Travels, Training and Trials

A Ranma 1/2 fanfic by June "KaraOhki" Geraci
July 23, 1999

Ranma 1/2 was created by Rumiko Takahashi, and its characters belong
to her.  I'm merely borrowing them.  The story below is for
entertainment purposes only, and may not be used commercially.


----------------------

Chapter One

"Fiancee?"

Ranma's eyes bulged so far out of his head they nearly fell out.

Genma had the grace to look somewhat embarrassed.

"I made the arrangement with my friend Tendo before you were born,
Ranma.  At the time he had only one daughter.  Now he has three.  If
they're as pretty as his wife was, you should like one of them."

*Three choices.  Millions of girls in the world, and Pop limits my
choices to three.*  Ranma had very little experience with girls, but
he had begun to take notice of them, and they of him.  As far as
marriage was concerned, it was a step he was not ready to take.  *Pop
gets more impossible every day.*

"What makes you think I'm ready to get married, Pop?"

The sudden downpour prevented Genma from responding.  He pulled out a
sign and began to scribble an answer, but Ranma grabbed it from him
and shattered it over his head.

"Just show me the way, Pop."

*****

"Father, you have to leave me out of this."

"But Kasumi--"

"I said no!  How am I going to explain this to Tofu?  It took me
MONTHS to get anywhere with him, and now you want me to dump him for
some younger guy I've never met?"

"But Kasumi--"

"And I don't give a DAMN if he's Auntie Nodoka's son.  Forget it!"

The last words were uttered as Kasumi left the table.  Seconds later
she was out of the house, stopping long enough to take an umbrella
from the stand near the door.  Kasumi nearly ran over a soaked girl as
she flew down the sidewalk.

"Excuse me!  I didn't see you."

She took a quarter of a second to gawk at the panda, and continued
toward Tofu's office.

Soun looked warily at his two remaining daughters.  So far, neither of
them had spoken a word.

"I'm not in the market for a husband right now, Dad.  I'm too busy.
Besides, having only ONE boyfriend is no fun!"

Soun could only shake his head at Nabiki's statement.  He'd thought
that Kasumi had been popular in high school.  Then Nabiki had started
attending Furinkan, and boys followed her everywhere.  Right now she
was going out with two boys, both of whom had expressed intentions of
marrying her.  Nabiki seemed to enjoy keeping them dangling while she
made up her mind between them.

Akane, on the other hand, didn't have a boyfriend.  Her father looked
at her hopefully, waiting for her to speak.

"You know how I feel about boys, Daddy.  They're nothing but
perverts."

"Akane, what makes you think Ranma is a pervert?  You've never met
him."

"I don't kn--"

"You mustn't jump to conclusions.  I expect you to be polite when
Saotome and his son arrive.  Do you understand?"

"Yes, Daddy."

*****

Hours later, Ranma relaxed in the Tendo bath.  He had a lot to think
about.

He and his father had totally confused the Tendos when they arrived.
Ranma had immediately asked for hot water, and was in the middle of
explaining Jusenkyo curses when Kasumi came home, and he'd had to
start all over again.  Kasumi had listened to the explanation and
demonstration, shrugged in disinterest, and disappeared into the
kitchen to start dinner.  Her sister Nabiki had excused herself,
saying that she had a date to prepare for.  That left only Akane at
the table.

The youngest Tendo sister hadn't said a word.  At first, Ranma thought
that she was as uninterested in his story as Kasumi had been, but her
body language betrayed her.  She was very interested, but trying to
hide it.  If there was anything Ranma had learned, it was how to read
the body language of girls.

Ranma had met many girls in the years he had been training.  At some
dojos, the masters' daughters only used their martial arts skills
(what little they had, that is) to meet guys.  Ranma had learned to
quickly put them in their place, and ignore them.  Others were
serious, and he'd given and received plenty of bruises training with
them.

