This is just a little idea I had. A small change at the beginning of the
series. Let's see how it can snowball, ok?
C&C appreciated it. Not that's it's anything spectacular.
------------------------
"I'm glad you aren't a boy. I'd have hated to have lost to a
boy," Akane said, smiling lightly.
"But I'm a boy!" Ranma squeaked out. Realizing her mistake,
Ranma slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide in worry.
Akane looked over at the shorter red haired girl. "No you
aren't. I think Nabiki checked that out thoroughly!" She
narrowed her eyes, looking the other girl over
speculatively. "Did your dad raise you as a boy?"
"YES! Uh, NO! Ack!" Ranma stuttered out. "Yes, he raised me
as a boy, but that's because I'm a guy!" This just wasn't
her day. And it looked like it was going to get worse.
"Ranma, guys don't have a figure like you do. So let's just
forget what you just said?" Akane said, trying to maintain
her temper.
Ranma sighed, and then responded, "How about I prove it to
you?" She had really wanted to avoid this. Now she was going
to think Ranma was a freak.
Akane smiled. She'd humor the poor girl. Obviously she was a
little soft in the brains. A good martial artist though.
"Sure, Ranma. We're friends, right?"
"Uh, yeah! Friends!"
And with that, both girls trudged towards the house and the
back door, and down the right hand hall, towards the
direction of the main living room. A faintly homey smell
dragged Ranma's attention towards a room on the right.
Akane smiled as Ranma looked at the kitchen. "We've already
had dinner, Ranma. How about you?"
"Um, me and Pop managed to swipe, er, get a bite to eat
earlier. I'm still pretty hungry, though."
Akane entered the kitchen, and waved to get Kasumi's
attention. "Kasumi! Do you have anything that Ranma could
snack on?" Akane asked.
"Of course. I just took something in to Father and the
gentlemen with him. Someone was nice enough to heat some
water for tea. Would you like some tea, Ranma?" Kasumi
inquired. She patted her hands on her apron.
"Sure. I'll take some hot water in a big cup too."
Akane stared at her new friend in bemusement. She turned
back to Kasumi, "So who's with Daddy?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him before. He looks like
he's a martial artist though. At least he's wearing a gi,"
Kasumi replied, making some tea, and filling a large cup
with hot water.
"Probably my Pop. Wearing a white handkerchief, and
glasses?" Ranma asked, looking over the kitchen. It was
spotless. For some reason he got a bit homesick looking over
the room.
"Isn't that what you called your panda?" Akane scrunched her
eyebrows. This was starting to get confusing.
Ranma took the cup, and held it at the ready. "Sure. Just
because he's cursed to turn into a panda don't make him not
my Pop. See, nothing up my sleeve!" And without further ado,
Ranma dumped the cup over his head. "See, I'm a guy." And he
was, now.
Akane and Kasumi looked at him in consternation. They both
looked at his feet, and then back at him. "Y-you just turned
into a guy!" Akane stuttered out.
"Sure. I told you I was a guy. I'm only cursed to turn into
a girl," Ranma replied smugly.
"Cursed?" Kasumi asked.
"Yeah, my fool of a father managed to get me cursed to turn
into a girl. It happens when I get splashed with cold water.
Luckily, hot water turns me back."
"So, you are a guy." Akane paused a second. "Oh, NO! That
means the engagement is still on!" Kasumi nodded to herself,
realizing the same thing at the same moment.
Now it was Ranma's turn to look puzzled. Then with horror,
he said, "Yeah, Pop mentioned something like that. I'm a
little fuzzy, since he smacked me with a sign. What
engagement?"
"Our fathers mentioned that we have some sort of engagement.
An agreement between our families to continue the dojo,"
Kasumi said. Her smile had turned a bit saccharine.
"Agreement between families?" Ranma got a sick look in his
face. Akane realized that it was the same one that she must
have. That put it on the terms of family honor.
"Hey, Kasumi. Father asked me to have you get some more sake
for his guest." Nabiki noticed the new individual standing
in the kitchen. "Who's this?"
"Nabiki, this is Ranma Saotome." Kasumi mechanically went
and retrieved another bottle of sake to heat up.
