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Ranma 1/2
A Halloween Story
by James Epnett
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Authors notes: Well, I couldn't sleep last night,
so I sat down and decided to work on something
other than Twilight of the Dead. Since it is almost
Halloween, I decided to do a short about a
Halloween party. After watching ALL of the OAV's in
one night, the second episode on 'Desperately
Seeking Shampoo' (the Christmas one) made me want
to do a Halloween story. I will say that I don't
know how the Halloween thing works in Japan, so I
am basing this on how we do it here in the states.
This story is just for fun, so don't get all
technical on me.
I don't expect it to be too funny or anything,
since comedy isn't my thing (all though Chef Akane
and Ranma vs. the 18th Hole came over rather good
with some people in the comical area, so maybe this
one will be lucky. ^_^)
Oh, and on another note, this story does, in fact,
take place in the alt. reality that Twilight does,
this is just before all the zombies came out to
play.
I decided to make this a lil, short 2 part thing.
Humbly requesting C&C, flames, MST's, etc. etc.
etc.... ^_^ Wanna know what people think of part 1.
Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 isn't mine. Nuff said.
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Part 1 of 2 (Draft)
Akane smiled into the mirror that was mounted on
her dresser. She reached up and pushed at her hair,
causing it to bob up and down.
She giggled to herself. She hadn't been to a
Halloween Party since she was little. It was no
surprise to her that Kasumi was throwing a Halloween
party. After the Christmas party nearly a year earlier,
she was almost afraid to ask who told her to throw THIS
party.
Walking back to her bed, Akane looked down at
the costume she had thrown together. She tilted her
head in thought. A stretch, she knew, but it was
cute. At least, she thought so. It did concern her,
however, that a certain someone might take offense
to said costume. She shook the thought away and
smiled.
"Akane!"
Akane turned her head at the sound of
Kasumi's voice. "Coming!" She moved to her bedroom
door and took one last look at her costume before
closing the door and switching off the light.
* * *
"What is it, Kasumi?" Akane asked as she
entered the kitchen.
Kasumi turned from the oven, which gave off
the pleasant aroma of pumpkin pie, and smiled.
"Akane, I was wondering if you could go to the
market for me and pick up a few things. I'm busy
with the preparations for the party."
Akane nodded. "Sure thing, Sis." She smiled
and walked over to her older sister.
"Oh, and would you send these out?" Kasumi
asked, holding up a handful of invitations.
Akane nodded again. "Yeah." She took the
invitations and looked around the room. "Kasumi?"
Kasumi looked up from the oven. "Yes?"
"Where's Ranma?"
"I believe he's in the Dojo training."
* * *
Ranma smiled, a small, wicked smile as he
dropped the rest of what he needed for his costume
onto the floor. Originally, he hadn't intended to
attend the party in a costume, but a little
'persuasion' from Akane changed his mind. He could
still feel the mallet inflicted lump on the back of
his head.
After a moment of examination, he smacked
himself on the forehead. "I can't believe I
forgot!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out
a yellow and black bandanna. He dropped it onto the
pile and smiled. "There. Now if I gotta go through
the humiliation of wearin' some stupid costume, it
might as well be this. Can't say that a few people
will be happy about it, though."
"Ranma?!"
Ranma turned abruptly, making sure to keep
his body between the costume and who he instantly
knew to be his fiancee. "Akane! W-- what are you
doing here?"
Akane walked into the Dojo and smiled.
"Kasumi told me you'd be out here. I was wondering
if you would walk with me to the market. Kasumi
needs a few things."
Ranma nodded quickly. "Sure."
Akane felt her self grow dizzy at the sudden
movements of Ranma as he hustled her out of the
Dojo, slamming the door behind them.
Ranma smiled. "Come on, let's go!" Ranma took
Akane's hand and began towards the front gate.
"Ranma, slow down! You're pulling my arm
off!"
* * *
Ryoga Hibiki read the card as he walked
slowly down the street. "You have been formally
invited to the Tendo/Saotome Halloween Party.
Begins at 7:00pm tonight. Bring a friend." Ryoga
smiled as he slid the card into his pocket. //A
chance to see Akane, to be close to her and talk to
her...\\ His thoughts trailed off. //But how am I
going to find the Tendo Dojo?\\
"Ryoga?"
Ryoga looked up to see Dr. Tofu standing at
the door of his clinic. "Tofu-sensei." He smiled
and bowed his head.
"Hello to you too, Ryoga." Tofu smiled and
nodded. "Going to the Halloween Party at the
Tendo's, eh?"