He tended to prefer the latter type of girl.  The soft, sweet girls
made him nervous--he got along much better with the tomboys he'd met.
There had been one exception to that.  Midori.   Ranma closed his
eyes, thinking of her, and what had happened between them several
months earlier.

They'd been staying at a dojo for several weeks, and for once Ranma
was the one who wanted to leave.  Usually, he preferred to stay in one
spot as long as he could, but this particular dojo made him
uncomfortable.

Over the years, Ranma had become accustomed to spending time with the
master in each dojo he visited.  He'd read everything in the library
that he was permitted to, and trade books that he had already read for
anything that could be spared.  It wasn't uncommon for Ranma and the
master to sit talking far into the night.

This place was different.  Instead of spending time with Ranma, the
master spent all of his spare time with Genma.  Ranma didn't begrudge
his father having a friend, but the late nights they spent out
drinking annoyed him.  He didn't like the way his father acted when
he'd had too much to drink.   Ranma had tried to talk his father into
moving on, but Genma would have none of it.  The weather was cold and
miserable, and if he didn't have to travel in it, he wouldn't.

The only person in the household Ranma really liked was the master's
daughter, Midori.  She was tall, and slender, with long thick hair
that she wore in a braid that was wrapped around her head like a
crown.  Midori was one of the few girls who seemed to be able to mix
being feminine with being a martial artist.  She was willing to fight
him as hard as he would fight her.  Yet, whenever he was in her
presence Ranma was all too aware of the fact that this was a girl, and
a very desirable one.  He could also tell that she had an interest in
him that went beyond what he'd seen in other girls.

If not for sheer luck, Midori would be Ranma's wife.  For once, Ranma
had cause to be grateful to his father.

Midori's father and Genma were out, and Ranma had gone to bed.  He
woke up, aware that he was not alone.  Midori was kneeling beside his
futon, and had awakened him by gently kissing his cheek.

"Midori?  What are you doing here?"

"Shhhh," was the only reply he got.

It seemed that Midori's courage had been used up by the effort to
enter his room, because she simply sat there, staring at Ranma.  He
sat up, and brushed her hair out of her eyes.  It was unbound, and
swirled around her in soft ripples.

The touch of his hand to Midori's cheek sent waves of electricity
through Ranma.  He had been avoiding physical contact with her for
days, refusing even to spar with her, afraid of the reaction it caused
in him every time they touched.  This time, he wanted to explore that
reaction.

Their lips touched, and his arms found their way around her.

Midori's skin was soft and smooth, and her perfume was intoxicating.
Suddenly, she was no longer in his arms, for she had pulled away,
sinking down onto his pillow.  She smiled at him, took his hand, and
placed it on her breast.

An alarm went off in Ranma's mind, screaming "DANGER!!!!" in a
deafening roar, but he was too far gone to heed it.  He had been given
far too few gifts through the years to even consider refusing the one
being offered to him now.

Ranma never got to unwrap the gift.  His father exploded into the
room, breathing heavily.  The pair on the futon separated instantly,
Ranma turning bright red and Midori white.

"I suggest you return to your room, Midori."

Ranma avoided his father's face as he listened to the sound of
Midori's footsteps as she left the room, and he didn't look up until
the door slid shut.

"Get dressed, and packed.  We're leaving."

"Pop, I-I---"

"We'll discuss it later."

Genma waited until they had put several miles between them and the
dojo before he stopped to talk.

"You were very lucky tonight, Ranma.  Midori was in your room for a
reason."

"Well yeah, Pop!  I think I had that figured out!"

"Don't interrupt me!  Midori was with you because her father had sent
her there."

Ranma dropped the firewood he was holding onto his foot.  He winced,
sat down, and took off his shoe to look at it.  His father got the
fire going and sat next to it, warming his hands.

"I should have guessed what he was up to.  For the past few days, he's
been praising you, and saying what an asset you would be to any dojo.
He must have been planning to marry you off to Midori from the start.