"Ranma? I though she was a girl?" Nabiki noted that he was
wearing the same clothes, and even had some of the same
smudges. It fit a lot better actually. As a matter of fact,
it appeared that it was meant to fit him, not her.
"I've got a curse that turns me into a girl, ok? How'my
gonna get out of this, I'm to young to get married," Ranma
blurted out. Akane squelched a smile. Even if it was what
she was thinking, he was a boy. She was sure that Nabiki or
Kasumi would be much more suitable.
"Kasumi! Oh, here's where everyone is. Please come into the
living room." Soun smiled, noting the fine young man that
must be Ranma.
And in just a few moments, everyone was seated in the living
room sipping tea or sake. "This is my good friend Genma
Saotome, and his son Ranma. They are here to uphold the
agreement in between our families to continue the dojo,"
Soun said simply. "I see Ranma has already explained his
curse to you. So Ranma, who do you pick? This is Kasumi, age
19. Nabiki, age 17. Akane, age 16. The one you pick will be
your betrothed."
"Erk! Eek! Uh, I dunno!" Ranma babbled. His eyes were as
wide as dinner plates.
"Oh, he really wants Akane!" "Definitely. Akane's the only
one!" Nabiki and then Kasumi chimed in, overriding their
younger sister. With deft movements, they seemed to push
Akane forward, but it was actually them stepping back behind
her.
"HEY!" Akane managed to blurt out.
"Congratulations! Then it's decided. Akane and Ranma are
engaged to fulfill the family promise!" Soun said grandly.
"Yes, Tendo, the Art and the Dojo will continue. Let's
celebrate! Have some more sake!" Genma said, his smile
covering his entire face.
Ranma stared at Akane. Akane stared at Ranma. They both had
expressions of utter shock locked on their faces. It was all
so sudden.
"POP! I've gotta go and get cured! I don't have time to get
married!" Ranma piped up loudly.
"Daddy! How could you? And to a total stranger!" Akane
started in on her father.
"Not right now, Ranma. This is far more important. The
Anything Goes School of Martial Arts must continue! You can
go looking for a cure later," Genma said. He then sipped from a
small cup.
"Akane! This is for the Dojo! What would your mother think?"
Soun pleaded. He almost never pulled a guilt trip on Akane.
It could back fire.
Akane paled. Now he was bringing mother into it. "But Daddy!
What about my problems at school?" Akane said, whining a
little bit. This was so unfair.
"I'm sure Ranma can handle them. Besides, I think you've
gotten all of the training potential out of those boys."
"Huh?" Ranma asked eloquently.
Nabiki spoke up suddenly, "Oh, it's nothing really. Akane's
just been fighting off a horde of hormone crazed boys every
morning that want to date her. I'm sure as her fianc'e that
you'll take care of it."
Kasumi frowned in the background. This was the first that
she had heard of this!
"Let me get this straight. Some kids from school are
attacking her, hoping she'll go on a date? That is soooo
stupid. I ain't never been on no date, and I know better
than that!"
"It's all Kuno's fault! He's the one who made that stupid
speech. Now all of the boys think that they have to beat me
up to go on a date." Akane felt a little better. At least
Ranma thought it was stupid too. She shook her head
suddenly. No, he's the enemy. He's just like the other boys.
She almost convinced herself of that.
"Beat up a girl to go on a date? What a bunch of jerks. A
real man isn't even supposed to try and hit a girl," Ranma
said, fuming at the whole situation.
"That reminds me, boy. You're enrolled in school too. The
same one as Nabiki and Akane go to. So you'll be able to
deal with them, and go to school."
"But, but I don't . . ."
"No buts! You need your schooling."
-
Ranma strolled on the top of the fence, looking down at his
new fianc'ee. At least she was pretty. And nice too. Got
lots of spunk. You could see her temper flare up. And pretty
good at the Art.
Akane sneaked a peek, looking away when she saw that Ranma
was looking at her. She did see that he wasn't trying to
stare either, as he looked away quickly enough. Couldn't he
have some flaw, other than his curse? He's better at the Art
and good looking. He even made walking on the fence seem
normal and graceful.
"So why are you up there?"
"Balance training. Pop says to make everything training.
Works ok, most of the time."
"Well, you leave the fight to me! It's my fight!" Akane said
suddenly.