Ryoga nodded and frowned. "I want too, but
I'll never find it."
Tofu smiled as he walked from within the door
to his clinic. He slid it closed and locked it.
"Don't worry, I'll take you. I'm going myself."
Ryoga smiled, a ludicrously large one. "You
will!? Thank you!"
* * *
"A Halloween Party?"
"That's what the card says. And it says to
bring a friend. Wanna go?"
Hiroshi frowned and pointed his nose into the
air as he walked slowly down the street, next to
his longtime friend, Daisuke. "Why didn't I receive
an invitation?"
Daisuke shrugged. "Maybe you did but haven't
gotten it yet. When was the last time your father
gave you your mail?"
Hiroshi pressed his index finger to his chin.
"When I was about 7." He smiled, a small, tight
smile. "Maybe you're right. Fine then, I'll go."
Daisuke smiled. "Good. And you know, chances
are that babe Shampoo will be there. Maybe Ukyo,
too."
"Would be nice to see them." Hiroshi smile
was a little more light-hearted, almost perverse.
"Let's go, Daisuke!"
* * *
"Is story for real?"
"Yes, Shampoo. You've been invited to the
Tendo Dojo for a Halloween Party."
"Aiya!" Shampoo clinched the serving trey she
had been carrying around the cafe tightly. She
smiled childishly. "Shampoo go see Ranma! Is okay,
yes?"
Cologne nodded. "Unfortunately," she then
continued, drawing a blank expression from her
great-granddaughter, "Mousse has also been
invited."
Shampoo's sunshine vanished into darkness.
"Aiya," she replied in a depressed tone.
"Oh really? A Halloween Party, is it?" Mousse
appeared from within the kitchen. "You and I will
have such a great time, Shampoo!"
"Moron," Cologne uttered, watching Mousse
address a potted palm that stood next to the
kitchen door.
Shampoo's eyes narrowed to slits as she
watched her would-be suitor.
"Shampoo...?" Mousse squinted and leaned
toward the tree. "Have you been eating properly.
You're no more than a tooth pick, my darling."
Cologne flinched as Mousse's head imbedded
into the pot holding the palm.
"Shampoo over here, stupid!" Shampoo removed
her hand from the back of Mousse's head and moved
towards the stairs leading up to her bedroom.
Cologne shook her head and moved pass a
twitching Mousse, toward the kitchen. "Oaf."
* * *
"A party, huh?"
"Yep. And we've both been invited."
Ukyo smiled brightly, flipping a deluxe
okanomiyaki into the air and onto a plate. "That
means a chance to get closer to Ranma-honey!"
Konatsu frowned and placed the double
invitation card down on the counter before Uk-chan.
"I wouldn't be opposed to spending a little time
with you, Ukyo."
"Of course, sugar," Ukyo smiled and slid the
plate in front of her coworker. "Lunch is served."
Konatsu smiled and began to yum up the
Japanese pizza, looking up at Ukyo. "So what you
going to dress as, Uk-chan?"
Ukyo cocked her head in thought. "I don't
know... Maybe I'll go as one of those Sailor Moon
chicks, or maybe someone from Maisson Ikkou or
Lum."
Konatsu looked up at his boss/friend. "You
read Rumiko Takahasi's work, too?"
"Of course, sugar. Who doesn't?"
* * *
Sarutoru leaped down from the beam that had
provided as a walkway from the mail box back to the
small little house that he had called home for
almost a year. He opened the door and moved in
quickly. "Lord! You have received a message!"
Toma looked up from the issue of 'Maisson
Ikkou' that had possessed him for the last half
hour. "Hmm? What is it, Sarutoru?"
"It's a message from the Tendo Dojo, Lord."
Sarutoru moved through the house quickly and
dropped the letter in Toma's lap, lowering himself
down onto the ground, bowing in respect.
"The Tendo Dojo?!" Toma looked at the envelop
excitedly and wiggled his fingers as he reached out
to snatch the letter up. He tore into it quickly.
As his eyes moved over the letter, he read aloud,
"You have been formally invited to the
Tendo/Saotome Halloween Party. Begins at 7:00pm
tonight. Bring a friend."
Sarutoru returned to his feet, looking up at
the ex-Prince of Illusions. "It seems Miss Akane
Tendo requests your presence at a 'Halloween
Party'."
Toma smiled and pressed his finger to his
chin. "I've never been to a party before, and I've
only begun to learn the traditions of other
cultures."
"I believe we take..." Sarutoru did not
finish.