"Tonight, he had a little too much to drink, and he made a mistake.
He congratulated me, saying that you and Midori were taking the first
step toward making us grandparents."

*OhmyGod* thought Ranma.  *I didn't even think of that.*  "What did
you do, Pop?"

"I tried to leave, of course--to get to you.  When he tried to stop
me, I put him down.  Hard.  He won't be getting up for a while."

Ranma stared into the fire for a while, gathering his thoughts.

"Thanks, Pop.  I owe you one.  But. . ."

"Yes?"

"What about Midori?  Is he going to take this out on her?"

"I don't think so, Ranma.  At least I hope not."

*****

Ranma forced his mind back to the present.  Why was he thinking about
Midori?

He knew why.  Akane.  Her long dark hair, her gi. . .a lot about her
reminded her of the first (and only) girl he had ever kissed.  Then
she'd finally spoken, and unknowingly made the resemblance
stronger. . .

"I was about to go practice, Ranma.  Would you like to spar with me?"

The only response Ranma gave was a nod, and he followed her into the
dojo.  As they left the house, he could hear Akane's father speaking
to his.

"Saotome, I have a problem with my girls.  Kasumi already has a
boyfriend, and Nabiki has two. . ."

They started slowly, gauging each other's skills.  Ranma saw that
Akane was good--very good--and that she had no intention of losing.
He stepped up his attack, and she kept right up with him.

The only sounds in the dojo were of the blows they traded, grunts when
they landed, and their feet on the floor.  Then, in an instant, it was
over.  Akane had charged at Ranma, and he had sailed over her head.
He'd knocked her flat on her face before she could react, then sat on
her.

"You're not bad, Akane."

"Neither are you."

"Dinner!!"

That word made both of them smile.  Ranma got up, and reached down for
Akane's hand.  She grasped it, and he pulled her to her feet.  They
were about to leave the room when Akane stopped him.  She looked
extremely embarrassed.

"Ranma, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"You know why your father brought you here, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

Akane looked pained.

"They're going to pick me, you know.  Kasumi is practically engaged,
and Nabiki's trying to make up her mind between her two boyfriends.
I--I feel--"

"Do you feel trapped?  I know I do."

"I wonder what Auntie Nodoka will say."

"Who's she?"

Akane's jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Your mother, that's who!"

Ranma staggered.  Akane thought he was going to fall down, but he
caught himself.  She watched him attempt to regain his composure, and
then he answered in a very shaky voice.

"You know my mother?  I can't even remember what she looks like."

Before Akane could reply, Kasumi called them again.  This time, she
sounded angry.

"Get in here before it gets cold!!!"

>From there, things had gone rapidly downhill.  Akane had joined the
family (minus Nabiki, who was out on her date) at the dinner table,
and immediately announced that she had to write to Nodoka.

"I have to tell her that the two of you are here!"

To everyone's amazement, Genma had gone dead white.

"You mustn't!"

Ranma immediately looked suspicious.

"Why not, Pop?"

"Because--because."

"Hey!  I can tell you're thinking up a lie.  Tell me the truth!"

Akane didn't think it was possible for Mr. Saotome to get any paler,
but he did.  He gulped, and began to talk.

"Ranma, I er, promised your mother that you would be a true man when
we returned home."

"So?  Why is that a pro--"

*What is my mother gonna think about this curse?*

Ranma's change of expression was not lost on the people in the room.
They knew Nodoka, and her ideas about men and women.

"She's not going to like this, is she?"

"It's worse than that.  If she's not satisfied, the both of us have to
commit seppuku."

Akane jumped to her feet.

"No! That's just wrong!  R-Ranma didn't JUMP into that spring. . .it
was an accident!"

Genma just looked at her, and Akane understood--Auntie Nodoka could be
very, very stubborn.

"I--I won't write to her, but sooner or later she's going to come
here.  What are you going to do?"

"That's where you come in, Akane.  If you and Ranma were married, she
would consider him a man."