"Huh? I can't do that! What sort of fianc'e would I look
like if I didn't try to defend her? It'd make me look bad!"
Ranma responded vehemently.
Akane thought that over for a second. He was right, dang it.
He was supposed to defend her. But that was going to bring
up the engagement into the open. She was caught in a catch
twenty-two. She sighed, and thought it over. "Oh, all right.
I'll tell them you're my fianc'e, and that they have to
fight you to date me, how's that?"
"Sure. None of them are as good as you, right? So I
shouldn't have a problem."
Akane's temper flared dangerously. "Right. The only one who
is almost as good as me is Kuno, our Kendo champion. He's
undefeated in the district." She paused a second. "Though,
he's never beaten me."
"Hmm. Well, we don't want to be late, so let's get there
early. Let's run!" Ranma shouted the last, taking off
down the road. Akane sped up to keep up with him.
Soon the gates of Furikan High School hove into view. A
large group of boys spotted Akane, and trotted her direction
to intercept her.
"Hey you guys! Stop just a second!" Akane shouted. As a
group they lumbered to a halt, a few stumbling and falling
over. Ranma snorted in disgust. That was pathetic.
"Akane! Have you finally decided to submit and let us date
you?" one of the boys shouted out.
"No. Guys, this is Ranma Saotome. He's my fianc'e so he'll
accept your challenge. If you beat him, you can date me,"
Akane said curtly.
"FINAC'E?!?!?" they shouted in unison.
"That's right. It's an agreement between our families.
Because she's my fianc'ee, you have to fight me, got it.
I'll warn you guys, I've been training since I was five, and
I won't hold back," Ranma said loudly. He adopted a relaxed
stance.
A sudden commotion at the back of the group, as a taller,
elegant looking boy pushed his way through the group. "Akane
Tendo, engaged! I will not permit this mockery! I, Tatewaki
Kuno, will punish you, Ranma Saotome for daring to defile
the mere presence of the flower of Furinkan High School. So
swears the Scarlet Lightning of Furinkan High School!"
"Sounds like your first up, Kuno. Defend yourself!" Ranma
shouted, jumping to the offense.
Kuno barely had time to bring his bokken up in defense,
blocking a fast jab at his face. Kuno retaliated with a
sweep, and then an over handed slice, followed up by a
series of fast jabs. The crowd looked on in amazement as
Kuno couldn't even touch Ranma. He sidestepped, and ducked,
and then leaped up, bouncing off of Kuno's head. Kuno dodged
a foot sweep, and then lunged. The lunge turned into an
upward slice, trying to catch Ranma as he sailed over Kuno.
Ranma's foot struck out suddenly. He kicked himself off a
tree, and past Kuno's defense. His hands flashed in a
furious symphony, striking vitals and soft points. Before
Kuno even landed, a finger flashed out, striking his
forehead in a blur.
"Next!" Ranma called out, looking over the group.
All of the boys looked at each other, and then shrugged.
They charged in unison, screaming out their battle cries.
"We do this for you, Akane!" "We'll defeat him for you,
Akane!" "He'll never defeat us all!"
Ranma didn't have a lot of experience in fighting groups,
but he did know some things about the fine art of brawling
in crowds. He charged forward, and took out three of the
boys almost instantly. He leaped backwards over twenty feet
and charged their unprotected backs, felling another half
dozen. Leaping into the air again, he landed on the Sumo
wrestler's head, KO'ing him instantly. He fell to the
ground, sliding low, and tripping up another four. The last
two had just a seconds warning, before he took them with a
jump and split kicked them into unconsciousness.
"Ha. What a bunch of losers." Ranma smirked. He grinned at
Akane, and bowed her in the direction of the school. "After
you, oh flower of Furinkan."
Akane stared at Ranma for just a second, and then started
snickering. "Why, thank you Ranma. I don't mind if I do."
Nabiki watched from the second floor with her assistants.
"That was different. Kuno has a new name too. How come you
didn't warn us, boss?" the dark haired girl asked.
"Didn't have the chance. I thought they were going to be
slower getting to school."
"Hmm. Looks like we get to keep the money this time. No one
bet that someone else would beat up all those guys." The
last girl rubbed her jaw in deep thoughtfulness.
"Yup. Sure looks like it. Doesn't hurt business though."