What
really happened to make Kasumi write to us?} both of them thought to
themselves. The meager pile of belongings that they would travel with
took shape on the table. Some few changes of clothing, a small cook kit,
and a few personal hygiene items. The tiny bit of food they had left.
There was an even tinier pile of personal items. Mostly a few small
things that Ranko had become attached to. Ranko was bouncing around
the small apartment most of the time, asking questions, wanting to know
"why were they making piles of their stuff on the table?" "Why was her
stuff in a pile?" "Why wasn't someone helping get ready for school." and
"Where's breakfast?".
"We don't have any this morning little pony-chan" Akane said, a sad look
on her face. Ranma came over, and stooped down in front of Ranko he
looked in her eyes to get her attention. "We're gonna be going on an
adventure. All three of us. Mommy and Daddy need to get our things
together, and you can be a big help by sitting on your futon for a few
minutes while we finish up. If you can do that, I'll give you a horsie
ride later." he ended with a smile. She nodded her head, and took off
for her futon like a flash.
Akane flashed a brief smile of thanks to Ranma before turning to the
table. "Not much, is there." she said to him.
"Well, we won't have to carry much, won't be much to unpack." Ranma said.
"We won't be coming back here will we?" Akane asked him, almost certain
of the answer.
"Why? We hate our jobs, we have no money, no future here. We need a
fresh start, somehow. We have nothing to stay here for." he returned.
"What about the rest of our stuff?" she asked back.
"Most of its junk anyhow. The rest of the stuff, do we really need it?
We haven't paid this month's rent yet, and still owe most of last
month's. We'd probably be locked out soon in any case." he said slowly.
"Akane, let's just leave and never turn back!" he said to her with more
vigor.
Akane turned her head, panning around the cramped, dingy apartment.
"Good." she huffed, "I hate this place. Let's go then!" and she shoved
the last bit of stuff into the pack.
They brought their small pile of gear and possessions outside the door.
Ranma shouldered the pack. Akane lifted Ranko up to sit on Ranma's
shoulders, using the top of the pack as a backrest. Akane gathered up
the remainder of their belongings, into a couple of bundles. They
stood there at the door for a few seconds, looking in. Then they turned
around and started walking down the stairs.
"Where are we goin?" asked Ranko
"To visit family." said Ranma, giving her foot a tickle.
"Do I know 'em?" Ranko asked, giggling.
"Nope." he replied, "We haven't seen 'em in a long time. Since before you
were born."
"Too long..." said Akane softly.
Ranma looked over at her. Her head hung down, and her face looked sad.
"Hey." he said to Akane, poking her in the shoulder. "We're goin' home."
he said with a small smile.
Akane looked back to him, giving a small but grim smile in return. "Yeah,
I'm just worried, that's all."
Ranma gave her hand a quick squeeze, <me too> he thought to himself. He
looked up the street they were travelling. The sun was recently risen,
small tendrils of mist swirling off the street as the sun's rays burned
off the morning dew. <It's gonna be a beaut of a day> he thought. Though
something nagged at the back of his head. "I keep getting this feeling
that we forgot something, Akane" Ranma said, looking to his wife
beside him.
"Couldn't be all that important." she returned, "Besides, we have
everything we really need on our backs, the rest of the stuff back there
is trivial. I'm certainly not going miss anybody from the building. I
had some friends at work, but I have this feeling that I won't be
that missed."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Ranma murmured.
Akane gave a small laugh, "You don't hear THAT too often out of your
mouth, ne?".
"Hey now!" Ranma protested, giving her a light thump on the shoulder,
and a faux hurt look.
Ranko from her perch on the pack giggled. "How 'bout some 'muu-zik'?"
she asked. Both parents nodded their agreement. She reached into her
own little bag, and pulled out a little transistor type radio (kinda like
the one Kiki owned). She fiddled with dial for a second till a radio
station came in.
""Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted, I bought them for you
Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands.
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away.""
Akane and Ranko hummed along. Ranma looked quizzical. "What sorta
music is that?"
"Rocku and Rorru" Ranko replied, stumbling over the gaijin pronunciation.
"Teaching her to like that American stuff already, eh Akane?" Ranma
inquired of his wife.
""I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exit or off stage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind.
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away.""
"And what's wrong with that?" huffed Akane, turning to face Ranma,
putting her hands on her hips.
"Nothing, nothing!" he said, putting up his hands in a show of deference.
Ranko then bonked him on the head with her radio, "Daddy no-baka!"
"Besides, They're singing a song about you, you know!" Akane taunted
to Ranma with a sly grin.
"Whaddya mean?!" he spit out defensively.
"Didn't you ever pay attention in English Class back in school you
Baka?!" Akane replied a little testily. When Ranma got the guilty
look on his face she knew so well, and rubbed the back of his head
with his hand, she muttered "Don't worry about it, its nothing...".
As the trio continued on down the street, Ranma could be heard muttering
about being tag-teamed, and the unfairness of it all. Akane and Ranko
were obviously getting a good giggle out of it.
""I know I've dreamed you a sin and a lie
I have my freedom but I don't have much time
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried
Let's do some living after we die.
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses we'll ride them someday.""
Back in their apartment, the lights off, the door closed, most personal
effects gone, a lone pack and umbrella leaned against the table by the
door.
""Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses we'll ride them someday.""
In the basement of the apartment building, amongst the boilers and pipes
and
assorted rubbish. Ryouga is seen wandering, trying to find his way out.
As
the camera pans away, pulling away from the building, and gradually
bringing
the rest of the industrial city into view a voice can be heard ringing
out.
"RANNNMAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!"
""Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses we'll ride them someday.""
--------------------|--------------------
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END OF CHAPTER ONE
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(for anyone who might be interested, I have the rest of the 4-5 chapters
plotted out)