"Why ME?"

Kasumi looked up at her sister.

"Sit down, Akane.  There are reasons why you would be the best
choice."

Akane sat, and Kasumi calmly recited the reasons, counting on her
fingers as she went along.

"One:  You're closest in age to Ranma than either me or Nabiki.  Two:
You're the martial artist in the family.  Three:  I know you don't
like boys, and Ranma is half girl--"

If there were any other reasons on Kasumi's list, she would never get
to express them.  Ranma threw down his chopsticks, rose from his seat,
and towered over her.

"Get this straight!  I'm a GUY!!  Not a girl, not half a girl, a GUY!"

Kasumi cringed.  Genma jumped up, and pushed Ranma away from her.

"Sit down, boy!"

Silence reigned for several seconds, as Ranma glared at his father.
Then he looked down at his plate, and sighed.  When he looked up
again, it was at Soun.

"Mr. Tendo, I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have lost my temper like that.
Kasumi, I'm sorry that I yelled at you.  I have something to say.  May
I?"

"Go ahead."

"I understand the promise you made with my father.  What I don't
understand is that you expect me to choose a wife today.  I just got
here.  Would you be willing to give me some time to make up my mind?"

Soun thought for a minute, and nodded.

"That's a reasonable request.  How much time were you thinking of?"

"I don't know--a couple of months, at least?  I don't really know your
daughters, and they don't know me.  This has got to be as embarrassing
for them as it is for me."

*****

The water was beginning to cool down.  Ranma sighed, and got out of
the tub.

He was grateful that his father and Soun had agreed with his request
for time.  It was bad enough being pressured to take a wife, but
having to choose one within hours of meeting her was totally unfair.

Ranma made his way upstairs.  The house was dark and quiet, and his
father was already asleep, snoring loudly.  He crawled into his futon
and closed his eyes, but there was too much on his mind to allow
sleep.

*No sense in listening to that snoring if I don't have to.*

Ranma opened the bedroom window, and climbed up onto the roof.  There
was a light breeze, and the view was pretty enough.  Ranma was about
to sit down when he realized that someone else was on the roof.  Akane
lay on the roof a few yards away, staring at the stars.

"Hi."

Ranma sat next to Akane, and smiled at her.  She sat up, and looked at
him rather seriously.

"Couldn't sleep?"

"No."

"Me neither."

Akane looked up at the stars for a minute before she spoke again.

"This is my special place.  The only other person who can get up here
is Daddy, but he never does.  I come here when I need to think, or if
Auntie No-"

Akane realized she was talking to Nodoka's son, and stopped short.

"What about Mother?"

"We, um, we don't always agree with each other.  She's got some ideas
about how women are supposed to act that I just can't agree with.  If
she had her way, I'd give up martial arts, and spend all my time being
a `lady'.  We've had the same argument over and over again.  Mom would
have listened to me."

"She wants you to give up martial arts?  No way, Akane!  You're too
good at it.  Besides, you, um. . ."

"I what?"

"You can be a lady and a martial artist too."

Akane lit up.

"Thank you!  That's exactly what I've been telling your mother.  Mom
did both, and I want to do both."

*I can't believe it!  A boy I don't want to pound into the ground. .
.this is weird.*

*She's so cute. . .No!  Don't start thinking that!*

"Er, Akane,  about this engagement thing.  You were right.  Kasumi
doesn't like me, and Nabiki isn't interested.  That sort of leaves
just you and me."

"Ranma, you said you needed time!  What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I'd like to get to know you.  As a friend.  If it
doesn't work out, I'll leave.  There's no way our fathers are going to
force us to get married if we can't get along.  What do you say?"

Akane's response was to hold out her hand.  Ranma grasped it, trying
to ignore the feeling touching her caused.  *Not again.*

"It's a deal, Ranma.  Friends it is."



to be continued

as always, comments are welcome
to me - karaohki@snet.net or to the list, or both