Toma leaped from his chair. "Of course! Now I
remember!" He turned to look at his friend.
"Sarutoru, fetch me a large bunny costume and a
basked of painted eggs."
Sarutoru scratched his head, a look of
confusion painting his features. "I believe that is
the tradition of Eas..."
"Quickly now! We must get ready," Toma cut
him off, heading out of the room quickly.
Sarutoru sighed as he made for the front
door. He mumbled, "Why do I bother?"
* * *
"Hey, Akane!"
"What is it, Ranma?"
Ranma flipped through a manga he had
retrieved from the shelf of magazines that was
located at the front of the market building. "Ya
ever heard of 'The Mermaids Scar'?"
Akane shook her head as she approached Ranma,
her arms full of groceries. "Can't say that I
have."
"It ain't half bad." Ranma frowned as Akane
pulled the manga from his hand and replaced it on
the shelf. "Hey, it was just gettin' good!"
Akane grabbed Ranma's arm and pulled him
along behind her. "Tuff. Buy it if it's so good. We
don't have time for you to read it here, we have to
get home so I can help Kasumi finish cooking the
food for the party."
Ranma's flesh grew a thick green color as his
head flushed with the memories of the last meal he
at by Akane's hand. He even remembered the first
meal she had ever cooked him, when he and Genma
were on Terror Mountain, and Ryoga was learning the
Bakusai Tenketsu. //I'd rather be fightin' Ryoga
than eatin' that crap,\\ Ranma thought. He smiled.
At least he hadn't said that.
He grinned. "Oh come on, Akane. We wanna
scare the guests, not kill them!" //Oops.\\
Akane's face twisted in anger. "What was
that, Ranma?" she asked, her back to the pigtailed
martial artist.
"Nothin', I didn't mean it. That came out all
wr---~!!"
"Die, Ranma!"
The last thing Ranma remembered seeing before
his wonderful view of outer-space was a mega-mallet
catching him from below, on the underside of his
chin, and he felt his body rocket upwards.
* * *
Kuno's eyes traveled upwards as, from a
distance, he could see Saotome Ranma rocketing
through the sky, until he was no longer in view.
Sasuki moved along next to his master,
reading the card silently. "Master, you have
received a letter from the Tendo Dojo regarding a
Halloween Party."
Kuno smiled to himself. "Ah, my fair Akane
Tendo and most beautiful pigtailed goddess wish my
presence at their little party, eh?"
"Well, actually..." Sasuki started, but
didn't finish.
"Who am I to deny them the privilege of my
company," Kuno continued, closing his eyes.
"Ho ho ho ho ho!" Kodachi bounced into view,
swirling around so that her ribbon circled her
body. "My darling Ranma has invited me to his
party!"
"Curse you, woman!" Kuno hissed, holding up
his bokken. "Where did you come from? Don't you
know it is taboo to meddle in the affairs of your
betters?"
Kodachi glared at her brother.
"The letter actually concerns both you and
Mistress Kodachi," Sasuki confirmed, looking up at
his masters.
"Well what does it say, then?" Kuno demanded,
looking down at his ninja servant.
Sasuki held the card up and opened it.
Kuno and Kodachi glared down at the card and
face faulted.
The card read: "STAY AWAY FROM OUR PARTY!!!
Signed, The Tendos and Saotomes."
* * *
//That idiot Ranma,\\ Akane thought as she
stalked onwards toward her house. //He never even
bothered to tell me what he was going to be at the
party as.\\
She turned a corner and approached the front
gate to the yard, which was open. A large banner
crossed the area above the door reading "WELCOME TO
THE TENDO/SAOTOME HALLOWEEN PARTY! EVERYONE
WELCOMED!"
"Jeez," Akane said, reading the banner, "The
whole neighborhood will be here." She continued in,
holding the groceries tightly to her chest. As she
reached the door, she felt her heart rise as
something exploded from the bushes.
"GRRRROOOWWWLLL!!!!" roared the dark
creature.
"Ahhh!" Akane screamed, "It's a monster!" The
groceries hit the ground and Akane's fist rose. She
began to pound the creature in the face with a
frenzy of wild punches.
"Akane, PLEASE!!"
"Hmm?" Akane's fists stopped in mid-air and
her eyes opened. She blushed slightly as her father
and Mr. Saotome fell from the bushes.
The giant panda fell on its chest, with Soun
sitting on its back with a 'spooky' costume on that
resembled the one from the 'Scream' films.
"Honestly," Akane complained, picking up the
groceries. "Scaring me like that. What are you two
doing?"
