This fic was spawned by a chance conversation. Please let me know
what you think of the idea, although I know you won't get much
until the first chapter is written.
Disclaimer: I haven't taken my Prozac, so be warned. Oh, and, by the
way, this is a non-profit Fanfiction. Please don't sue me, Ms.
Takahashi-sama!
Hazards of Redemption
Prologue
"I'm tellin' you, Akane, somethin' weird is about ta happen!"
Tendou Akane looked up at her pigtailed fiance. This wasn't
unusual, as he was taller than she was. The fact that she had to look
way up, since he was walking on the fence, wasn't all that unusual,
either. "Look, Ranma, it's just been quiet for a while."
"Right! So somethin' big must be coming, you know, like the calm
before the earthquake." Ranma stopped for a moment, and looked around.
Reassured, he continued walking. "I jus' think it's way too quiet. I
mean, Shampoo ain't parked her bike on me in a while, the Kunos are
outta the country, an' Ryouga ain't been around for two weeks."
"First," said the girl, "it's the calm before the _storm_, not the
earthquake. And, second, all that doesn't mean that anything weird is
going to happen soon. That is, weirder than usual."
The pair reached the gates of the Tendou home, and walked in.
"We're home!" called Akane.
"We're back here," came Nabiki's voice.
As they walked back to the back yard, the Tendou patriarch's voice
carried to them. "Masterful move, Saotome."
A second voice responded. "Yes, good panda. But I have known that
gambit for over three hundred years." The voice was deep, and guttural,
with the overtones of a bull being slowly mutilated. Ranma sent a
glance to Akane, and they continued around the corner.
The sight was one that should have shocked them, but didn't.
Genma, in panda form, was sitting at the shogi board, and Soun was with
him. However, the eldest Tendou was not across from Genma, but beside
him. Instead, the panda's opponent was an Oni. A seven foot tall,
muscle-bound, red-skinned, four-horned oni. With spikes. And glowing
green eyes.
"Would you like some more tea, Mr. Oni-san?" asked the perennially
cheerful Kasumi.
"Why, yes. Thank you." The oni looked at Soun. "That _was_ the
proper use of those words, was it not?"
"It most certainly was. Saotome, watch it. That move has left you
wide open."
"Growf," muttered the polymorphed martial artist. He pulled out a
sign, which read, 'Ah, yes. He's falling into my trap!'
Akane looked at Ranma. "Okay. You were right. And I have
absolutely no idea how this can get weirder."
"You shouldn't have said that," muttered Nabiki.
"Why d'ya say that?" asked Ranma.
"You haven't heard why he's here." Letting those ominous words
hang in the air, she turned towards the stairs, so she could get her
camera.
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- Valandar the Red of the Empty Tankard
Captain of the Guard of the Barony of the Far Woods
Empire of the Iron Mountains
http://members.tripod.com/~Valandar/fanfic.html
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