Genma held up a sign that read 'Haunted
Bushes'.
"Exactly," Soun confirmed, pulling the mask
from his beaten and bruised face.
"Umm.... Isn't it supposed to be a Haunted
House?" Akane asked, scratching her chin.
"Yes, actually." Soun nodded and sat up on
Genma's back. "But since we don't have the man
power to do a haunted house, we decided on a
haunted bush."
"Bwee!" Genma grunted and held up a sign. 'It
seems to have worked, eh Tendo?'
Soun smiled. "I'd say so, Saotome."
"How pathetic," Akane said, shaking her head.
Soun buried his head suddenly in his arm and
wailed, "We tried our best! Isn't that what
counts?!"
Akane sighed.
* * *
Nodoka walked slowly down the narrow street,
an absent smile glued to her face as she nodded her
head to passing strangers.
She looked down at the small invitation in
her hand. It was nice of the Tendo's to invite her
to their Halloween Party. As long as she was in the
area, she decided it would do no harm to attend.
Kasumi could probably use help in the kitchen, and
she was so looking forward to seeing Ranko and Mr.
Panda again.
"AHHHHH!!!!"
"Hmm?" Nodoka stopped and looked up into the
air as a blur of blue and black rushed down toward
her.
Her eyes followed the falling object right
down to a bucket full of water, which sat next to a
little old lady with a ladle.
Ranma pulled her head from the bucket and
fell onto her butt. "Ohhh.... That's cold!"
Nodoka smiled in surprise. "Hello, Ranko."
Ranko looked up suddenly, her face fixed in a
rather shocked expression. "Moth... Auntie
Saotome!" She hated doing this, lying to her
mother.
"How are you today?" Nodoka asked, offering
her hand.
"I'm just peachy," replied Ranma, taking
Nodoka's had to pull herself up.
"Are you on your way home, dear?" Nodoka
continued down the street, toward the Tendo Dojo.
"Yeah, I am." Ranma paused and then looked up
at her mother. "Are you coming to the party?"
"I'm going to stop by for a few minutes,
yes."
* * *
"Principal Kuno spun around in his desk and
looked down at the invitation to the Tendo
Halloween Party. "Aloha, it be a party, just like
on da big island!"
He reached into his desk and pulled out a
pair of hair sheers. "And dat mean dat many of my
students gunna be there!" He leaped from his desk
and started for the door. "We gunna have da big fun
now!"
* * *
Tofu and Ryoga sat quietly in the living room
of the Tendo Dojo. The older of the two young men
sipped softly at a small cup of tea, while the
other sat thinking, his eyes closed, his brow
crinkled.
"What's on your mind, Ryoga?" Tofu sat his
cup down and adjusted his glasses.
"Hmm?" Ryoga opened his eyes and looked up at
Tofu. "Oh, it's nothing, really. It's just...
well... I don't know what I should dress as for
this party." He looked Tofu over, who was dressed
in clothing reminiscent of the Jusenkyo Guide's
outfit. "And I don't have anything to wear,
anyway."
Tofu scratched his chin. "Well, use your
imagination. I'm sure Kasumi would help you throw
it together." He smiled impishly at the mention of
the oldest Tendo lady.
Ryoga shrugged. "Maybe." He crossed his arms
over his chest and looked towards the mirror in the
far corner. He stared into it for a long moment,
and then something stuck him. "I got it!"
Tofu started as Ryoga leaped to his feat and
bolted for the front door.
"I got to find Nabiki Tendo!"
Tofu looked at his watch. "3.... 2.... 1...."
Ryoga's voice floated into the room. "Wait a
second, this can't be the right door."
* * *
Ranma was beat. He had just managed to dodge
his way through the one thing that was tougher than
any one of his many battles -- a conversation with
his mother.
He sighed as he dropped the yellow tea kettle
into the sink and looked out the bathroom window.
Leaping out, he headed down the rooftop, towards
the Dojo. He had to get his costume ready, and
soon. He knew that the other guests would be there
soon, and he knew Akane would kill him if he wasn't
'in character'.
His mind wandered back to his mother. He
really hated lying to her, and he knew he could
blame it all on his father. If he had never made
that stupid promise... A promise Ranma wasn't even
old enough to understand... It pissed him off,
though he didn't take it out on others. Well, that
wasn't true. Genma was the one exception.
* * *
Soun listened to the warm water pour over
Genma's head and watched his body morph for the
thousandth time.
Genma dropped the kettle down next to him and
reached out to take his turn on the small 'GO'
playing board.
"That was a successful first run, I think,
Saotome." Soun watched his friend make his move and
frowned.
Genma nodded. "I agree, Tendo. But perhaps
next time we shouldn't get so close to whoever is
passing by. Imagine if it had been that Shampoo
girl or her great-grandmother."
"To true." Soun moved his piece. "Gotcha!"
Genma's face dropped. "Daaahh!"
* * *
"So that's it?"
Ryoga nodded as he adjusted the position at
which he sat on Nabiki's floor. "Come on, Nabiki.
I'm begging you."
Nabiki uncrossed her arms as she stood from
her bed. Her cold, composed face brightened a
little and she smiled. "Sure, Ryoga, why not? But
it will cost you."
"How much?" he asked excitedly, his eyes
lighting up.
"5,000 yen."
"AHHHH!" Ryoga's face pulled back in horror.
"How am I supposed to afford that?!"
Nabiki walked over to her laundry basket and
began rummaging through it. "Let's just put it on
your tab, kay Ryoga?"
Ryoga nodded uncertainly. "Sure."
Nabiki smiled. "Don't ask me how it got here.
I guess Kasumi accidentally put it in my basket. I
would have charged you more had I been forced to
steel it from his closet."
Ryoga nodded again and waited. "Thanks,
Nabiki."
"No problem, Ryoga. After all, I figure by
the time you can actually pay me for this, the
interest will fund my own personal island."
Ryoga face faulted.
* * *
Akane smiled down at her costume as she ran
her hands over it. The material was very realistic,
and she almost wondered if Nabiki had just taken
one of the originals.
She slid out of her dress slowly, letting it
fall from around her hips, down onto the floor. She
removed her bra and reached out to lift of a large
roll of duct tape. She thanked the gods that
females didn't get hair on their chests as she
began to bind her breasts. It had to be perfect.
* * *
Ranma looked through the pile of clothing
that lay before him and frowned. "Oh no! Where is
that bandanna! I know I left it here. Jeez." He
jumped to his feet and turned on his heel.
He rushed out of the Dojo and down the
sidewalk, towards the door that led into the
kitchen. He burst through, nearly knocking Kasumi
over.
"Oh my!" cried the oldest Tendo daughter.
Ranma wrapped his arm around her and pulled
her up to her feet. "Sorry, Kasumi."
"That's quite all right," she replied
shakily.
"Ya know where Akane is?"
"She's up stairs getting into her costume."
* * *
Akane pulled the light blue tai-chi shirt on
and began to button it slowly. As she finished
fastening the knot cords, she turned to look into
the mirror. Everything was ready, with the
exception of the pigtail.
She reached down onto her dresser and pulled
up the clip-on pigtail she had found at the novelty
shop in one of the local malls. She giggled and
reached up to clip it into her hair.
"There. All done." Akane smiled into the
mirror at the final product. All in all, she looked
amazingly like Ranma, only smaller, and more of a
feminine face, even without her makeup.
"Hey, Akane!"
Akane turned to face her bedroom door as
Ranma burst in.
"I need to ask you a fav..." Ranma trailed
off as the person before him registered in his
mind. "A...kane?"
"Ta-da!" Akane spun around, showing off the
costume. "What do you think? I spent three weeks
trying to figure out what to dress as this
Halloween."
Despite his best efforts, Ranma suddenly
exploded in a fit of laughter. "I always knew you
were a tom boy, but THIS!! Oh man... oh, it
hurts!!" Ranma held his side as tears ran down his
face.
Tears of a different manner suddenly began to
flow down his face as Akane's fist connected with
his stomach. "Idiot!!"
Ranma fell backwards, landing on his butt.
"Hey, what'd ya do THAT for!?"
Akane stood in front of the pigtailed martial
artist, her face twisted in a sour mix of anger and
pain. "I go through all the trouble to get this
costume and here you go making fun of me!?"
Ranma shrugged. "What's the big deal," he
demanded defensively. "It's just a costume."
"I dressed like this to show you that I'm
comfortable with you the way you are, you idiot!"
Akane confessed, clenching her fists tightly. "I
guess you're too stupid to appreciate that, huh?
You know what you are, Ranma? A JERK!!!"
Ranma felt a twinge of quilt and pain surge
through him as Akane bolted from the room. He could
see a gleam of fluid lining her eyes as she went
out the door, slamming it behind her.
He sat there in silence, staring at the door
stupidly. //You've really done it this time,
idiot.\\
TO BE CONTINUED.... ---->
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